Spotlight News Bulletin by British Society São Paulo

SPOTLIGHT NEWS BULLETIN

Marina, Hull - Hull, City of Culture 2017 www.visitbritain.com

Nยบ 113 MARCH & APRIL 2017

EDITORIAL

spotlight news bulletin edition

I have received a number of comments from our readers regarding the version of Spotlight they are receiving. As you know, you can receive Spotlight, either in its digital version, or in the traditional printed version. Many of those who have contacted me do not want, for various reasons to receive the digital version, and have enquired what action should they take to receive the printed version. Simply phone or e mail the British Society and request the version you wish to receive. Details for contact are on the left hand side of this page. Carnival has come earlier than usual, so as the saying goes, things only begin here in Brazil after Carnival and, hopefully this is true.

400 copies A publication directed to members of the Fundação Britânica de Beneficência Editor Derrick Marcus dmarcus@osite.com.br Graphic design project Eólica Graphic design Casamarela Arquitetura e Design Printing Gráfica Forma Certa Proof Reading Alison Steel British Society São Paulo Fundação Britânica de Beneficência Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 741 1st Floor, Brazilian British Centre, Pinheiros 05428-002 São Paulo SP Tel.: +55 (11) 3813 7080 contact@britishsociety.org.br

NEXT ISSUES OF THE BULLETIN Nº 114 May/Jun 2017 Deadline Apr 7th Nº 115 Jul/Aug 2017 Deadline Jun 7th

I have had a look at my editorials for the last three years where I wrote about poor economic results, scandals of corruption, the lethargic and complicated bureaucratic judiciary system, and the Zika problem of last year.

I could have copied it directly

for this year and added unemployment, Yellow Fever, Brexit, and Donald Trump for some external comments... Unfortunately, nothing seems to have changed... Hopefully, the editorial for 2018 will be looking at happier times. Sadly, we have a couple of major community events clashing due to lack of cooperation and getting the events published in our community calendar. The calendar is a major way not only to publish your event, but to avoid these clashes. Organizers go to a lot of effort to put these events together, so please check out the dates. Derrick Marcus

SASPD – ST.ANDREW SOCIETY PIPES & DRUMS

WHO SAYS NOTHING EXCITING HAPPENS AT SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE PRACTICES ? A few years ago at a Scottish Country Dance Club practice evening, there appeared Manish Arana, from Allahabad, in India, who wanted to join us. No problem, and to our very pleasant surprise, he had reel dancing experience from a Scottish Group in Germany. He not only joined us, but taught us a very difficult reel called “Marie’s Wedding “. Manish also joined the pipe band as a highland dancer - It was great to have him with us- During 2016, Manish had to return home to India for his work at the local university. However, in mid 2016 we received news that he was going to get married and sent us all an invitation. The result was twelve of us went to India and his home town, Allahabad for his three-day wedding which took place in December. Wow, what a fantastic trip for all of us. - Many of us had never been to such an exotic country ,and do you know what? We all danced the reel, “Marie’s Wedding“at the wedding together with Manish and his wife. Pipe Bands in South America We are now preparing for our BURNS SUPPER event and are also preparing for the mega event for all THE 7th GATHERING OF SOUTH AMERICAN PIPE BANDS – to be held in SANTIAGO – Chile on 24th to 26th NOVEMBER 2017. Last year, 2016, we concentrated on the music and level required for us to perform at the BERLIN MILITARY TATTOO. This year we will be concentrating on teaching piping ,drumming and highland dancing to new students as well as attracting back those who had stopped coming to band practices and we hope that they will rejoin us. The pipe band has picked up instruments again after a month`s holiday

Colin Pritchard – D/M New facebook page – www.facebook.com/saspd. banda-de-gaita-de-fole

BRITISH SOCIETY

Additional notes on the Annual General Meeting Trustees held in November 2016. Mr. Andrew George Macdonald, O.B.E. / Alteration to the FBB Statutes was made in relation to the election of Trustees. Senior Trustee Mr. Douglas Munro Article 10 of the statutes altered to allow former Chair- Mr. John Pacey man of the FABEC board to vote on the selection of Mr. Derek Barnes / Ex-officio Trustees and those to be voted for as Trustees of FBB. Elected members to serve for 2017 Other decisions at the meeting Mr. Michael Betenson Chairman Acceptance of the resignation letters tended by both Mrs. Rachel Govier Vice-Chairman Graham Nye and Christopher Reid as Trustees, result- Mr. Nicholas McCarthy Treasurer ing from their transferring residence to outside Brazil. Mr. Matthew Govier Secretary Election of Andrew Macdonald to complete the re- Mr. Robert Filshill Councillor I maining term of Graham Nye Electron Douglas Munro Mr. Marcos Versteeg Councillor II & President to complete the remaining term of Christopher Reid. of BSSP Fiscal Council In accordance with the new Statutes, the past Chairmen of the FBB and FABEC have elected John Pacey as Mr. Jeremy Taylor President of the Fiscal Council Trustee for a three-year term. Mr. Stuart Duncan Fiscal Councillor Ms. Susan Hawkins Fiscal Councillor The composition of the FBB Board for 2017 will, therefore, be as follows: Welfare in Numbers: 71 assisted members: of the community with 41 on a watch list by remote contact. Over Ex-officio Members (without vote) 3100 hours accompanying patients to doctor’s appointments. Acting HBM Ambassador to Brazil, Mr. Wasim Mir – Dep. Hd. Missions (Honorary President) Finance HBM Consul General, Ms. Joanna Crellin The President of the Royal British Legion, Mr. Derek GPS / GRIFFO (Investment Manager) continue to manage Barnes the Representative of St. Paul’s Anglican the Ashworth Fund and other financial investments. Cathedral, Bishop Roger Bird BDO, Auditors for 2015/2016, approved Accounts with Ex-officio Members (with vote) no qualifications.. The Fiscal Committee examined and approved the accounts.under custody of the British SoThe Chairman of the Board of St. Paul’s School, Mr. ciety Anthony Jezzi

