Fighting Hunger with Vaccine Mandate?
Realities of Left Resurgence in Brazil
¿Combatir
el hambre con el mandato de vacunas?
Realidades del resurgimiento de la izquierda en Brasil
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Hunger bekämpfen mit Impfpflicht?
Realitäten des linken Wiederauflebens in Brasilien
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Combattre la faim avec un mandat vaccinal ?
Réalités de la résurgence de la gauche au Brésil
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Combattere la fame con mandato vaccinale?
Realtà di Risorgimento della Sinistra in
Brasile
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[Courtesy: Counter View] -
Dr. Gautam Das
Luiz Inácio Lula
da Silva. He is popularly known as Lula. His political future was hanging in
balance in the last run-off presidential election held just three months ago. He
bagged 50.9% of total vote while his closet rival Jair Bolsonaro got 49.1%. Millions
of people took to the street alleging unfair means of counting. These people
were voicing their unhappiness and discontent over the election results. The
Corporate media as well as the leftist commentators summarily dismissed them as
right wing supporters of Bolsonaro. [1] [2] [3] [4] [27]
Curiously, Joe
Biden as the head of the most powerful state expressed unflinching faith in
Lula. He congratulated him saying that Lula won in a free, fair and credible
election and both the countries shared the experience of surviving right wing
attack on democracy. [5] ‘The leftist
former president’s win marks an extra-ordinary comeback……cementing Latin America’s
shift to the left’, said the Wall Street Journal. [6] Time magazine
went one step ahead by depicting Lula’s victory as a win for the planet.
[7] Keeping aside
the lofty praises showered by Indian left and liberal commentators, the
reaction of Indian corporate media is
worth mentioning. ‘Lula wins Brazil Election in political Resurrection for
leftist’ screamed the headline of The Economic Times. [8] ‘Biden insisted through the CIA, state
department, and defense department that support for a coup would not be
forthcoming.’ said The Guardian. [9] Most
pedagogical and bizarre observation was made by a mouthpiece of an Indian
ultra-left parliamentary party. They said, ‘The
imperialist countries have also welcomed the result of election. This does not
reflect any shift in their policies though, it is just an attempt to bring some
socio-political stability to Brazil which was on the verge of chaos during
Bolsonaro government.’ [10]
Beginning his
journey spanning over last 50 years as a mass leader and metal factory worker
of Sao-Palo, he underwent many rises and falls and finally came back to
presidential post for third time. After the latest victory, he flung his
clenched fist towards the sky, saying ‘Brazil is back,’ ….(we will)work
tirelessly for a Brazil where love prevails over hate, truth over lies, and
hope is bigger than fear.’ Once this 77 years old veteran leader mesmerized the
millions of his country with his passionate and fiery speech. In the early
eighties, he led mass movements in order to overthrow the US-backed military
junta. The irony of history is that the
head of the country that had propped up the “right wing fascist regime” is now
eulogizing Lula’s latest electoral win as a victory of democracy over right
wing hooliganism. During his on-going US tour, his smooth talking has won the
hearts of US administration and big corporate media so much so that they are
celebrating Lula’s remark and finding them enchanting more than ever before. He
will have conversation with radical lefts. So has been reported in main stream
media. He is scheduled to have great talk with Biden and Barnie Sanders on
Amazon Fund.
Is it a reality
that big Corporate Capital, Democracy and Equality are aligning to ensure a more democratic and
greener world? Is there more to this optics and theatrics than meets the
eye? Or is it just another illusory
thought that has eluded us decades after decades?
Lula is now a
more mature and shrewd leader. He appears to have no ideological illusion. Had
it been so, it could have never been possible for him to achieve his political
resurrection. He is well aware of what the billionaire magnets of Wall Street
loves to hear. [11]
In the electoral campaign, the
main allegation Lula levelled against his arch rival was that president
Bolsonaro had got Brazil isolated from rest of the world. He ostensibly meant
to say that the incumbent discouraged the foreign capitalists to come to
Brazil. So he gave subtle indications that if he comes to power, international
finance capital will have unfettered access and. the state-run oil agency
Petrobus and Employees provident Fund will join biggest bankers in Amazon
Mining Project. Immediatly after Lula’s win, Financial Times wrote, ‘Lula’s
victory in Brazil’s presidential election will unlock a flood of money from
international investors who shunned the country under Jair Bolsonaro because of
his terrible environmental record. [12]
The environmentalists often called Mr.
Bolsonaro the jungle eater. He was aiding and abetting the crime of local
miners, wood mafias, loogers, agriculturists and pastoralists who have
encroached the Amazon forest and were causing deforestation by exploiting the
resources, undertaking expansive cultivation and ranching. That was the main
plank of Lula’s election campaign. The corporate media in sync with US
administration has largely endorsed Lula’s accusation and mostly echoed his rants.
