Had an interesting conversation with people
wrestling to make some change in this city today. Went to se the Directory of Environmental Education in the Municipality of Salvador.
The Municipality of
Salvador has a baaad baaad reputation, I have understood this much during my
months here. The municipality does nothing, the prefect is a thug and all money
that ever circulated in the system has succumbed to corruption. This may be a
very badly nuanced picture but I don’t think it is too far from the reality and
the people I met today didn’t really alter it ether.
Of course many people in the municipality
works a lot, they try to do a lot and they engage with body and soul, but with
to little support from their elected leaders, their management. Money is inexistent
for al municipal interventions that includes social transformation and people
working in the area are proportionally too few – almost invisible.
It isn’t
strange if most people start going on autopilot, closes them selves to feelings
of shame or responsibility, just happy they receive their salary each month. It
is a subconscious act of self-defense because there is no better way to get
worn out, or “walk in to the wall” as we say in Swedish, than to continue
trying.
There is however people that continue
trying - strong people, with visions not so easily shattered. Although I believe that their shell is warn down and their self esteem on the verge of shattering –
because that’s what a corrupt system does with honest people.
The woman I talked to today started crying
when I told her that she had been indicated by every one as the person leading
the work of Environmental Education in the municipality. She had never thought
people recognized here work, never understood here importance and recognition in
the larger context.
Next week the VII Brazilian Forum for Environmental Education will be held here in Salvador. A huge event that will
host I don’t know how many mini courses, lectures, panel discussions and
cultural exhibitions. It will offer an opportunity for every one that
struggles for social, ethical and environmental changes in this country to come
together and strengthen each other and gain forces.
Looking forward to it!
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