Talk Magazine Miami - Michael Jordan by Talk Magazine Miami

Talk Magazine Miami

Publisher Alexandre Soares

Publisher & Text Bethan Rees - Alice Moraes

Design & Art Melissa Emerson

Layout Ana Carolina Diniz

Revision Olivia Sharpe

Chief Collaborator Clare Farme - Ana Silveira

Collaborators Daniel Copriva, Felippe Schiavelli, Gabriele Alves, Gustavo Braga, Magali MagalhĂŁes, Mariana Carniello, Mariana Padoan, Paulo Renso, Pietra Zigmundo, Pupin & Deleu e Vivi Nascimento

Talk Magazine is a publication from Talk Magazine Miami LLC. It does not take responsability for any opinion expressed by collaborators or for articles of public domain. Talk Magazine is an experimental magazine, it must not be sold or comercialized. 20 copies printed in Brazil. The advertising material that has been displayed on the magazine pages is used on experimental purpose.

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

ear readers, It’s an enormous pleasure for us to bring on this number of Talk the fantastic story of Michael Jordan, the greatest athlete of the century.

We took the opportunity of the documentary “The Last Dance”, produced by ESPN in a partnership with Netflix, and decided to tell a little of what we know. We couldn’t ignore two of the historical facts of the year: Covid-19, that has been haunting the whole world, and the rise of the movement Black Lives Matter, which gives us the hope of better days. Also for this number, we are making official and introducing our philanthropic association Adote um Coração (Adopt a Heart). We hope you enjoy our editorials. Have a good reading. Stay safe. Our content can be accessed and read on www.talkmagazinemiami.com and you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@talkmagazinemiami). All the best, Alexandre Soares @alexandresoares

NOT FOR SALE. NONPROFIT MAGAZINE.

CONTENT

#JULY 2020

P.08 MICHAEL JORDAN P.22 COVID-19 P.30 MARIANA PADOAN P.42 VIVI NASCIMENTO P.54 PIETRA ZIGMUNDO P.66 GABRIELE ALVES

CONTENT

P.78 MARIANA CARNIELLO P.88 ADOTE UM CORAÇÃO P.90 BLACK LIVES MATTER P.96 TALK VIEW

MICHAEL JORDAN

MICHAEL JORDAN THE LAST DANCE By Gustavo Braga

MICHAEL JORDAN

he figure of Michael Jordan has been the epitome of excellence, relentless competitiveness, entrepreneurship and self drive for almost four decades - and for a good reason. His accolades come from all walks of life from philosophy, being regularly referenced as the ideal self motivator; to the business world where he accomplished more than any athlete in the history of sports, eventually pushing his signature shoes to become its very own brand, Air Jordan, the Nike affiliate which still is the reference for pop culture and basketball sneakers around the world; and obviously in the hardwood from his playing days, when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, two of the best to ever lace a pair of sneakers up and step on a basketball court, were already calling him the greatest of all time while he was still in his twenties. To further prove this statement and put a stamp on it, we’ll take a look at his journey and some of his most famous stories from Netflix and ESPN’s co-production brand new series The Last Dance, directed by Jason Hehir, in which Jordan’s last season with the Chicago Bulls is beautifully chronicled along with his interesting and successful career.

TALK Miami 9

MICHAEL JORDAN

THE BEGINNING Starting out his journey in sports out of high school as a top basketball recruit for colleges all around the US, Jordan chose the University of North Carolina UNC as his alma mater and quickly became the star he was destined to be. Immediately impacting his team’s results on the floor, the skinny kid from Brooklyn, New York, surprised the coaching staff with his confidence and tireless work ethic. His drive and determination to always get better was already showing signs of life on the court after practices, where he would take his god given talent and exponentially explore it through relentless shooting sessions and overall training. Jordan never shied away from the challenge, never hesitated when taking the last shot. Well, it’s no surprise that he eventually went on to become National Champion with the Tar Heels in 19811982. After a couple of successful years at UNC, he declared for the NBA and was selected to join the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA Draft. Quickly after, Jordan vehemently made clear what his intentions were when coming into the Windy City: “I’m going to make this team the best team in the NBA”. And as time would tell, he did so.