BRITISH SOCIETY

Reais

2016

2015

Net Tangible Assets

21.39 MM*

19.74MM*

Yearly Deficit/Surplus

1.65 MM

(927k)

*Source: BDO report; includes R$ 629.347 held by the Royal British Legion

A new objective introduced last year was to diversify our sources of income. We held two donation campaigns resulting in R$24,000 total. In May, we launched the first membership campaign resulting in R$15,000 total. Needless to say, volunteers are also an asset for any non-profit organization and we are proud to say that, in its first campaign, we had 44 volunteers, 116 students, a total of 980 volunteers.

Sources of income 2015-16: • 90% from financial investment returns; • 10% from other sources (ie. donations, rental income). Investment objective: To protect the capital, guarantee liquidity for a full year’s operation and obtain returns on investments to cover costs, inflation and to cover future increases in offered services. Communications We launched the digital format of Spotlight, which increased the reach of readers by 40% without incurring more costs. We also re-launched our Facebook page and created a new Linkedin page. On the social side, BSSP´s goals for the 2015-16 financial year, were to strengthen relations between organizations within our Community, act as a hub for communication and reach out for more members. Our partnerships with the schools in the Community Service Projects increased as we maintained our relationship with St. Francis College Senior School and, in its first year, with St. Pauls School. We also participated in a fund-raising event for Charity – International Day at St. Paul’s School where Fundação Britânica de Beneficência received 50% of the proceeds of the profits of the UK Stall (R$ 6,000).

The traditional Queen’s Birthday Party was also a fundraising initiative resulting in R$ 6,500 profit on the evening.,and last but not less important, a sincere thank you was given to Associação Samaritano for the renewal of their long term relationship of support to the community Call for Volunteers Want to do some good - in English - and have spare time? Join our high spirited team of volunteers. At BSSP, we take great care in matching people´s natural interest to the roles we have vacant. We strongly believe motivation is the glue to keep a volunteer committed, whatever the cause may be. Our job roles vary from helping out in the office ( Office Assistant) to writing articles for Spotlight News Bulletin, to tutoring a Community Service project with teenage students – and more! Charlotte V. Cowell Jancsó Tel.: +55 11 97654.0993 / +55 11 3813-7080

CARAJÁS SCOUT GROUP AT THE PAN-AMERICAN JAMBOREE IN ECUADOR

Written by Kim Govier The Carajás Scouts celebrated New Year in the best possible place: at a Jamboree! The Pan-American Jamboree, or JamCam, took place in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The event, held from December 27th to January 2nd at Samanes Park, was for scouts (11 to 14 years old) and senior scouts (15 to 17 years old). After the Jamboree we toured Ecuador until the 9th, visiting volcanoes, cities and national parks. We left Brazil early on the 26th and, in the evening, were already taking a stroll alongside the river Guayas, on a commercial stretch called Malecon. We soon felt the heat of Guayaquil that would accompany us for the next seven days. Our Jamboree experience was about to begin and excitement filled the air. We were then separated into two patrols: the senior patrol named Jaguar and the scout patrol named Jaguatirica. We were located in separate sub-camps, each one with its own programme. The opening ceremony took place at night and involved typical Ecuadorian dances and music, along with a

speech given by Rafael Correa, the president of Ecuador, who had been a scout. The JamCam offered many activities for the scouts and seniors to enjoy. During the Nations Fair, all 25 participating countries prepared something typical at their stands and we were able to visit them, taking part in games and tasting exotic food, including Scotland, Poland and South Korea. We served typical Brazilian food such as brigadeiros, paçoca, goiabada, and bananinha. Another activity was“Evolupark”, in which we competed against patrols from other countries in many physical games. One of the best days was when we visited Salinas beach, where we were able to enjoy the sun, sand and sea. We also went to the centre of Guayaquil and visited an iguana park! The seniors had the opportunity to hike to a very pretty waterfall in the mountains of Bucay, right after having tried to lasso some horses on a farm. Last but not least, everyone joined in a community service project where the seniors planted trees around the park and the scouts collected trash and did some painting in a school. To be continued....