Lula promised that he would reach zero deforestation goal by 2030 and hunt down
the illegal encroachers by launching a military style campaign. After his
comeback with a hair thin margin, he has indeed started the belligerent
campaign. [13] The most
uncomfortable and stark truth on which Lula has cleverly remained silent is the
fact that the eight major mining companies that have been causing enormous
destruction in Amazon forest by mining explorations include Vale,
Anglo-American, Belo-sun, Rio-Tinto & Anglo-Gold- to name a few who have
atrocious records of human rights violation. US based international financers
e.g, Capital group, Black Rock and Vanguard invested 54 billion in these mining companies. Needless to say
that these powerful corporations are the main players of Wall street and
constitute a formidable force behind World Economic Forum because they invest
the money of all super rich billionaires of the world. Among the other
investors are Banco da Brasil, Credit Agricole of France, Germany’s
Commerzbank, Citigroup and Bank of America and SMBC of Japan. [14] All these facts were brought to the fore by
Amazon Watch and AIPB, the organization of Indigenous people living in Amazon
area. AIPB has generously lent their support to Lula in his electoral fight and
they demanded that a separate ministry for indigenous people be formed. [15] After initial
prevarication Lula has conceded to form the ministry under the leadership of
firebrand leader Sonia Guajajara. It remains to be seen whether Ms Guajajara’s
avowed stance against the mining giants and their powerful financiers will
reach logical conclusion or end up with shady corporate social
responsibilities.
Lula is now holding meeting with Biden and
Bernie Sanders on how America can pour more money in Amazon Fund. 1.4 billion US$ worth Amazon fund was created
ostensibly to fight deforestation and green house gas emission from
degradation. The covert goal is to strengthen the network of information and
surveillance technology all over the Amazon area and drive out the local
mafias, miners, loogers, indigenous agriculturists and cattle ranchers to turn
this world’s largest rain forest into a sanctuary of infamous mining giants.
Their real intent is evident from their own observation that “Expansive,
low-productivity cattle-raising is the main cause of Amazon deforestation. Data
provided by TerraClass Project showed that in 2008 around 62% 6 of the
deforested areas in Brazilian Amazon were occupied with pasture.” [16]
Apart from Amazon issue, the second biggest
bet Mr. Lula played in his election campaign was his promise to make vaccine
mandatory for direct cash transfer govt. scheme called Bolso Familia. The
Guardian quoted him saying, ‘Vaccines
aren’t about whether you have the money or not,’…They’re about whether you love
life or love death.’ [17]
The position
taken by Bolsonaro was poles apart. He was sceptical of Covid and vaccine
against it. He said that he would be the last person to get Covid vaccine. When
asked why he had not taken vaccine, he said in an interview with Jovem Pan radio, ‘I've decided not to get vaccinated. I'm looking at new
studies, I already have the highest immunization, why would I get vaccinated?’
[18]
He was
decidedly against making vaccine mandatory for any govt sponsored programme. He
said, ‘For me, freedom comes before everything else. If a citizen doesn't want
to get vaccinated, that's his right and that's the end of it’[ [18]
Brazilian media
reported that Pfizer had sent 53 e-mails seeking response to their offer for 70
million doses of Covid vaccines at half price. The health minister of Bolsonaro
govt termed the gesture of Pfizer as a aggressive one. Thus at least for six
months Bolsonaro could delay the purchase of Pfizer vaccine that did cost 44
Brazilian Dollar.[19]
The media
trumpeting the life saving potential of vaccine launched scathing attack on
Bolsonaro and ascribed his decision to “dismiss the vaccine offer from various
pharma companies” to the “ surging deaths in Brazil”. [20]
Though such high hopes on covid vaccines later proved to be
further from the truth and all cause deaths actually surged all over the world
following vaccine roll out, the deafening pitch for vaccine had led Lula to
make it a big election issue and Bolosonaro’s denial of Covid and resistance
against vaccine became a shot in the arms of Lula.
After three months of his comeback as president, Lula has brought back Bolso Familia, the flagship welfare scheme introduced by his previous govt. in 2003. As a matter of fact, it was a World Bank aided programme.[21]
The other
social welfare programmes such as Bolso Escola and Bolso Alimentac~ea were
clubbed under this direct cash transfer scheme. The people living below poverty
line ( those whose monthly income is below 28US$), are the targeted
beneficiary. The leading woman of the family is entitled to get this meager
money on the condition that her children must go to the school and participate
in vaccination. If the child is below 16 years, the mother will get a monthly
allowance of 13 US$ per child. If the age of child is between 16 to 17, the
mother will get 15US$ per child. [22]
World Bank has
claimed that this conditional cash transfer programme has changed the lives of
Brazilian and reduced their poverty. The Economist praised it as a creator of
“”happy family” . [23] The reality is far from it. A study conducted by The Federal University of Pernambuco,
using sophisticated statistical methods, inferred that 87% of the money is
used, by families living in rural areas, to buy food. [22]
The targeted
family may loose the entitlement if the child fails to comply with the required
percentage of presence in the school. The entire details of compliance and the
amount of cash transferred is monitored and controlled by a system enabled by
satellites and the internet via radio waves, which allows the exchange of data
with the Municipalities of more remote locations, even in that there is no
electricity or telephone.[22]
However, cash
is not given directly to the beneficiary. A citizenship card in the form of a
debit card is given and the entire transaction is conducted through the second
largest state run Bank.