THE OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION One could say that the first seven years of his career were the most important ones - this is the time period where he had to learn how to win, by losing a whole lot. The team which he was drafted to was subpar - to put it nicely. He struggled through coaching staff changes, mediocre teammates and overall lack of investment from the front office for years, all the while putting up huge individual numbers - and boy, did he put up huge numbers. Rookie of the year, Scoring Champion, NBA All Star, All NBA First Team, Defensive player of the year, Steals Leader and Slam Dunk Champion were among the individual accolades he collected along those first years. Note that in the mid 80s, team ball wasn’t at its peak as it had been in the 60s and 70s, and

individual highlight reels were becoming more and more prevalent, with audiences directly responding to that. Don’t get me wrong, the NBA was still known for its powerful duos who wreaked havoc throughout the conferences Magic and Kareem, Bird and McHale, Dr. J and Moses Malone, and so on - but Dr J’s reverse dunks, Magic’s flashy passes, Bernard King’s dominance of the boroughs and Bird’s clutch shots were more and more starting to be seen as the new standard for the league, whose entertainment value was at an all time high. So as the 80s went on, Jordan’s introduction to the world of major league sports was as an individual beast, who couldn’t post much threat to everyone else without a competent pack.

TALK Miami 10

MICHAEL JORDAN

EASTERN CONFERENCE NEMESIS

On that note, nothing was as challenging to MJ as the late 80s Bad Boy Pistons - a group of misfits from the same Eastern Conference, whose success came from physicality, sheer will to win and literal beat downs on Jordan as their modus operandi. Isaiah Thomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s led Pistons gave Jordan a great dose of humility and tested his motivation for three straight years. This was his first big lesson in the NBA - resilience. Season after season getting ready to face the Pistons in the playoffs and eventually losing after a hard fought battle made Jordan stronger. He was learning to be a leader, a winner. Well, after everything he had to go through, it finally happened. As the saying goes, those who persevere will be saved - and Jordan was saved. Legendary head coach Phil Jackson joined the team and helped Jordan take the next step in the life of a leader - letting go of the selfishness - inherent to superstars - and making everyone around him better. After finally beating the Pistons in the playoffs of the 91 season, Jordan and the Bulls never looked back! They went on to win the NBA title against the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sweetheart, Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. TALK Miami 11

MICHAEL JORDAN

FINALLY CHAMPIONS AND THE DREAM TEAM The years following the first title were marked by new challenges. As kings of the hill, Jordan and the Bulls had to learn how to handle being targeted by everyone else - how to hold the belt now that they had got it, and this wasn’t going to be easy - or so it seemed. Well, in hindsight, the challenge seemed bigger than it really was, because after the first title they won two more in a row. With the team getting better year after year and Michael finally walking the walk as the undisputed greatest, the path to the finals every year was almost a given walk in the park - and neither Clyde Drexler or Charles Barkley could stop this well oiled machine called Chicago Bulls. During this period, as if the successful runs in the NBA weren’t enough, Michael led the american national team to the gold medal during the 1992 olympics in Barcelona - and the sheer

stardom of the roster, along with the way they beat everyone they faced with such ease and power, propelled the world to nickname them The Dream Team - further settling MJ’s position as NBA’s new sheriff. It was during this time in Spain that Magic and Bird called him the greatest basketball player of all time - and they call him that still. Of course, with great power, comes great responsibility, and with Michael becoming the wonderboy of american sports, the media, the sponsors and the public were all over him - And that shook him a little bit, sometimes causing him to lose focus, to vent in non really conventional ways - and when it came to Michael Jordan, getting away from reality while still feeding his competitive hunger was through more competition, but for that purpose his vice of choice was gambling.

TALK Miami 12

MICHAEL JORDAN

GAMBLING AND FATHER-SON RELATIONSHIP It wasn’t uncommon for MJ to gamble hundreds of thousands of dollars with his teammates playing cards, playing golf or even playing silly games with the Bulls’ staff for money. Competing for him was never enough. This behaviour was getting a lot of attention from the media and the league itself, but although for some this could be considered a distraction, for Mike it was just another activity. There’s a very well know episode when, during a playoff battle against the New York Knicks, Michael went to Atlantic City with his father and gambled till very late in the night, 17 hours before the game, and suffered the consequences for this supposed lack of focus and certain lack of sleep - he had a good game himself the next day, putting up 36 points at Madison Square Garden, but a failed to get his team to win. He would eventually destroy the