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CULTURAL SYNOPSIS

This is the Dragon Fruit, Pitaya, which you may plant in pots and then enjoy the beautiful, juicy cactus fruit on hot summer days. You normally find it in special shops but also in some supermarkets in the colours white or mauve. Just peel it, haive it and eat it in chunks.

Wire sculptures by Derek Kinzett who spent his childhood in Dodington Park, a breathtaking estate in Gloucestershire, which was designed by Capability Brown (1764). He now lives in Wiltshire with his family and his art is exhibited by the Tate Gallery. Lighthouses. Who has never wished to climb a light house to the top and admire the sea or fear waves hitting it sometimes as high as its top.. They are still in action and some are really famous. The Lighthouse, Les Eclaireurs, in Jules Verne’s book ‘The Lighthouse at the

End of the World’, located in the Beagle Channel in the Ushuaia. The book was published in 1905 and adapted into a film on piracy as ‘The Light at the Edge of the World’. In England one can still see the ruins of the Dover Castle Lighthouse and, in Scotland the Bell Rock Lighthouse. There was a great dynasty of engineers specializing in lighthouse building in the XIX century. Once in Scotland I cannot but remember Nessie in Loch Ness. You can appreciate a naif painting about Nessie, ‘O Monstro da Lagoa’ by naif painter, Isabel de Jesus, in Jacques Ardie’s gallery (R. Morgado de Mateus, 579, V.Mariana, S. T. 55397500). A gallery with a large variety of Brazilian naif paintings at a very good price. Visit www.jarcquesardies.com

Let’s hope for a better year. When 100,000 Buddhist monks are praying for a better world, when a 10m deep lake suddenly appears in the Tunisian desert, when Iceland has one of the largest gun ownership rates in the world but the lowest crime rates, one really has to believe that things are improving! Christina Thornton

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HISTORY: THE PORTUGUESE AND BRITISH NAVIES, 1750 - 1815

Continuation of the historic data on the Portuguese and British navies, written by Kenneth H. Light, honorary member of the Brazilian Historic and Geographic Institute and the British Historical Society of Portugal. On board, sailors worked in two shifts, port and starboard, for periods of four hours on tasks in well defined areas of the ship. Thus, the day was divided into a period of work followed by a period of rest, except in an emergency due to the weather or the enemy. Food consisted of dry or salted victuals such as meat, oats, sugar, peas, bread and cheese. Live animals, fresh vegetables and fruit would be delivered daily to the ship when in port. In the British Navy each sailor was entitled to a daily ration consisting of either a gallon of beer, a quart of wine or a pint of rum diluted in the proportion of two of water to one of rum. Weekly, lime or lemon juice was distributed to avoid scurvy. A 74 carried some 250 tons of water. Daily consumption was about 2 tons, but could be considerably less should it prove necessary. Health, on board, was precarious. Typhoid and yellow fever decimated the crews; syphilis, hernias and accidents on board were common. The British Admiralty registered, during the period 1793-1815, 6,500 deaths due to enemy action, 13,000 due to collective accidents (fire and shipwreck) and 70-80,000 due to disease and individual accidents.

Strict but fair discipline on board a fighting ship was of paramount importance. The guidelines were laid down in the Articles of War, regularly read out to the crew; usually when mustered for Divine Service on Sundays. The penalty for violation of many of the Articles of War was death. The more usual punishment for lesser offences such as drunkenness, fighting, stealing and falling asleep whilst on duty, was flogging; carried out with the cat-oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;-nine-tails (nine pieces of rope each with three knots tied at intervals). More serious offenders would be taken by boat from ship to ship and flogged before each shipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crew. Officers were not immune from punishment: Admiral John Byng, court-marshalled for failing to prevent the French from taking Minorca in 1756, was shot on the quarterdeck of HMS Monarch. Little spare time remained for amusement: musical instruments, plays, story tellers and handicraft were the only alternatives. In port it was usual for prostitutes to be brought on board; in 1805 Revenge, that carried a crew of 600 men, recorded that 450 prostitutes had come on board (at the same time). Sometimes women would be hidden on board at the start of a voyage; they would remain until they could be transferred to another ship returning to port. Strange cases recorded included that of William Chandler in 1795 (whose real name was Mary Lacy); she managed to pass for a man and serve on several war ships during a period of 12 years, until her sex was discovered! To be continued....

