Spotlight News Bulletin by British Society São Paulo

SPOTLIGHT NEWS BULLETIN

German Christmas Market - Birmingham www.visitbritain.com

Nยบ 111 NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2016

EDITORIAL

spotlight news bulletin edition

The year 2016 is almost over, and so many events have marked its passing. The Olympics in Rio, the impeachment of the president, the ongoing and numerous activities of the Lava Jato cases ,.Brexit, the American Presidential elections, the municipal elections , and the sad refugee problems around the world, just to mention a few top of the mind cases. During the year, our community celebrated various activities, the Queen´s Birthday celebration, ¨churrascos¨, cocktail parties, dances, bazaars and other charitable events put together by t he community.

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

Sadly, as in every year we said farewell to loved ones whom we remember at this time, but we also welcomed new ones into our fold. December is the month we hold the Annual General meeting of the British Society of São Paulo., where the officers who look after our community affairs are elected and the activities of the year are examined and discussed and future plans presented. This is your opportunity to participate and put your views forward . If you have something to say this is the time to say it. Please note that once again the British Society have opted to hold the meeting at St Paul´s School. It has come to my attention that many of our readers are concerned regarding the continuing publication of the printed edition of Spotlight. Let me state, that while the British Society are seriously examining the digital version, as long as I am the editor, and the British Society continues to sponsor their only printed communication with the community, print will continue. There is space for both. I would like to take this opportunity to thank most sincerely all our contributors for their regular and continued support. Wishing all of our readers a very happy Christmas and a healthy and successful 2017 Derrick Marcus

NEXT ISSUES OF THE BULLETIN Nº 112 Jan/Feb 2017 Deadline Dec 7th Nº 113 Mar/Apr 2017 Deadline Feb 7th

SASPD – ST.ANDREW SOCIETY PIPES & DRUMS Big turn out, with a full house , for a Friday night , St Andrew Society WINTER CEILIDH at the SPAC Town Club . The Pipe Band continues to practise hard for our mega event of the year, our participation in the BERLIN TATTOO which will take place on November 5th and 6th in the Berlin Arena. We will be performing with another ten European Pipe Bands. This is a great challenge for us and we are the first pipe band in South America to have been invited. As you can imagine ,we are over the moon with this invitation.

In our next article we will give you a report on this event. In the meantime we continue to teach piping and drumming and have our band practices at CULTURA INGLESA – SAUDE – every Sunday at 10.00 till 14.00 – ALL WELCOME Colin Pritchard – D.M WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SASPDPIPEBAND

BRITISH SOCIETY

Our Fear of Solitude - Newton Molon Many thinkers have already concluded that death is the fundamental theme of human thought. For Schopenhauer, death is the very muse of Philosophy and this is, for Aristotle, simply a preparation for it. Montaigne said that to philosophize is to learn how to die and even Epicurus, who spoke about happiness and life, had death as an obvious counterpoint. I believe that this is really how it is since, after all, that is what annihilates and it is impossible to think about this a posteriori. This omnipotence of death and the manner in which it is a protagonist in human thought, thankfully, doesn’t make it necessarily the greatest motive for people’s anguish. We are usually more vexed by the queue at the Poupa Tempo than with the fact that our existence is always at a close call: a clogged vein, a belonging that is coveted by someone else, an empty turtle shell dropped exactly on our head by an eagle. It is just as well that it is this way because it would be impossible to live if we didn’t have the capacity to disdain death. As I see it, however, more than death, what really terrifies us is solitude. I doubt that any religion would be successful if its promises of eternal life would not leave open a possibility of somehow re-encountering someone who has died earlier. Or at least give us a chance to re-establish links even if this is only with the creator. Real hell is solitude! Truly this, to be solitary, is probably at the top of the list of the reasons of our most constant afflictions. I am not speaking about a simple temporary privation of company. All of us have learned how to deal with this minimally ever since our first feedings. Certainly not without a negative consequence since our first hallucinations also occur at this time. But in general, between a “where?” and a “found it”! we start developing some breathing space that allows us to be alone with ourselves.