Knicks in the upcoming games, but things were starting to look out of place for the man. It’s important to mention this escapade happened with his father by his side, as Jordan Sr. was an extremely important piece of the puzzle in Michael’s journey - His father was his safe haven when he found himself in the shadows. All throughout his son’s early days, James Jordan had been an avid basketball fan, having gone semi-pro himself in the past - and now, more than ever his support was paramount in keeping Michael’s focus in the midst of the attention bombardment his son was getting daily. This partnership between father and son amidst the struggles he was having to keep his motivation up and deal with all the buzz outside the gym was so important, that when disaster struck and his father was killed in a robbery turned murder and this link got broken, the unthinkable happened...

TALK Miami 13

MICHAEL JORDAN

FIRST RETIREMENT AND BASEBALL Eventually, all things come to an end and even though there’s always been a conspiracy which blames the NBA office for suspending Michael for gambling uncontrollably and forcing him out of the league, the truth is that after the ongoing success over the past three years, getting up in the morning to play basketball didn’t make sense for MJ anymore. Grieving his father’s death put

things in perspective for him and he dropped everything altogether and decided to go away and play baseball, something his father had dreamed of happening in the past. The Chicago White Sox signed MJ to their minor league team, and the man started working tirelessly in this new career - but as you can imagine, the same success didn’t really happen as planned. Baseball required a different mindset, a different body, and when things weren’t going great for him in the field, he would always go back to port, the Bull’s basketball gym, to work out and get his mind off of the drama. You can imagine what happens next. After a year and a half struggling to find his place in the field, there was a player’s strike in baseball - and the possibility of being called to play in the major league loomed too close for his comfort, for he was not confident enough exposing himself in this arena, so he decided to look back at his decision to quit the game he dominated and gift the world with another stunt at the basketball court.

THE RETURN OF THE KING Enough was enough. Michael Jordan announced his return to basketball with a simple, yet powerful statement in the papers: I’m back! After joining the team just before the 95 playoffs, still pondering his father’s passing as a crucial influence in his life, Jordan decided to wear the number 45 as a symbol of a new beginning. It had been super important for him that his father got to watch him as he won his 3rd title, wearing his famous number 23 jersey, so he felt that maybe that number had to be eternalized. Yeah, that didn’t last long. After being

provoked by Nick Anderson, Orlando Magic player that helped his team beat the Bulls, and realizing that #45 just didn’t feel quite right, Jordan took the loss in the 95 playoffs, worked on his game and sparked the formation of the best team in the history of the sport - the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls. The following years are best described by a single word: domination. There was nothing holding him back this time. From 1995 to 1998 Mike showed the world he could do it all over again and through talent, grit and will, went on to win three straight titles again.

TALK Miami 14

MICHAEL JORDAN

A few facts that perfectly represent this era of extreme successful competitiveness are his battles against Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers in the east, where physicality and mind games were as big a part of the game as the shooting and dribbling themselves; the dethroning of Hakeem Olajuon who had led his Houston Rockets to two straight titles while MJ was out of the league; the constant closed door battles with the Bullsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; front office; and on top of all that, the way he treated his new found teammates, with actual physical fights at team practices, when thrown punches and the good old trash talk was a common occurrence. According to him, it was all part of the plan, as motivation sometimes needed to be forced down their throats in one way or another. TALK Miami 15

MICHAEL JORDAN

OH, AND THERE WAS ALSO THE INFAMOUS FLU GAME! Picture this: Game 5 of the NBA Finals, June 1997 - the series tied 2-2. The whole world watching… and Michael seems drained. There’s rumor that he’s got the flu, and his performance seems to corroborate that. The first quarter is a disaster - The Utah Jazz build a 16 point lead. It seems the flu really got Mike cornered - but you know what greats do when backed up against the wall - they fight back. Michael fought back, left everything on the court and overcame, leading his team to the win and on to their 5th title in five years with him on the roster. The interesting, albeit conspiracy theorylike story behind it, at least according to the Netflix and ESPN’s show is that he might have not had the flu - he might have been poisoned! Having ordered pizza the night before the game from the only pizza place opened at the time, Michael had a terrible night’s sleep and the next day his stomach was shut down, his energy was low and dehydration was a major problem. Would a die hard fan of the Jazz purposefully poison a man to weaken his adversary’s strongest weapon? Who knows, but nothing is out of the question when it comes to sports.