ASSOCIAÇÃO DE AMPARO AOS ANIMAIS The Associação is not only concerned with animals, although they are the main focus of our work. We are concerned with all living beings interconnected by the spark of life. People, as well as animals, struggle not only to survive, but to prevail. Some excellent quotes offered to our readers, taken from a site called A Conscious Rethink: There are only two ways to live your life; one is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. Albert Einstein To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else. Arthur Schopenhauer Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms: to choose one´s attitude in any given circumstances, to choose one´s own way. Viktor Frankl Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. Mother Teresa We don´t see things as they are, we see them as we are. Anais Nin Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, or art. It has no survival value, rather it is one of those things which give value to survival. C.S.Lewis

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. Epicurus What we know is a drop, what we don´t know is an ocean. Isaac Newton Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. Thomas A. Edison One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again. Abraham Maslow No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Nelson Mandela Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. Winston Churchill Lula May Reed

THE GREAT WESTERN OF BRAZIL RAILWAY

Another extract by William Edmuson, from his book The

generous since there was now a de facto exclusive right to

Great Western of Brazil Railway.

undertake commerce with all the ports of Brazil, at least while the war continued in Europe. Britain was the only

On 12 August 1807, Portugal received a note signed by

‘friendly nation’ with the wherewithal to conduct commerce

both France and Spain, who were allies before Napoleon’s

on the scale suddenly offered by the colony of Brazil with

army entered Spain later that year, declaring that if Dom

all her potential. It is significant too that a later decree,

João Maria de Bragança, Prince Regent of Portugal, did

issued on 1 April 1808, permitted colonials for the first time

not declare war against Britain by the first of September

to set up manufacturing industry in Brazil, and that this right

and send back the English minister, then war would be

was extended to foreigners. At the same time, as a favour

declared on Portugal. Napoleon also demanded that the

to Portuguese shipping caught in Brazil, the Portuguese

Portuguese ambassador be recalled from London; that all

court decided to limit the Brazilian ports permitted to en-

the English residents in Portugal be seized and their prop-

gage in foreign trade to Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Maranhão

erty confiscated; that the ports of the kingdom be closed

(São Luis), Pará (Belém), and Pernambuco (Recife).

to the British; and that, without delay, his armies and fleets be united with those of the rest of the continent against

However, truly preferential rights for commerce with Brazil

Britain. Dom João froze, uncertain about how to respond,

— rights which Britain had enjoyed hitherto with Portugal

but fearful that the Portuguese monarchy would be swal-

— actually came two years later. In April 1808, Viscount

lowed by Napoleon. At the last moment, as the French

Strangford was named envoy extraordinary and minister

army entered Portugal, Dom João agreed to the British

plenipotentiary to the Portuguese court, now based in the

offer to convoy him and his mother Dona Maria I (“mad

capital of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. He arrived in Brazil in July

Maria”) to the colony of Brazil, along with members of the

1808. Britain’s foreign secretary, George Canning, had given

royal family, the entire nobility of the court, and their ser-

Strangford the task of negotiating a treaty of friendship and

vants and hangers-on — between 8,000 and 15,000 people

commerce, instructing him to base this on the existing pref-

in all — on thirty-six ships, hugging half the money then in

erential arrangements that Britain had enjoyed to this point

circulation in Portugal.

with Portugal. Strangford was enormously successful in his mission and, on 19 February 1810, treaties were signed

The Prince Regent Dom João and his entourage arrived

between Portugal and Britain that covered alliance and

first in Salvador, in the captaincy of Bahia of All Saints , on

friendship, as well as commerce and navigation. These

22 January 1808. Within a few days of his arrival, Dom João

treaties, in reality, reflected Portuguese and British interests

was being pressed by the British for a quid pro quo for

in opening up markets in Brazil. No Brazilian colonist was

having escorted the royal household to Brazil, and by the

party to the negotiations and final drafting of the agree-

colonists in Bahia who could now no longer trade with

ments.

Portugal, and were anyway fed up of the current colonial pact of monopoly of trade with Portugal. Succumbing to

In negotiating the treaties, the Portuguese court had in

being squeezed from both sides, Dom João issued a decree

mind almost exclusively the necessities of Portugal itself.

(known as a Carta Regia) entitled ‘Opening of the Ports to

No Brazilian was in the ministry or in the Prince Regent’s

Friendly Nations’ on 28 January 1808. This opened Brazilian

council of state to fight for the welfare of the colony and

ports to direct commerce with “friendly nations,” after three

point out the stipulations which would be detrimental to

hundred years of colonialism that had suffocated Brazil and

its interests.

stifled trade. Britain had lobbied for just one port in Brazil to be opened exclusively to trade, but now became the main beneficiary of the decree. This deal was much more

To be continued....

SPOTLIGHT HUMOUR Can you relate??

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9. I wish the buck really did stop here, I sure could use a few of them.

As I was lying around, pondering the problems of the world, I realized that, at my age, I don’t really care any more. If

10. Kids in the back seat cause accidents.

walking is good for your health, the postman would be immortal. A whale swims all day, only eats fish, drinks water,

11. Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

but is still fat. A rabbit runs and hops and only lives 15 years, while a tortoise doesn’t run and does mostly nothing, yet

12. It’s hard to make a comeback when you haven’t been

it lives for 150 years. And you tell me to exercise?? I don’t

anywhere.

think so. Just grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked, the good fortune to remember the ones I do,

13. The world only beats a path to your door when you’re

and the eyesight to tell the difference.

in the bathroom.