are in good company when we are alone with ourselves, our full existence seems to call for some external validation. Someone who would also find that joke funny, who shares our same thoughts, who feels similar indignation, who has the same weirdness, who likes the same flavour… ultimately, someone who can somewhat mirror us and guarantee that the meaning we give to things is also meaningful to someone else. We invented Communication with all its signs to escape from this solitude. First there was chaos, then the verb. Other species, such as felines, can deal in a different manner with existence, but we need others. We are presented to the world by another, who is also the one who presents the world to us. And we do the same with those who arrive later. Of course, we do acquire a relative autonomy, but it is always relative. A large part of the personal anguish that I listen to at the consulting room is aggrandized by another more classic and more general concern: is this normal? This question is about statistics, it is about solitude. Our madness, when minimally followed by others, lessens our distress. It becomes a gang, a club, a political party... If it is followed by many it becomes culture, a governmental system or scientific thinking. It is not madness that leads us to despair, it is solitude. Just like the pains of great lost loves are the pains of a solitude that appears irreparable.

Within the economy of our affections, many times we offer treasures in exchange for some illusionary insurance against solitude. Other times we misappropriate crumbs with the false assurance of self sufficiency. But the real issue is that just the fear of being abandoned, which is born with our impotence as babies who need warmth and food, is a ghost that every now and then comes back to haunt us. As years go by it is natural that we make and remake the accounting of our links that did not last. And it is reasonable that we ask about our own responsibility regarding the isolation we complain about It happens that, even though we strongly feel that we more and more in our times.

BRITISH SOCIETY

It is fundamental that our greater affective investments be for ourselves and there should be no feeling of guilt about this. It is only sustainable to offer that for which we have no absolute necessity, otherwise we will charge a return with additional losses and damages. It is necessary that our capacity to love include first ourselves so that it can successfully overflow and, in this manner, who knows, contribute towards including someone else. On the other hand, to accumulate love for oneself might make us become too worthy, too correct, too perfect… to send a silly message, to accept a trivial invitation, to simply say you’re sorry, to be aware of the solitude of others, or to ask for help when your own appears. Excess love for oneself ends up demanding

a great investment by others and that increases our risk of solitude. Links are made and undone because that is how it happens; demands are always made on both sides of the link. It is never possible to do it alone so it doesn’t help to take the blame about what has gone if it really has gone. The good thing is that we are always relatively close to someone, at home, at the bakery, on the bus, at work... or even, close to someone whose link is only a little dusty. At any rate not to like ourselves too much or too little could be a good way to keep solitude away. Article by : Newton Molon | psychoanalyst and writer - ndmolon@gmail.com Translation by Anne Marie Speyer | anne.speyer@gmail.com

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION On a cold and blustery Sunday morning at the end of September, nearly one hundred of the ‘more mature’ members of the British Community in São Paulo turned out to support the Legion in the second of its twice yearly churrascos. It was a good opportunity to get those nice woollen overcoats out of the back of the clothes cupboards and match them up with your favourite boots or heavy duty shoes and show that you were not afraid of the cold. The ready supply of caipirinhas and glasses of wine also helped everyone forget the weather and have a good time. Here is a picture of a few of the guests hoping to hear their names called out as the winners of the raffle were being announced: Front table: Gillian Govier, Rosemarie Barstad, Lula May Reed and Sue Burt. Second table front: Antonio and Barbara Lambert, Linda Wilson and Carlos Neves Second table back: Joan, Paul and Glen Smith. Third table (both standing and sitting): Michael Wyles, Meg Krinker, Ellen and Alasdair Kerr and Patrick Rentdorf

ASSOCIAÇÃO DE AMPARO AOS ANIMAIS We have a new website: www.amparoaosanimais.org. Check it out! The shelter has been refurbished, wire netting fixed, latches fixed, drains cleared, garden cleared and basic painting done.

Open to the public on weekdays in the afternoon: 1:00 to 5:00. (In the morning, the faxineiras do the cleaning, and are not allowed to answer the phone or the gate, or they would not be able to get anything done...) Our Administrator Lena arrives at 1:00 and stays until 5:00, doing everything – as well as answering the phone

and the gate, all the documentation and accounts. She also does the enrollment for neutering and spaying, which Dra. Chang does every two weeks, by appointment: tel. 4094-2059. and registers animals we receive. We have healthy young dogs and cats, mostly mixed breeds, of all ages, medium to small size for adoption. Can´t make up your mind what you want? Come and see... and adopt a lovable mutt that needs a home! We have found through experience that it is not worth opening on weekends for the very rare visitor, but if anyone would like to visit at any time, please contact Lula May Reed lulareed@gmail.com or tel. 3565-0779 and I will be happy to show you around. Lula May Reed

A MELHOR

de SÃO PAULO

O segredo para estar entre os melhores pela segunda vez consecutiva? Acreditar que sempre da para fazer melhor. Obrigada, alunos, equipe e parceiros. Se a Cultura Inglesa foi eleita a melhor escola de idiomas pela segunda vez consecutiva, o mérito é todo de vocês.