The Utah Jazz with Karl Malone and John Stockton were the closest to ever beat MJ out of his throne, but close didn’t mean anything when the title banners were being raised up the rafters in Chicago.

END OF THE ROAD We mentioned Phil Jackson in the beginning of this article, as the missing ingredient in the late 80s, early 90s Bulls. The legendary coach who would go on to win 6 titles as a coach of the Bulls and 5 more with the Lakers in the Kobe - Shaq Era, the guy who managed to make Michael take the next step and become the leader he was meant to be. Well, his presence becomes once again relevant now at the late stages of Jordan’s career, for the partnership they had developed during all those years, especially after MJ’s father passed away was coming to an end. The Chicago Bulls’ front office had enough of Phil Jackson and his polemical management ways,

and made clear throughout the 1998 season that this was going to be Phil’s last year as head coach - and that did not sit well with Michael. How could they take the best thing to ever happen to the franchise and break it up just like that? The whole season was filled with speculations, and after the deed was done and they went home with yet another Larry O’Brian Trophy, the rumors were confirmed and the skinny kid from Brooklyn decided he was done. It was a bittersweet feeling, because they were ending a beautiful journey on a great note, but the idea of not having Michael on the court left a hole in people’s hearts.

TALK Miami 16

MICHAEL JORDAN

RETIREMENT AND LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL And that was it for his playing days. After six titles, six finals MVP trophies, absolute dominance all around, MJ decided it was time to hang the cleats up for good (he would eventually come back for two seasons with the Washington Wizards a couple of years later, but we are gonna speed past that, as any true Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s admirer should). His legacy was set - and now he could move on to new challenges in life. Mike went deep into his partnership with Nike, helping promote the Air Jordan brand to the fashion giant it is today, and kept himself close to the game he loves, eventually buying the Charlotte Hornets when the opportunity presented itself. Today he is not only the retired legendary player, but also one of the few and selected people who get to call themselves NBA Franchise Owners. TALK Miami 17

MICHAEL JORDAN

THE LEGEND In sum, Michael Jordan accomplished in his career what the vast majority of players never did in the history of basketball, and cultivated a world of followers in the process. Aside from his influence in the sport, Michael revolutionized the way people looked at athletes, not just as pieces of a bigger cause anymore, but as independent brands themselves. He transformed the NBA into the monster money making league it is today, he popularized the game of basketball to far corners of the world and he made everyone around him feel small. Michael is also big on charity work, constantly donating millions of dollars to groups and institutions who work with the unprivileged youth, preparing the next generation to face the problems his own generation couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t solve. For someone who has done it all, still striving to be better in everything he does and helping people in any way he can should be constantly praised.

In other words, Michael Jordan is always going to be the MVP in our minds. After looking back at his journey, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safe to say that Michael Jeffrey Jordan transcends his accolades and accomplishments in the sport of basketball. He absolutely represents those few rare occurrences when the real life icon is exactly what his legend portraits him to be.

TALK Miami 18

/talkmagazinemiami

@talkmagazinemiami

WWW.TALKMAGAZINEMIAMI.COM

TALK Miami 19

COVID-19

HOW WILL

COVID-19

CHANGE OUR

WORLD? By Alice Morais

ovid-19 has changed our lives. That’s something no one can deny. As we are still getting used to new habits and adapting changes to a new kind of life, we start wondering about future ways to perform daily activities we’ve been used to doing for so long. The world won’t be the same, society won’t be the same, values won’t be the same. We won’t be the same human beings after the coronavirus. In fact, there has already been some significant and fundamental changes in the world and many of these will become permanent, but how will the virus deeply affect our society?