Now that I’m older here’s what I’ve discovered:

14. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he’d have put them on my knees.

1. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it. 15. When I’m finally holding all the right cards, everyone 2. My wild oats are mostly enjoyed with prunes and all-bran.

wants to play chess.

3. I finally got my head together, and now my body is fall-

16. It’s not hard to meet expenses . . . they’re everywhere.

ing apart. 17. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the 4. Funny, I don’t remember being absent-minded.

depth.

5. Funny, I don’t remember being absent-minded.

18. These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter . . I go somewhere to get something, and then

6. If all is not lost, then where the heck is it.

wonder what I’m “here after”.

7. It was a whole lot easier to get older than to get wiser.

19. Funny, I don’t remember being absent-minded.

8. Some days, you’re the top dog, some days you’re the

20. HAVE I SENT THIS MESSAGE TO YOU BEFORE.........?

hydrant.

or did I get it from you?

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING

TECHNOPHOBIA Technophobia, as the name implies, is the fear or intense dislike of technology. The first thing many of us do most mornings is to check our emails and text messages, and many of the hours that follow are spent staring at screens, whether we are just browsing through Facebook or doing some serious research. Therefore, a lack of technology skills can be an isolating and serious handicap to people with technophobia.

with sustained help from a “guru” (possibly a teenager), technology need not be scary or difficult to master, one step at a time, at least to the level necessary for the learner’s daily needs. Neither should we be afraid of making mistakes, as that is an important part of any learning process.

What still seems very scary (at least to me) is the danger of hackers and cyber crime, especially cyber-terrorism. To understand technophobia we must first understand For that reason I avoid “posting” personal or sensitive that technology’s “invasion” into our lives has been information on Facebook, and still avoid banking or faster than any other Industrial Revolution in history. shopping online. But perhaps I’m just being phobic! Other “modern” developments such as the printing press, telephone, electricity, television and air travel took Penny Freeland is a British qualified counsellor and longer to become so ubiquitous, so men and women coach. For further information please contact had longer to adjust their mindsets. I was a late “con- PenelopeFreeland@gmail.com vert” to emails (and still miss hand-written letters), so can quite understand how we become overwhelmed All communication will remain confidential. by, and even afraid of, these changes to our lifestyles. A normal defence is to claim that “the old way is better”, but there is no going back. Technology is here to stay and, without it, society would fall apart. In fact, robotics and artificial intelligence will soon replace many jobs, requiring us to keep updating our skills throughout life, or risk losing our jobs and/or becoming even more isolated in today’s world. Technophobia is not a shameful thing. Nor is it a sign of laziness or a negative reflection on the intellectual capacity of the individual. The information overload and the relentless pace of change makes it difficult for many of us (myself included) to learn new skills fast enough to keep up with this new “language”. Most Spotlight readers are first generation technology “immigrants”, unlike our children and grandchildren who were born into the generation of iPads and smartphones. However,

HEALTH AND FITNESS

SWEET SCREAMS For many years we thought that cholesterol and fatty foods were the real menace. Little did we know that we were freely consuming another foe: sugar. In the meantime, several medical organizations and health foundations in the United States accepted sponsorship from big soda companies, which lobbied against most or all of the bills intended to reduce soda consumption or improve nutrition. The problem with medical organizations accepting money from a soda company is that they may become unwitting partners that contribute to corporate marketing, muting or even neutralizing opposition to the role soda companies play in the obesity epidemic. As a result of the epidemic, todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generation of parents may be the first to outlive their children. The UK government recently announced an introduction of a 20% tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in 2017. Researchers have estimated that a 15% reduction in sugar consumption would prevent 180,000 people in the UK from becoming obese within a year, and a larger number from becoming overweight. The scientific evidence, however, goes beyond a mere reduction in calories. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (those who do not depend on insulin for glucose control) between 1988 and 2012 increased by 25% in both obese and normal-weight populations, showing that this condition is not related purely to obesity. An econometric analysis of 175 countries revealed that for every additional 150 sugar calories available for consumption, there was an 11-fold increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the population. A high-quality prospective study revealed a trebling in cardiovascular mortality among US adults who consumed more than 25% of calories from added sugars versus those who consumed less than 10%. Those findings were con-

sistent across physical activity levels and body mass indexes. For the purpose of health, the optimum consumption of added sugar is zero. The consumption of just small amounts of free sugar, which includes all added sugar, and sugar present in fruit juice, syrups an honey, has a deleterious impact on the most common noncommunicable disease globally: tooth decay. According to researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, there is a powerful argument to recommend a maximum limit of sugar consumption of no more than 3% of daily calories. The average UK or US citizen, however, consumes at least four to seven times that amount. In spite of being so prevalent in the food environment, most of the sugar is hidden. In the United States, almost half of all sugar consumption comes from foods such as ketchup, salad dressings and bread. There is nothing wrong with the occasional treat, but sugar has no place as part of a healthy balanced diet. It seems that sugar is the new tobacco, and should be treated that way. MICHAEL ROY SMITH, M.D. MOBILE ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY Phone: 99183-2093 E-mail: mrsmith@terra.com.br

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THE SÃO PAULO GARDEN CLUB “The São Paulo Garden Club welcomes visitors! Come and meet us at our first General Meeting of the year on Tuesday, March 21st at 2:00pm in the hall of St Paul’s Cathedral. There will be a demonstration of basic flower arranging.”   The Sao Paulo Garden Club Annual Flower Show will be held on September 30th to October 1st at the British Brazilian Center.

ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL Choral Society at St. Paul’s St. Paul’s School has a thriving Choral Society comprising staff, parents, former pupils and staff, and friends of the school. It rehearses each Friday during term time from 3.30 to 4.45 pm in the school’s music department. Wine is served and the rehearsals are in English. The choir has singers of a wide range of experience, ranging from none at all to those who are professional singers. The emphasis is on fun music making, vocal technique and performing repertoire not often heard in São Paulo. There are no auditions and everyone is made very welcome. Past concerts include Vivaldi’s Gloria, Fauré’s Requiem part of Handel’s Messiah and a range of British anthems for the Queen’s birthday year. There is an annual Carol Service and also the Remembrance service at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Do e-mail the Director of Music, Lee Ward at lw@stpauls. br if you are interested in hearing more about the choir or attending a rehearsal. We hope you will join us.

DOCTOR ALBERT SCHWEITZER Tough going in building and maintaining the hospital William Moffitt Harris Miss Emma in a long letter to the Fellowship in 1946 mentioned that it was a great privilege to help Dr. Schweitzer throughout the War years due to his leadership and courage. She tells of how, after the daily duties, he used to play on the piano adapted with organ pedals through the early hours and silence of the night. The music meant very much to her especially due to being so far from home and for so long. She also mentioned the misery around them that made them keen to continue their work as long as their strength held out. The compound lacked electricity except for the operating and dental rooms. The staff, including Dr. Schweitzer, had to read by kerosene lamps. There was no airstrip, no telephone, no electricity except the feeble one from an emergency battery, nor radio save his very primitive one. There he encountered right from the beginning when he got there all sorts of difficulties and obstacles in his work to build a hospital. Labor was hard to find, not that the local people were not interested, but they were unprepared for the kind of craftsmanship Schweitzer badly needed. Much time went by before the doctor managed to train people as masons and carpenters whilst Mrs. Schweitzer got to work teaching the local helpers how to make beds, sterilize and wrap bandages and do the dressings. While building the hospital, the couple decided to only occupy a single room of the three bedroom house reserved for the doctor. They started admitting the most needy into the corridors and the other rooms and quarters of the house. A chicken run near the house was used as a consulting room at the beginning where people lined up patiently, each one waiting for their own turn.

A couple of young civil and mechanical engineers stayed on only for a few months as their knowledge was almost useless there. They were shown how to deal with local available materials but rather preferred trying to teach basic modern engineering. Doctor Schweitzer’s planned hospital buildings were spacious enough to accommodate the patients undergoing treatment as well as their families and animals. The walls contained as many holes as possible to let the rare wind blow entirely through all the buildings. No doors impeded circulation of any kind and the buildings were positioned in such a way that the blistering sunlight could not harm those inside. The engineers argued as much as they could but Schweitzer, pointing to his compass, beat back and took them inside his house for a drink. The wind was scarce save when the stormy season came along between May and October and the fine dust from the alluvium and sandstone ground was substituted by thick mud all over the place. Due to its proximity to the Equator one is sweaty all day in Lambarènè because of the heat and humidity in the rainy season. Against the doctors’ orders, the population bathed and washed their clothes in the nearby river several times a day. Most of the heavy hard work was the responsibility of the women while the men lounged in their hammocks among the trees hosting friends and visitors from neighboring villages, especially when newborn kiddies came along. It was the custom for the women to deliver their babies on the riverside banks squatting on their haunches, washing themselves and putting the babies in slings over their backs whilst continuing with their delving right there. It was not at all easy to convince the female population to have their children in brand new maternity wards with trained midwives. To be continued...

SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR FAMILIES

The Brazilian Civil Code determines that 50% of the estate of deceased people must go to their direct descendants (children and grandchildren) or, when they do not exist, to their direct ascendants (parents and grandparents). Depending on marital status, spouses or civil partners may also be heirs. Due to this compulsory transfer, people living in Brazil usually do not spend time planning for their succession and wills are rare, when compared to people living in the UK, where wills prevail and people can decide what happens to their assets after they death. One aspect that people often forget is that, despite the compulsory destination of one half, any people living in Brazil can plan the destination of the second half and even decide what assets (money, property and possessions) will compose each half. It is legally possible to leave one type of assets to one heir and another type to another, as a strategy to mitigate disputes and perpetuate a legacy. I think that everyone has already heard a lot of stories about estates destroyed by dispute and companies broken by incompetent â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;next-generationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; managers. Succession planning endeavours to avoid that, and wills and special purpose companies are important tools in both organizing the transfer of estates and building a legacy.