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“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” Albert Einstein

We empower pupils . to be passionate lifelong learners . to achieve academic and personal excellence . to be committed to impact the world positively Jardins Rua Bélgica, 399 Phone: 55 11 3905-6200 Fax: 55 11 3905-6211 Pinheiros Rua Joaquim Antunes, 678 Phone: 55 11 3728-8050 Fax: 55 11 3728-8051 www.stfrancis.com.br

CULTURAL SYNOPSIS

giant tube

A giant tube of architectural, artistic, technological design, immensely practical, devised to be presented at the Land Art Generator Initiative in Vancouver, Canada to produce four billion litres of drinking water from sea water. It functions using an eletromagnetic system which separates all particles, and the end result is clear drinking water. It can also produce water with 12% saltiness for spas and the used water can, eventually, be re-directed into the sea. Check during October to see whether this project won the competition and will be put into practice! Why continue talking about water scarcity in the world? The Tribunal de Justiça- Palace and Museum is situated in the Praça da Sé, São Paulo. The Project is by the Brazilian architect, Ramos de Azevedo but the foundation stone was only set in 1920. Most workers employed at the time were Italian or Spanish It was officially opened in 1933 and reinaugurated in 1942 to celebrate the 388th anniversary of the city of São Paulo. It was inspired by the Roman Palace of Justice and karyatids (female architectural support figures) decorate its´ front. It became a world monument in1981. There are three permanent exhibition areas: Sala Emeric Levai, Espaço Paulo Bonfim and Sala dos Passos Perdidos which is the main entrance hall. On one of the walls there is a replica of Raphael’s School of Athens. The hall consists of 16 red granite Ionic columns, the base and

capital in bronze, weighing 15 tons each. Its name refers to the many people who went past there, their steps all lost in time. Rábulas were freed slaves who attended law classes but would not receive a final certificate because they were black. So they were considered paralegal. Luiz Gonzaga da Gama (1830-1882), famous journalist, lawyer and defender of the poor,but a rábula, mason of the Great Masonic Lodge of the Americas, writer and poet of the XIX century who lived in São Paulo, was only awarded his diploma in law in 2015!. Opening hours are Mon-Fri, 11h to 17h. Entrance free. Visits must be booked. Museum: T 32955819/5816/5815. The Palace: T. 31121246. You may google into a virtual tour of the Museum and the Palace Escreve Cartas. A little girl, aged 7 asked to write a letter to Father Christmas. I asked her what she wanted; perhaps a doll or new clothes. She looked very intensely at me and said that she actually wanted a ‘panetone’ for her and her Mum, as people said that it tasted very good and they had never tried one.. If the Post Office advertises their Project Letters to Father Christmas this year, do go there and pick up a few letters to make some little girls and boys happy; perhaps with just a ‘panetone’. Christina Thornton

Tribunal de Justiça

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SÃO PAULO YATCHT CLUB This coming year (2017), SPYC has a lot to celebrate due to its 100th anniversary.

• 100 years serving the British and sailing community in São Paulo • Second home to 150 families of different backgrounds SPYC was founded in February 1917, shortly after the • 11 Traditional annual regattas Guarapiranga reservoir was created, by British ex-pat • Organizes, since 1952, the annual “Regata de Aber- managers of Mappin Department Store in São Paulo tura” bringing together 250 boats and 500 parti- who recognised the sailing potential of the lake. Sailing cipants boats were rare in São Paulo at the time so they used • Hosts National & State Championship regattas the wooden crates received from the UK home office to • Protects the Guarapiranga eco-environment build their own sailing boats and, in 1929, a house-boat which was used as the Clubhouse. The first Commodore To celebrate all this history SPYC launched the “Cen- was Mr. Bert Greenwood, Superintendent of Mappin tenary Project” involving several events next year: Stores. The Centenary Book Project To ensure this whole Centenary Project happens, SPYC A good quality hard cover and photographic book is organizing two special “crowdsourcing” funding camshowing the history of the club and its involvement paigns: with the community and sailing world. It talks about São Paulo in the early 1900s and the building of the 1) Puzzle Funding Campaign open to anyone. This inreservoir, the club’s history, sailing on the Guarapiranga, volves a double page where each piece represents a SPYC over the years and SPYC in pictures. puzzle to a picture that can be purchased by anyone interested in sponsoring the campaign in any way and • Centenary Gala Cocktail Party and Dinner – Book in exchange get a Book. launch & Commodore’s Cup (February/2017) • Centenary Regatta with the opening of the Season 2) Family Funding Campaign specific to SPYC members at the Guarapiranga Lake or ex-members with the objective of illustrating Family • Centenary SPYC Regattas Pictures in specially designated double page pictures • Centenary Awards Dinner that will be part of the Centenary Book. Participants will also receive books. For further details and participation please contact SPYC at: centenary@spyc.com.br