Therefore, it
is no wonder that BMGF is greatly amused by this elaborate control on the lives
of almost one third of population of Brazil. They described it as a innovative
way of ensuring women’s empowerment over the vast swathes of poorest countries.
[24]
In tandem with
his electoral promise, Lula has recently publicly declared ‘The Bolsa Família is coming back, and it is coming back with
something important; it is coming back with conditions. The children have to be
in school. If they are not in school, the mother loses the benefit,’
He went on to say, ““The
children have to be vaccinated. Suppose they don’t have a vaccination
certificate. In that case, the mother will lose the benefit," [25]
On Feb7, 2023, The Rio Times,
the polpular Brazilian English news portal published a big news with headline, “Lula says that parents will be
forced to vaccinate their children to keep government aid flowing” [26]
Lula also said that the program would again
require prenatal care for pregnant women when they are beneficiaries of the
aid. Health Minister Nísia Trindade also spoke but did not say which
vaccines would be required.
“Vaccination is a child’s
right,” Nísia declared about the requirement of proof of vaccination to receive
Bolsa Família, said the report. [26]
Pharmaceutical companies and corporate magnets are obviously
upbeat with such big measures taken by their “comeback kid” [28].
But the question remains- will the destitute millions of Brazil ever be obliged
to Lula’s benevolence and meekly subservient to the grand corporate strategy of
turning their country into a land of cheapest human guniepigs? Will the poor
mothers be happy with meager allowance after submitting their children for
forced vaccination? Will they keep saying Viva Lula!
Nuremberg Code upheld the right to informed consent as the bed
rock principle for any kind of medical intervention. Giving vaccines is a
medical intervention and when it is made a pre-condition for availing a means
of survival, moreover, when the poor parents are forced to get their children
jabbed to keep the basic allowance coming, it tantamounts to a grave crime
against humanity.
Article 6.1 of UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bio-ethics and
Human Rights says, ‘Any preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic medical
intervention is only to be 1. carried out with the prior, free and informed
consent of the person concerned, based on adequate information. The consent
should, where appropriate, be express and may be withdrawn by the person
concerned at any time and for any reason without disadvantage or prejudice’[29]
Lula’s comeback has been hailed by corporate media and left
commentators as the left resurgence in Latin America. They are now required to
clarify whether this new kind of Lulite leftism is all set to annihilate the
fundamental right to one’s own body or not.
The original publication link: https://www.counterview.in/2023/02/fighting-hunger-with-vaccine-mandate.html
References:
3. https://monthlyreview.org/2020/06/01/the-brazilian-crisis-and-the-new-authoritarianism/
7. https://time.com/6226932/lula-win-amazon-climate-change-brazil/
11. https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-and-da-silva-aim-to-rekindle-u-s-brazil-relations-3213cc23
12. https://www.ft.com/content/96eac94a-908b-4d87-b09a-c7adc0f002d6
14. https://amazonwatch.org/news/2022/0222-complicity-in-destruction-iv
15. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/lulas-promise-ministry-indigenous-people-doubt-2022-12-05/
16. https://www.amazonfund.gov.br/en/amazon-fund/
17. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/10/brazil-lula-comeback-speech-bolsonaro-covid-response
20. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jun/29/brazil-coronavirus-deaths-jair-bolsonaro
21. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2010/05/27/br-bolsa-familia
22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolsa_Fam%C3%ADlia
23. https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2008/02/07/happy-families
24. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/equal-is-greater/case-study/brazil/
27. https://www.newsclick.in/bazil-lula-remergees-very-different-political-world
29. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000212116
About author ( Dr. Gautam Das) : A Kolkata based, Indian practicing physician who have been extensively speaking and writing against dominating Covid narrative and vaccine mandate. His articles were published in Global Research https://www.globalresearch.ca/monkeypox-fear-campaign-losing-steam/5792307
SLAYING OF FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHTS ON THE PRETEXT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
was published in UHO
Website https://uho.org.in/writeups/2022-08/slaying-of-fundamental-rights.pdf
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