COVID-19

As many countries start easing lockdown restrictions, residents are returning to old spaces that now feel a little unfamiliar. The places themselves didn’t change, but from wearing masks to avoiding crowds, the way we are allowed to navigate them is going to be radically different from now on. Many of these changes will remain for some time. Even when the spread of the virus is contained, the risk of a new wave of contagion will persist as long as a vaccine is not available, which can take between nine months and two years, according to the most recent researches. It’s fundamental that we understand and accept that we’re facing an enormous challenge of readapting to a whole new world. The pandemic has accelerated ongoing changes, such as working from home, studying on-line, the constant search for sustainability and the pressure, from society, on businesses to become more social and environmental responsible. Other changes were still in the very beginning of a process and some were not even noticeable. However, due to the virus, they will have a new meaning based on a different analysis of our

values. For example: will society become more sympathetic and less selfish? Will consumerism still guide our lifestyles? There are many questions about our future, but one thing is for sure – we’re not going back to normal. That kind of life as we knew before 2020 is over.

TALK Miami 24

COVID-19

During the isolation, we’ve learned a great deal about the fragility of global networks of people, goods and services, and also a lot about growth. We’ve seen how a thought or a virus can fly around the whole world, ignoring national borders and picking up pace as it goes. And while many of us could find consolation in the kindness of people, time to reflect and appreciate the beauty of nature; some of us died, others got sick and many others have lost their jobs or, even worse, their loved ones. There’s a collective sense that the ground beneath us is staggering. The global economy is fragile and with the climate crisis, ecosystems are collapsing and mass extinctions have become more likely to happen. All around the world, leaders are being tested through this storm and some are absolutely failing. It seems that the Covid-19 was just the last straw – after decades of radical inequalities, and damaging soils, rivers, forests and ecosystems in the name of profit, our life support systems are hesitating, and the links that bind us together are being corroded. TALK Miami 25

COVID-19

The coronavirus calamity has shown the kind of solidarity that humanity is capable of, indicating positive changes for a greater society. Even though we have seen images of pure selfishness â&#x20AC;&#x201C; remember those people hoarding toilet paper or hand sanitizer? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the vast majority of behavior that we see is an explosion of cooperation and kindness on a local level. For the last 40 years our society has relied on values like individualism and selfishness, and during the pandemic we could realize that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not getting us anywhere. So, ideas that a few

years ago seemed unrealistic, are now becoming the center of discussion, for example, wealth taxes and basic income programs. There is a number of possible futures, all dependent on how governments and society will respond to the virus and its economic and social aftermath. Hopefully we will use this crisis to rebuild, produce something better and more humane. Hopefully we will learn to look at the others with more empathy. However, we must be very careful not to slide into something worse.

TALK Miami 26

COVID-19 The responses to the Covid-19 pandemic are the amplification of the dynamic that drives other social and ecological crisis: the prioritization of one type of value over the others. This dynamic has played an important part in global responses to the pandemic and it will lead the way we go through these tough times. It’s necessary to think of the economy as the way we take our resources and turn them into the things we need to live. It’s the moment to start seeing more opportunities for a different lifestyle, consuming just the essential and producing less stuff without increasing misery and the terrible social gap that has endured for so long. It’s a huge challenge that must lead future responses to the Covid-19. We hope for a strong, democratic society that mobilizes resources to build a strong and universal health system, protecting the vulnerable groups from the whims of the global market. We hope for a system that enables citizens to create mutual aid groups to support each other. What is clear is that all the possible scenarios for our “new normal” leave ground for fear, but also for hope. The virus has highlighted serious deficiencies in our current system and an effective response to this requires deep social changes, giving us the possibility to build a more human system that leaves us more resilient and sympathetic in the face of future crisis.

TALK Miami 27

MARIANA CARNIELLO GABRIELE ALVES VIVI NASCIMENTO PIETRA ZIGMUNDO MARIANA PADOAN

TALK Miami 28

TALK Miami 29

TALK Miami 30

MARIANA PADOAN

MARIANA PADOAN T-Shirt HERING Harness and Leather Belt MARCELO BONITO Hot Pants HOPE Sneakers ALL STAR

TALK Miami 33

MARIANA PADOAN

TALK Miami 34

MARIANA PADOAN

TALK Miami 35

MARIANA PADOAN

TALK Miami 36

MARIANA PADOAN Swimsuit ZALI BEACHWEAR Sun Visor MONKEY Sneakers ALL STAR

MARIANA PADOAN

TALK Miami 38

MARIANA PADOAN

TALK Miami 39

TALK Miami 40

TALK Miami 41

VIVI NASCIMENTO

TALK Miami 44

VIVI NASCIMENTO

TALK Miami 45

VIVI NASCIMENTO T-Shirt HERING Hot Paints NAKED SWIMWEAR Sneakers ALL STAR

TALK Miami 46

VIVI NASCIMENTO

TALK Miami 47

VIVI NASCIMENTO Vinyl Boots ELEVEN ELEVEN Leather Choker and Bracelets MARCELO BONITO Sneakers ALL STAR