HISTORY: THE PORTUGUESE AND BRITISH NAVIES, 1750 - 1815 Looking firstly at the crews, the shortage of sailors was perhaps the greatest problem faced by the Navies. The problem existed in spite of the use of brute force (press gangs), accepting prisoners before their sentence had expired, forcibly removing seamen from merchant ships encountered on the high seas and transferring men from a warship coming into port to another about to set off on a voyage. Even then ships nearly always left port without their full complement. It was common talk that the Admiralty did not encourage learning to swim for fear of losing men when the ship was tied to a buoy! Conditions on board were dreadful (on shore they were not much better, as described by Charles Dickens in many of his books). The annual pay was ÂŁ15, usually paid several months in arrears; clothes issued (uniforms were only introduced in 1857) and tools lost or broken, were discounted from their paltry earnings. The only chance of obtaining substantial sums of money was in the distribution, following the capture and sale of a prize, of which a singular example was the capture of the Spanish Hermione, in 1762. Her sale earned each sailor the equivalent of 36 years pay! Marines were more like soldiers. On board, they carried out guard duty and helped to maintain discipline; during battle they climbed up the rigging and acted as sharpshooters (especially directed at officers of the enemy ships) as well as joining in the boarding. Although they participated in a number of tasks, especially where intense effort was required (such as raising the anchor), they came into their own in amphibious operations. Officers began their career at the age of 11 or 12, indicated by a relation or friend with influence. Instructed during many voyages by the chaplain, the schoolmaster and the captain, in time, these young candidates would sit the examination for the rank of lieutenant. Promotion followed until the rank of post captain was reached. From then, on strict senior-

ity from the date of promotion was followed. If he did not perish from disease or battle or blot his record following a court martial, eventually he would reach the rank of Admiral. Although in theory, lieutenants had to be at least 19 years old, this was not the case in practice; Rear Admiral of the Blue, Sir William Sidney Smith (commander of the squadron that escorted the Portuguese Royal Family in 1807/08) was promoted to post captain at the age of 18. No shipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complement would be complete without a chaplain, cooks, tailors, bakers, carpenters, caulkers, artillerymen, the surgeon and his assistants, scribes and servants. In the British Navy, a captain had, by right, 4 servants for every 100 men in his crew; this meant that in the case of a 74, the captain had the right to 24 servants! Also we cannot forget the large contingent of men, employed directly or indirectly by the Navy, who remained on shore. They included those who worked in the shipyards, in the rope-making factories, in the manufacture of guns, purchasing wood, cloth, gunpowder, victuals, water, spirits and the thousand and one items indispensable for the efficient running of a man-of-war. Also the staff of the war councils and the prize courts, where judgement was passed on prizes; the hospitals maintained by the Navy, of which the most famous still exists today, at Greenwich.

ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, celebrates Duke of Edinburgh Gold success with St. Paul’s pupils

Six St. Paul’s pupils, who were among the first in Latin America to complete the challenging Duke of Edinburgh’s International Gold Award, were congratulated by HRH The Prince Edward at a private ceremony in Guarulhos. Six Upper Sixth pupils at St. Paul’s were delighted to celebrate the completion of their Duke of Edinburgh’s International Gold Award with HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and to share their experiences with him. The Award is a challenging programme available to all young people aged 14 – 25. It is a balanced, non-competitive programme of voluntary activities, which encourages personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and service to their community. Award holders are recognised world-wide as people who have achieved something above and beyond the usual academic qualifications. There are 3 levels to the Award: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Only the most dedicated of young people achieve the highest level. Each award winner gave a special presentation highlighting all that the programme had taught them. Lia Varela gave a moving musical performance, and Stephen Jancso spoke about the perseverance and determination he developed in competing in biathlon events. Thomas Meyer, meanwhile, spoke of his community work with Teto, and how he learnt the reality of Gandhi’s famous words: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Franco BaumgartMelo spoke of his life-changing experience teaching English and Maths in Nepal, and André Nogueira of the challenges faced in his qualifying expedition. Diego Arantes, our sixth gold award winner, who was unable to be here as he is away in Mexico, representing Brazil in the World Triathlon Junior Championships, was represented by his mother, Mrs Juliana Arantes. Prince Edward praised the pupils’ courage, saying “I hope you can share this pride with others… you are the pioneers… and I hope you will leave this room a few inches taller, because many others did not complete this journey, and the difference is you know you can.”

ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL

Brazilians are in the final of the Greenpower Apprentice Programme IN THE INTERNATIONAL GREENPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP, TO BE HELD THIS SUNDAY, 16TH OCTOBER, BRAZIL WILL BE REPRESENTED BY PUPILS FROM THE SAINTS TEAM, FROM ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL, SÃO PAULO.

This Sunday, 16th October, at Rockingham Speedway in Corby, England, the grand finale of the international Greenpower competition will take place, an educational experience aimed at developing sustainable entrepreneurship among young Senior School pupils all over the world. The focus is on improving knowledge in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, and promoting pupil-led extracurricular activities. This programme enables the apprentices to develop their skills in designing and building electric cars. Having become the Brazilian champions, the pupils from St. Paul’s will compete against students from schools in the United States, South Africa, Portugal, China and Colombia. The extracurricular activity began in 2015 and has been applied to ten Brazilian schools in order to change the perception of young people in the 9 to 19 age bracket with regards to entrepreneurship. The Brazilian love of cars has been a starting point for stimulating this exciting type of learning. “Traditional schools should become more modern and offer real motivation to their students, and we represent this modernisation. Through electric racing cars, we develop a series of disciplines, such as science, engineering and maths, while promoting joint learning and sustainable entrepreneurship in a way that strengthens the bonds between teachers, parents and pupils”, says Manoel Belém, co-

ordinator of the programme. The ambassador for Greenpower in Brazil, Luciana Allan, who is director of Instituto Crescer, emphasises that students achieve the best results when they are challenged to create, plan and implement projects. “During this competition, the students raised funds, planned their marketing and communication and considered the sustainability of the initiative, as well as reflecting on tangible aspects of the project such as team management, time management and documentation.” In this process, the young people developed a series of essential skills to prepare them for the work market, such as resilience, and the use of technology, which has a considerable impact on their future. “Our main aim is to give autonomy to the main author of the learning process – the pupil. This allows them to recognise their position as social protagonists, adopt a productive approach and contribute to developing themselves and their community,” adds Manoel Belém. (With press office.)

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING

THE GOOD LIFE I recently watched a TED talk by Robert Waldinger on “What

strengths and energy to better themselves and the world

Makes a Good Life”. The talk was based on the results of a

around them.

Harvard Study of Adult Development over 75 years, and may be the longest such study that has ever been done. (And well

People in pursuit of the Engaged Life seek happiness by

worth watching online).

working hard on their passions. They immerse themselves so deeply in their chosen projects that time seems to melt away

At the start of the talk, Waldinger said that in a recent survey

as they experience a state of total engagement. Some will

of millennials (young adults), 80% said their major life goal

grow rich and/or famous in the process, but that is not their

was to be rich, and 50% also wanted to be famous. The

primary focus.

audience laughed, but of course what we all really want is to be happy, preferably within happy relationships. Happiness

People in pursuit of the Meaningful Life are deeply passion-

is fundamental in building immunity against physical and

ate about improving the world rather than just pursuing their

mental illnesses, but it has little to do with being rich or fam-

own happiness, although they usually become very happy in

ous.

the process. This is the Good Life.