Throughout time, people worked to build their legacies. Kings stamped theirs faces on coins and commissioned statues and palaces; scholars published their works and business people gave their names to their companies, but, above all, we tried to perpetuate our legacy through our very own descendants and the values we expressed in our life. Some British citizens of our community could not have heirs, but decided to leave their legacy making generous donations to the foundation. Helen Stacey, Milton Ashworth and Mary Speers are just some of those who enabled our community to serve our elders with care and respect for the last 70 years. Their philanthropic efforts have also played a fundamental role in keeping the British community together. Would we keep our ties without the plans that these individuals made to their estates? Hardly. This brief article is the first of a series of texts focused on succession planning, the value of philanthropy and the importance of building a legacy. We hope they can motivate and engage the community to plan for the next 70 years of the British Society in SĂŁo Paulo. Eduardo Szazi Dr. Szazi is a lawyer, PhD in Law and specialised in philanthropy and social responsibility

WINTER - BATTLE OF THE SEASONS BY ED. FREEMAN

The origins of the word winter are not entirely clear, but

And so, the emotional rollercoaster of December plunges

best guesses are that its roots lie in the Proto-Indo-European

us into the two-month hangover of January and February.

for wed, meaning wet, or wind- meaning white. It is indic-

Fact: January is named after a Roman God, Janus, who is

ative if nothing else.

depicted as having two heads, or being two-faced, if you will. And it is with this sense of delusion that we trudge

December, January and February are the culprits, when

back to work, tired and dejected, under the cover of dark-

the trees stand bare and frost begins stake its claim to a

ness.

barren landscape. Daylight is precious and our collective mind-set is one of precipitative perseverance. With curtains

We repent the excesses of the year that was and make

drawn we nestle down for the long haul. Google searches

peace with our most merciful of gyms, whilst personal

spike as sun-starved commuters yearn for tropical escape.

trainers named Brad sanction our abstinence from alcohol,

Singletons rue their autumnal malaise and perilously con-

chocolate and anything else remotely interesting. A dark

template Tinder. You could always go for a walk. Except

cloud hangs listlessly over our once sun-drenched lives.

you can’t; frozen windscreens, icy pavements and polar

Children return to school with feverish intent, bringing

winds. Winter, we must concede, is an indoor season.

home nothing more than influenza and infection; so much for our immunisation.

But wait, what’s that reminiscent bouquet in the air? Spicy, tangy, hints of pine, a waft of cinnamon. Who says we can’t

But, wait, something’s amiss. The sky is awash with a grey,

go outside in December, you cry with recalibrating senses,

watery light today. The air is heavy, but dry. The wind has

it’s Christmas!

subsided, but it’s impossibly cold. And then, in a moment of barometrical wonder, infinitesimal dust particles co-

And just like that we are rescued from our wintry wallow

alesce with water vapour to produce tiny ice crystals, which

by a raft of yuletide commercialism. There are stockings

dutifully begin their journey southwards, developing as

to fill and tinsel to adorn, and we simply must replace the

they do into unique six-sided snowflakes of infinite pos-

couch if we’re having your lot round this year. Whether

sibility. The initial sprinkling flatters to deceive, but all is

you love it or hate it, nothing unites the family more than

forgiven once we wake to a powdery chaos. With public

a dried-out turkey, some figgy pudding and a new sofa.

transport in disarray, school’s out for the winter.

OK, so there’s a slight tendency to go overboard – sym-

And so we thrust ourselves henceforth into our newfound

bolism often cast aside in the name of good will and he-

wonderland. Trees, which have long stood naked, now

donism - but no other season grants such celebratory li-

frame a fairy-tale scene; robins perch on their snow-dusted

cense. Christmas is our seasonal booster, our inoculation

extremities, decorating an otherwise pristine canvas with

against the winter blues. And there’s more joviality beyond

their red bibs. Children frolic in the fresh snow, chilled to

the festive flatulence; there’s the Boxing Day sales, the

the bone, but happy. Even with swollen fingers and rosy

astutely named tradition of wrestling to exchange un-

cheeks the cold is somehow refreshing; cleansing. Fathers,

wanted gifts, the obligatory visit to the in-laws and, then,

powerless to resist, fashion sleighs from old baking trays

the cheery crescendo known as New Year’s Eve. The latter,

and discarded dustbin lids. Frozen puddles crack under-

despite being coveted by so many, is often nothing more

foot as if to let the earth’s core breath once again.

than a damp squib. Granted, the rain doesn’t help, but with spirits downed and suitably dampened it’s as if we’ve

It melts our hearts, and then it’s gone. Only winter can toy

all run out of steam.

with our temperament so; it is climatic in every sense: euphoric, desolate and wonderful.