VIVI NASCIMENTO

TALK Miami 49

VIVI NASCIMENTO

TALK Miami 50

VIVI NASCIMENTO

TALK Miami 51

TALK Miami 54

TALK Miami 55

PIETRA ZIGMUNDO Leather Jacket ACERVO Leather Boots LE LIS BLANC Harness and Choker MARCELO BONITO Swimsuit ZALI BEACHWEAR

TALK Miami 56

PIETRA ZIGMUNDO

TALK Miami 57

PIETRA ZIGMUNDO

TALK Miami 58

PIETRA ZIGMUNDO

TALK Miami 59

PIETRA ZIGMUNDO

TALK Miami 60

TALK Miami 61

PIETRA ZIGMUNDO

Top NAKED SWIMWEAR T-Shirt ACERVO

TALK Miami 62

PIETRA ZIGMUNDO

TALK Miami 63

TALK Miami 66

TALK Miami 67

GABRIELE ALVES

TALK Miami 68

GABRIELE ALVES T-Shirt HERING Sneakers ALLSTAR Bikini ZALI BEACHWEAR Cap NEW ERA

TALK Miami 69

GABRIELE ALVES

TALK Miami 70

GABRIELE ALVES

TALK Miami 71

GABRIELE ALVES

TALK Miami 72

GABRIELE ALVES

TALK Miami 73

GABRIELE ALVES

Leather Belt, Harness and Bracelet MARCELO BONITO Bikini ZALI BEACHWEAR Hot Paints HOPE TALK Miami 74 Leather Boots LE LIS BLANC

GABRIELE ALVES

TALK Miami 75

TALK Miami 78

TALK Miami 79

MARIANA CARNIELLO

TALK Miami 80

MARIANA CARNIELLO

TALK Miami 82

MARIANA CARNIELLO

Bikini NAKED SWIMWEAR Boots ELEVEN ELEVEN Leather Harness and Choker MARCELO BONITO

TALK Miami 83

Swimsuit ZALI BEACHWEAR Leather Shorts LE LIS BLANC Vinyl Boots ELEVEN ELEVEN

TALK Miami 84

MARIANA CARNIELLO

TALK Miami 85

MARIANA CARNIELLO

TALK Miami 87

ADOTE UM CORAÇÃO

ADOTE UM CORAÇÃO: ASSOCIATION OFFERS SPECIAL TREATMENTS FOR SPECIAL DOGS By Magali Magalhães

razilian dentist Thais Bueno has been a dog lover since her childhood, but it was just in 2017 that she started a very special work in Sao Paulo. She started rescuing dogs that needed help and ended up involved in all kinds of volunteer work: offering veterinarian treatments, searching for foster homes and promoting animal adoption. That’s how she started the project Adote um Coração (Adopt a Heart), that has helped more than 50 animals over two years.

In 2019, Adote um Coração (Adopt a Heart) started being more active on social media and became a beneficent, non-profitable organization for the assistance of abandoned or abused dogs. That happened because Thais met Alexandre Soares, Brazilian businessman who is also an animal lover and has been acting with philanthropy in Brazil and abroad. Mr. Soares became the patron of the project and one of its most enthusiastic supporters.