In another recent study, by Martin Seligman (the Positive Psy-

As this will be the last “Spotlight” of the year, I wish you all

chology expert), hundreds of people were categorised into

a Good Life during the approaching Festive Season and

three groups based on how they pursue happiness. These

throughout 2017!

groups consist of people pursuing: “The Pleasant Life”, “The Engaged Life” and/or “The Meaningful Life”. And they often

Penny Freeland is a qualified counsellor and coach. For further

overlap.

information please contact PenelopeFreeland@gmail.com

The Pleasant Life seems to be what the majority of millenni-

All communication will remain confidential.

als were aiming for. Seligman calls them “thrill-seekers” and warns that although they are good at savouring the moment and having fun, they are not as happy as those who pursue the Meaningful Life and the Engaged Life. What people in the latter two groups have in common is that they use their

HOME-COOKED MEALS FOR A WEEK Valéria (tel. 96754-7855) is an outstanding cook. She cooks delicious meals, from the simplest to the most sophisticated. She is available to come to your house to prepare and freeze meals for a week. For references, ring Alison Steel, 5548-4924.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

GO OUTDOORS! This is a time of the year when we yearn for the great outdoors, to have a taste of the warm fresh air, feel the scent of the newly blossoming flowers, and being able to notice a gradual change in color of the landscape from brown to different hues of green, as the winter months are also the dry season in the tropics. Most of us know about the beneficial effects of exercise, but many hardly suspect the additional benefits. For starters, exercise stimulates an enzyme in the body known as lipoprotein lipase, involved in breaking down fat to create energy. In sedentary people this enzyme is shut off. Besides the other well-known positive effects of exercise, it is more effective than medication for a number of conditions, such as stroke recovery, diabetes prevention and treatment of low back pain. Regular exercise also reduces the risk for recurrent breast cancer by approximately 50%. But location is a secret weapon: exercising in nature is always better. Walking in city streets can demand your attention due to vehicles, toxins or other interruptions. In nature, your attention is drawn to a variety of unexpected sounds, colors, aromas, textures and forms. A study conducted in Stanford University using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) showed lower activity in an area of the brain linked to mental illness in “nature walkers” when compared to “urban walkers”. A Norwegian study showed that exercise in nature improves both mood and diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) compared to exercise without nature. A Chinese study showed higher energy levels, and lower levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor (both markers of inflammation) in a forest-walking

group compared with an urban exercising group. A British study showed significantly improved mood and self-esteem with “green exercise”, with the largest benefits from 5-minute engagements. Thus exercising in nature is more effective, more therapeutic, and cheaper than exercising indoors without nature in sight. Another study, published September 15, 2016 in the American Journal of Medicine brings very good news for the British community in general. The study analyzed data on more than 6500 ethnically diverse individuals concerning the prevalence, risk factors, and progression of subclinical cardiovascular disease. The study found that being a regular tea drinker was associated with a lower prevalence and progression of coronary artery calcium, a marker of subclinical disease, reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. Coffee intake, however, may have a neutral effect. The study supports regular tea consumption as part of a heart-healthy diet as recommended by the American Heart Association. The effect might be caused by flavonoids found in tea, which have antioxidant properties. The authors also mention that, as this is an observational study, they cannot say for sure if the effects were caused by tea or just the healthier lifestyle of tea drinkers. So, by all means, go outdoors for a walk, preferably surrounded by nature, and meanwhile, care for a cuppa tea? MICHAEL ROY SMITH, M.D. MOBILE ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY Phone 99183-2093 E-mail mrsmith@terra.com.br

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HUMOUR

SUDOKU

HUMOUR THE TRUTH ABOUT DIET

WORKING LIFE

The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

A young man fresh out of business school answered a job ad for an accounting post with a small company.

The French eat a lot of fat and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

The boss said “I need someone with an accounting degree who can do my worrying for me.” In what way? the young man asked.

The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

I worry about a lot of things, but I don’t want to worry about money. Your job will be to take all the money worries off my back.

Conclusion Eat and drink what you like. Its speaking English that kills you.

I see, how much will you be paying me? I will start you at eighty thousand. Eighty thousand? How can such a small company afford to pay a sum like that? That, said the boss is your first worry.

SUDOKU Puzzle Number 63 | Level: Hard The rules of Sudoku are simple. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit.So must every column, as must every 3x3 square. Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing. Solution on page 23

2 1 7 9 1 7 4 7 2 7 1 7 9 3 6 4 6 4 5 2 7 3 3 8 4

8 9 4 2 6

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DOCTOR ALBERT SCHWEITZER

Doctor Albert Schweitzer’s love for the impaired, disabled

she was eleven. Their hospital at Lambarènè was closed and

and handicapped

all the foodstuffs and apparatus were absorbed by the army.