ST PAUL’S ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL

Now that the holiday season and Carnival are over, things in

Our families form the basis of society. Honour your family

Brazil start moving again. The activities at the Cathedral are

and your marriage.

back in full swing with:

You shall not steal.

• Services in English every Sunday morning at 10 o’clock. In

Our lives are insecure because many people prefer to rob

general Bp. Glauco S. de Lima presides at the service on the

others rather than honestly earn their possessions, and even

second Sunday of each month and Bp. Roger D. Bird does

they have the audacity to get upset if they themselves are

the rest. All the services offer Holy Communion and, at the

robbed.

end of the service, the Blessing of Health for physical, men-

You shall not be a false witness.

tal and spiritual health. Many lives have been ruined because of lies or half-truths • The Church Choir is growing under the baton of Mr. Graham

told about them.

Dickson-Place and new members are always welcome. Gen-

You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neigh-

erally the choir meets before the service to review the hymns

bour.

that will be sung that morning and after the service to prac-

It is simply a case of doing unto others (your neighbours) as

tise anthems and new hymns.

you would have them do unto you.

• Sunday School is offered to children of two years and up during the time of the service.

Although the reading that our Consul General read was writ-

• Services in Portuguese are offered on Sundays at 8:00 a.m.,

ten over 2,500 years ago, it offers us hope for the future. The

noon and 6:30 p.m. as well as on Wednesdays at 7:45 p.m.

prophet Micah foretells what the future will be like when God

• The Sewing Group meets on Mondays at 9:00 a.m.

comes to establish His kingdom on earth at the end of

• All services in English or Portuguese are recorded on video

time.

and can be viewed on-line or at a later date on the site: www.

• It will be a time when God’s commandments will be followed

catedralanglicana.tv.br

and justice will rule the earth. • It will be a time when war will be abolished and peace will

Some of the special events coming up are:

reign on earth.

• On 26th March, the fourth Sunday of Lent, we will be cel-

• It will be a time when all shall live on their own property and

ebrating Mothering Sunday when we ask all those present

not be slaves to others.

to bring with them a flower to the 10 o’clock service. We will

• It will be a time of freedom of choice when God will even

then build a floral cross in honour of our mothers, living or

allow people to choose which god they want to worship.

deceased. May we put our trust in this hope for this future. Amen. • On 13th April, Maundy Thursday, we will have a special service at 7:30 p.m. when we celebrate the institution of Holy

Bishop Roger Bird

Communion by our Lord Jesus Christ at the Last Supper with his disciples and also recall his lesson of humility given by his example in the washing of their feet. • On 16th April, Easter Sunday, we will be celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour at the 10 o’clock service in English. This year, the Annual Clothing Sale will be held only on Sat-

Dean Rev. Aldo B Quintão - Bishop Roger D. Bird Bishop Glauco S. de Lima Rua Com Elias Zarzur, 1239 Alto da Boa Vista, São Paulo 04736-000

urday 6th May from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday 7th from 9 to 10 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Please note there will be no sale on the Friday.

Tel/Fax (11) 5686.2180 www.catedralanglicana.tv.br

GENERAL COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Event

Date

Time

Place

Sponsor

General Meeting

March 21

14.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

São Paulo Garden Club

Mothering Sunday

March 26

10.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Scotish Country Dance Parctice April 03

20.15

Brazilian British Centre

St. Andrew Society

Palm Sunday Service

April 09

10.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Maundy Thursday Service

April 13

19.30

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Easter Sunday Service

April 16

10.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Start 25th Alpha Course

April 27

19.45

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

St. Paul’s School Prep Musical

Apr 28/29

to confirm

St. Paul’s School

School Festival

Apr 29

10-17.00

St. Paul’s School

Legion Churrasco

May 06

12.00

SPAC Santo Amaro

Royal British Legion

Clothing Sale

May 06

8-16.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Clothing Sale

May 07

13 - 16.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Scotish Country Dance Practice May 08

20.15

Brazilian British Centre

St. Andrew Society

International Day

to confirm

St. Paul’s School

20.15

Brazilian British Centre

St. Andrew Society

SPAC Higienópolis

American Society

May 27

Scotish Country Dance Practice June 05 Winter Ceilidh

Aug 04

Pet Show

Aug 19

12 - 17.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Amparo aos Animais

Start 26th Alpha Course

Sept 02

15.30

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Start 27th Alpha Course

Sept 03

15.30

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Caledonian Ball

Sept 23

Espaço Transatlântico

American Society

Legion Churrasco

Sept 30

SPAC Santo Amaro

Royal British Legion

Annual Flower Show

Sept 30/ Oct 01

Brazilian British Centre

São Paulo Garden Club

White Elephant Bazaar

Oct 28

11 - 16.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Remembrance Sunday Service Nov 12

10.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Royal British Legion

Christmas Bazaar

Dec 02

11 - 16.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Christmas Service

Dac 17

18.30

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Christmas Day Service

Dec 25

10.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

12.00

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