TALK Miami 88

ADOTE UM CORAÇÃO

In just one year the association helped more than 100 dogs. The work done by Adote um Coração (Adopt a Heart) is different from the one performed by similar organizations in Brazil because it operates as an extremely important support, offering special treatment for dogs in delicate situations. Each surgical procedure includes the best kinds of veterinarian exams and the most qualified professionals from the area. The average cost of a treatment is R$1,500.00 per dog and it may reach up to R$15,000.00 for more severe cases. Thais likes to highlight that the essence of her volunteer work is providing singular treatment to abused dogs that after so much suffering should have a loving foster home. Especially if they are older animals. She says that watching Adote um Coração (Adopt a Heart) growing and becoming a reference in

this kind of animal rescue is a dream coming true. She also remembers the early days of the association, when she was by herself and for several times she had to manage her professional schedule with the volunteer work and all the efforts it requires. Now, Adote um Coração (Adopt a Heart) has a headquarters in Sao Paulo and it’s setting a calendar of actions. The future plans include the organization of fostering events and regular support to independent protectors, by providing financial help for exams and food. Thais and Alexandre both live with fostered dogs and agree that adopting an animal is much more than an act of love. It’s also social responsibility. Thais is the tutor of 3 beautiful dogs – Chica, Pepa and Betina, all of them came from a breeding kennel. Alexandre has the companion of Vogue, a charismatic French bulldog.

THE POLICY OF ADOTE UM CORAÇÃO (ADOPT A HEART) ALSO INCLUDES ACTIONS SUCH AS: n Support and develop actions favorable to the animal cause; n Promote efforts in order to offer protection and assistance to abandoned animals – whether they are sick or not. n Contribute to the fostering process, including all its steps with special attention to the adaptation ones. n Plan, organize and promote programs that focus on animal assistance and care, in order to provide them a longer and better life. n Promote cultural and sports events to spread actions that increase awareness about animal rights and social development. n Promote volunteer work; n Produce educational and cultural material about animal rights and care. n Promote and support projects and studies in the area of animal protection.

TALK Miami 89

BLACK LIVES MATTER

BLACK LIVES

MATTER

By Alice Morais

n May 25, Minneapolis police officers arrested George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, after a convenience store employee called 911 and told the police that Mr. Floyd had bought cigarettes with a fake $20 bill. Seventeen minutes after the first police arrived at the scene, Floyd was unconscious and held by three police officers, showing no signs of life. TALK Miami 90

BLACK LIVES MATTER

A combination of videos from bystanders and security cameras have shown in details officers taking a series of actions that violated the policies of the Minneapolis Police Department and turned fatal, leaving George Floyd unable to breathe, even as he and eyewitnesses called out for help. The following day, the Police Department fired all four of the officers involved in the episode. On May 29, the Hennepin County attorney, Mike Freeman, announced third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges against Derek Chauvin, the white officer seen most clearly in videos pinning Floyd to the ground. He kept his knee on Floydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Videos show that Chauvin did not remove his knee even after Floyd lost consciousness, and for a full minute after paramedics arrived at the scene. Floydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death triggered demonstrations and protests in over 2,000 U.S. cities and around the world against police brutality, police racism, and lack of police accountability. In early June, the Minneapolis City Council took action to ban choke holds and require police officers to intervene against the use of excessive force by other officers, and voted an intent to replace the police department with a new community-based system of public safety. The Minneapolis Police Chief canceled contract negotiations with the police union and announced plans to bring in outside experts to examine how the union contract can be restructured to give transparency and flexibility to a profound reform. TALK Miami 91

BLACK LIVES MATTER

The area around the place where Floyd was killed became a makeshift memorial throughout May 26, with many signs paying tribute to him and referencing to Black Lives Matter movement. Along the day, more people showed up to demonstrate against Floyd’s death and police violence. The crowd then marched to the 3rd Precinct of the Minneapolis Police using posters and slogans with phrases such as “Justice for George”, “I can’t breathe” and “Black Lives Matter”. Initially peaceful, the protests turned

violent in some areas, registering some vandalism and a more energetic police reaction – which means tear gas, flash grenades, rubber bullets and smoke bombs. All around the country, and soon all around the world, people started going out to the streets to show their anger and dissatisfaction with police violence and racism. Mostly peaceful, the pattern repeated for several days. A public memorial was held on June 4th at North Central University in Minneapolis. A public viewing and a family memorial were held in North Carolina on June 6th, near Floyd’s hometown. His family held a public memorial in Houston on June 8th. Floyd was buried next to his mother in Pearland, Texas. Since that tragic day, some things have changed. Police departments across the country were critical and expressed dismay at Floyd’s treatment. His death is deeply disturbing and should be of concern to all Americans. The National Police Foundation President said “These actions jeopardize the gains that have been made through the sacrifice and courage of many”. Leaders have spoken all across the United States and condemned the officers’ actions. Little by little, police departments started changing their methods.