by William Moffitt Harris

While there interned and after the war was over, the couple Doctor Schweitzer’s family’s financial resources and his own

made good use of their time by showing photographs of the

soon dried up. Funds became scarcer at times, so much of

hospital at Lambarènè and delivering lectures to local intel-

the merchandise had to be put by and stocked up for harder

lectuals and authorities. In order to raise funds, Dr. Schweitzer

times. That was the case for medicines, glasses for the sight

also went back to giving piano and organ lessons besides

deficient, wheel chairs, bandages for the wounded and lepers,

writing a few of his own compositions for the organ and

canned food of several kinds among them powdered milk,

outlining and drafting some of his books.

powdered egg yolk, beef, carrots, beets and peas, surgery room disinfectants, anesthetics and instruments, cleansing

In 1920, a year before his home in Gunsbach was built, he

utensils, spoons, pots and pans. There was a lot of cooking

received in his modest house in Koenigsfeld a most distin-

to be done and new foods to be introduced as most of the

guished visitor. This was none other than Dr. J. S. Bixler,

local people practically lived on bananas and roots besides

President of the U.S. University of Colby. As usual he politely

wild berries and small game. New eating habits and manners

refused to accept the invitation to lecture at the University

were also thought to be essential. Mrs. Schweitzer started

based on his poor domination of the English language. He

classes in general gardening and kitchen gardens and Sch-

then showed his guest around the gardens so carefully taken

weitzer himself went out hunting for the flowering orchids

care of by Mrs. Schweitzer and after a glamorous lunch pre-

many times high up in the trees. Many dried flowers were

pared also by Mrs. Schweitzer took him down to the village

put away in books with proper botanical classification.

church where they both sat by the organ while Schweitzer played tunes by Mendelsohn and Bach. Suddenly the musi-

Their luggage on this first trip consisted of almost seventy

cian got up and said “Now let us go to your Yotz!”. Bixler

volumes made up of bags, satchels, back-packs, sacks, crates,

only understood what he had said when Schweitzer, at a

boxes, suitcases and trunks. The couple brought with them

piano, as if drumming, with coordinated movements of his

seeds for the kitchen garden and many saplings of fruit trees

fingers played a tune with a syncopated rhythm. It was good

most of them unknown to the local people who sometimes

old American Jazz. Bixler met Schweitzer once more at one

made faces when trying mangoes, avocado pears, guavas,

of his lectures and on returning to America often repeated

lemons and oranges. Very much worried as to the safety of

the philosopher’s words in his sermons: ”... devotion to Truth,

his luggage he presented one of his silver pocket watches

Beauty and Justice is the way one can carry out the religious

to the customs official inspector at the beginning of the Lower

desire... not my will, but Yours be done”.

Ogooué River. Later it was returned to him still working despite having been kept in a can of sea water for a couple of

In 1924 Schweitzer returned to Africa accompanied by some

months. Of course he had to first dismount, clean and grease

doctors and graduate nurses who helped him reconstruct his

it and to be able to do so he invented a small contraption

hospital in a more suitable site as the original building had

made of bars he took from one of his useless ventilators as

been totally demolished by the Germans. His wife and their

there was no electricity yet in that part of Central Africa.

daughter Rhena (1919-2009) remained at Strasbourg where Mrs. Schweitzer sought specialized medical help as her health

During the First World War (1914-1918) the Schweitzer couple

condition worsened. For a while they lived in Germany, then

was put under house arrest and afterwards interned in a prison

Paris and, at the beginning of the Second World War, they

camp among other fellow men in French territory as Alsace

moved to Zurich. During those two decades, whenever pos-

where he was born was part of Germany. Hélène Bresslau

sible, mother and daughter travelled to Lambarènè.

was born in Berlin, her family having moved to Alsace when

SÃO PAULO GARDEN CLUB

The Sao Paulo Garden Club 77th Annual Flower Plant and Flower Show “Climate Change” was held at the Brazilian British Centre on the   1st and 2nd October by kind permission of the Cultura Inglesa. This year we had a record turnout of visitors, over 700 and everyone was very complimentary. Our members brought their best horticulture to show and the design section was staged differently and very successfully. The beautiful and colourful designs were appreciated by all our visitors. We were very pleased to welcome the British Deputy Consul General, Renata Ramalhosa who opened our Show on Saturday morning. Sandy Mangels, who had written the design section of the programme, gave a very clear explanation of each design class which demonstrated Climate Change.