TALK Miami 92

BLACK LIVES MATTER

HAS AMERICA FINALLY RECOGNIZED ITS RACIST BACKGROUND? Protests over the death of George Floyd have quickly given rise to a vast American reckoning with racism, as a backlash against entrenched inequality that reverberates across society. From the upper levels of corporations and media organizations to the pages of the dictionary and everyday conversations. The fallout has been fierce. The demand for consequences reflects a considerable change in public opinion, as Congress races to address police accountability in law enforcement.

Public opinion on race and criminal justice issues has been steadily moving left since Floydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death. Police brutality and racism are not new to Americans, but it seems that society has reached its limit. Over the last weeks, support for Black Lives Matter increased by nearly as much as it had over the previous two years. The movement has never been so popular. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s everywhere on social media, mentioned by common people and celebrities. TALK Miami 93

BLACK LIVES MATTER The Black Lives Matter movement emerged over the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the Florida man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012. As a slogan, “Black lives matter” became as widely heard at protests as “No justice, no peace.” The phrase was praised for its clarity and, unfortunately, support grew as the list of slain black people got longer: Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Philando Castile. It’s fundamental to say and remember their names. Today, the BLM movement boasts a following of millions across social media platforms. People are talking about it, reading about it, posting about it. A coalition known as the Movement for Black Lives, formed in 2014, now includes more than 150 affiliate organizations that work on causes such as defunding police departments and reinvesting in black communities. Its agenda focuses on overhauling police training, the use of force and the punishment methods. The movement is also pressing to erase economic inequality and disparities in education and health care.

HOW CAN WHITE PEOPLE FIGHT RACISM? Being not racist is not enough. We must be anti-racist and take active role in search of social changes. Some small actions are very important in this journey: 1. Listen to people who have been through racist experiences. Believe what they say.

6. Pay black employees fairly and have adequate representation in your workplace.

2. Do your own research: find books, websites, podcasts, etc. to educate yourself.

7. Hold businesses that you support accountable – always consider where you spend your money.

3. Have conversations with friends, family members and co-workers about antiracism.

8. Vote for legislation and leaders that are anti-racist.

4. Follow black influencers online.

9. Admit when you’re wrong and create a plan to do better.

5. Support business owned by black people.

10. Remember: this is a never-ending process. TALK Miami 94

TALK VIEW

LOS ANGELES - MAY 30, Police Car Being Burned During Protest March Against Police Violence Over Death Of George Floyd TALK Miami 96

GEORGE FLOYD

TALK Miami 97

Photo: Hayk_Shalunts

TALK VIEW

A group of policemen forms a line in front of a burning car. Many protesters gathered around in front of White House in Washington DC on 5/30/2020. No justice no peace.

Unidentified Participant Confronting The Police With A Shirt With Portrait Of George Floyd During The Protest March Against Police Violence Over Death Of George Floyd

Photo: bgrocker

Photo: Hayk_Shalunts

TALK VIEW

INDIANAPOLIS, IN _ USA -May 30, 2020 - George Floyd Protest Turns into Riot, Indianapolis

Photo: Chris Owens

TALK VIEW

Protestors lay on the ground with their hands behind their back in a call TALK Miami 102 for justice for George Floyd in Delray Beach

TALK Miami 103

Photo: Claudio Schneider

TALK VIEW

Unidentified Participants Vandalizing Police Car During The Protest TALK Miami 104 March Against Police Violence Over Death Of George Floyd

TALK Miami 105

Photo: Hayk_Shalunts

TALK VIEW

Black Lives Matter Protest, Atlanta Georgia

Photo: Lance Lowrie

TALK VIEW

TALK Miami 108 George Floyd beautiful graffiti mural honoring Black Lives Matter

TALK Miami 109

Photo: Munshots

TALK VIEW

Protestors at the George Floyd Black Lives Matter protest, performing dances and giving speeches prior to marching to the Police Station and City Hall

Photo: Sheila Fitzgerald

TALK VIEW

Black Lives Matter protest in honor of George floyd who was murdered by police. TALK Miami 112 This was in downtown Olympia Washington.

TALK Miami 113

Photo: Thomas Henderson

TALK Miami 114

TALK Miami 115