Beeby`s Gourmet supported us by serving a Buffet Americano and refreshments that morning and opened the Deck restaurant for tea on Saturday and lunch on Sunday. The São Paulo Garden Club 2017 Calendar is available and, for more information on how to place your order, please go to our site – www.calendariodojardim.com. br or by telephone (11) 5541 8750.

Ă guas da Bocaina POUSADA

Enjoy silence and some quality time in the heart of the Atlantic Rain Forest, one of the richest ecosystems in our planet. Or simply relax in a unique environment, surrounded by mountains, rivers and waterfalls of exuberant beauty.

www.pousadaaguasdabocaina.com.br | reservas@pousadaaguasdabocaina.com.br | 12.3116-5060 | whatsapp: 12.99731-1052

ST PAUL’S ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL A PRAYER FOR EVERYONE Give me a good digestion, Lord, and also something to digest. Give me a healthy body, Lord, with a sense to keep it at its best. Give me a healthy mind, Good Lord, to keep the good and pure in sight, Which, seeing sin, is not appalled, but finds a way to set it right. Give me a mind that is not bored, that does not whimper, whine or sigh, Don’t let me worry overmuch about the fussy thing called ‘I’. Give me a sense of humour, Lord; give me the grace to see a joke, To get some happiness in life, and pass it on to other folk. Sir Thomas More (1478 - 1535)

CHRISTMAS AT THE CATHEDRAL. With the Christmas season rapidly approaching us, several activities will take place at St. Paul’s Anglican Church to make your Christmas more joyful and meaningful.

• CHRISTMAS BAZAAR This Bazaar will take place on Saturday, 3rd December, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet up with old friends. Without a doubt, you will be able to find many fine bargains at the stalls. All proceeds will go to the crèches supported by the Instituto Anglicano. • FESTIVAL OF CAROLS The Church Choir will be singing a selection of Christmas carols during the 10 o’clock service on Sunday, 11th December. • SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS The traditional Service of Lessons and Carols will be held at 10 o’clock on Sunday, 18th December.

which represent the fruits of the earth and God’s gifts to us. The red ribbon is to remind us of the incarnation and passion of Jesus. This service will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday 18th December. • CHRISTMAS COMMUNION We will be celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ with a special communion service on Christmas Day, Sunday 25th December, at 10 o´clock. Bishop Roger D Bird

Dean Rev. Aldo B Quintão Bishop Roger D. Bird Bishop Glauco S. de Lima

• CHRISTINGLE SERVICE This beautiful, bilingual service tells the Christmas story Rua Com Elias Zarzur, 1239 through Christmas carols and is highlighted by the lightAlto da Boa Vista, São Paulo ing of the Christingles. The Christingle consists of an orange representing the world, a candle representing Tel/Fax (11) 5686.2180 Christ, the Light of the world, and raisins and sweets

GENERAL COMMUNITY CALENDAR I SUDOKU SOLUTION

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Check out for more details. Visit www.britishsociety.org.br Event

Date

Berlin Tattoo School Play

Time

Place

Sponsor

Nov 3/6

Berlin

St Andrew Society

Nov 24/26

St. Paul’s School

Senior School Instrumental Nov 30 Concert

19.00

St. Paul’s School

Christmas Bazaar

Dec 3

11.00

St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Advent Carol Service

Dec 5

18.30

St. Paul’s School

AGM

Dec 8

St. Paul’s School

British Society

Camp Fire

Dec 3

To be decided

Carajás Scouts

Festival of Carols

Dec 11

10.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Christingle Service

Dec 18

18.30

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Christmas Day Service

Dec 25

10.00

St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

Jamboree Panamericano

Dec 27 - Jan 2

Ecuador

Carajás Scouts

SUDOKU SOLUTION Puzzle Number 63 | Level: Hard

4 9 3 2 1 8 6 7 5

8 1 5 4 7 6 3 9 2

2 6 7 3 9 5 8 1 4

1 7 8 9 2 3 5 4 6

6 3 2 7 5 4 9 8 1

9 7 5 3 5 2 4 8 4 6 1 9 6 1 8 5 8 3 6 4 1 9 7 2 7 4 2 1 2 5 3 6 3 8 9 7

ADVERTISEMENT * For members Special Discounts for ads in two or more editions Publicity and Advertising: Charlotte Cowell e-mail: charlotte@britishsociety.org.br

Note: Views expressed in articles submitted by contributors do not necessarily reflect those of Spotlight Editorial.

Fundação Britânica de Beneficência: Recognized by OSCIP Organização da Sociedade Civil de Interesse Público