Response to George Guimarães text Nuno Ramos
Response to George Guimarães text Nuno Ramos "White Flag, love: In defense of the pride and the will of the art ", published in the newspaper Folha de São Paulo in 17/10/2010
Prezado Sr. Nuno Ramos,
I read today in the newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo o texto “White Flag, love: In defense of the pride and the will of the art ", letter where you whine about how you're feeling "wronged, restrained and shocked " while searching, in vain, explain to the reader about the importance of his "work". May have been surprised to find that their, as well as art, organized movements calling for rights to use speeches and tools that are not always in agreement (or should I say, that often are at odds) with what is accepted by status quo and whose actions often are not housed within the parameters of legality. Maybe their lack of contact with any information that relates to movements for rights that have generated their perception about creating "a broth culture and close to violence and intimidation ". Be certain that the violence and intimidation that you might feel were not even close to what would have taken shape if the vultures were not released in that short period during which they were exposed as objects to supply your lack of creativity. Calmed by indications of a solution in progress at the hands of IBAMA, initiatives of protests and interventions were just beginning to sprout from the animal liberation movement in that short period of time.
In the week following the incident of the opening of the exhibition (in which animal rights activists were beaten by security Biennial Foundation), there was a second protest, where 2 animal rights activists handcuffed themselves to their work (I was one of them) followed by 40 other activists, who successfully managed to pass through the security and metal detectors installed at the entrance of the building carrying 8 pounds of metals that were used for the acorrentarmos and algemarmos. This protest occurred 2 days after IBAMA announced the cancellation of the license display of birds and, under that circumstance, the protest ended up winning in a moderate tone. I refer to the protest held inside the building on the day of the Biennial 02 October 2010, to TVs 4 hours and was properly muffled by the media and purposely "forgotten" in its brief description in the letter published today by the time you describe the course of events. Although we breached the security system of the Biennial Foundation, we have been very vocal during the protest and thousands of people have achieved by the time we understand well, since it could not be taken away by being handcuffed, still say that the protest had a moderate tone. The ongoing protest would have been very different if we were not practicing our best policy and patience in the face of IBAMA's decision is still pending to be met. I maintain that a hundred activists failed to attend because they are not longer needed after that day we decided to change strategy in the face of the decision pending the IBAMA, that this change was temporary until the animals were in fact returned to their place of origin. To watch the video of that protest, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/veddastv (the video file is published in two parts). The full report on the protest can be read in http://www.veddas.org.br.
Hoping to seek to understand the nonsense that comes from the mind of an artist who must resort to the use of animals to express their art, I made sure to read the section of your text where there is a description of what was intended to "work" in question. After reading, prevails my perception of what I stated in loud and clear to all present at the exhibition during the protest conducted handcuffed to his "work": the need to use live animals to express the art only attests to the lack of creativity of the artist. How many elements can the mind of a true artist to create without having to exploit sentient animals to convey your message? It is not, therefore, pretending to make, as you said, “or sequestro, say, any sense that he would propose ", but to point out their lack of creativity and protest the lack of respect for the limits of ethics and morality, these elements so necessary to the formation of a civilization in tune with the new planetary moment we live. As you should know, until, with their education role of human thought and provocative, has a huge responsibility on the moral formation of our society.
In case your work, he is not only immoral, but also criminal. Even recommend that already start preparing your next letter whimpering formal charges under criminal being sent to prosecutors, since his text published in today's date in the Folha de São Paulo is far from being able to express the greatness of the shock you receive when you know that the federal and municipal laws that condemn the criminal acts carried forward by you and will be completed by the Fundação Bienal. Moreover, I should not say that you will be shocked to know about these laws, as they were presented by animal rights advocates to you and the Biennial Foundation even before the opening of the exhibition. My certainty of execution of penalties from the fact that they are already and will continue to be collected thousands of animal rights advocates distributed throughout the country and willing to new mobilizations if necessary.
Regarding his impression of the "brazenness with which it was used as a springboard for a speech now ready, elem before I saw him only a possibility irradiation ", you could not be more wrong. There was no speech ready nor had the intention to use his unfortunate "work" as a springboard to anything. What happened was an initial moment of perplexity which was followed by the development of actions. I say that because there was perplexity, not enough as many forms of animal exploitation already in operation in our speciesist society, intended now further expand the already weakened limits the exploitation of animals as mere objects. More than that, more than the lack of sensitivity of the artist and the curators of the Biennial Foundation, there is still a violation of the Constitution and federal laws and municipal expressly prohibit the submission of animal cruelty, beyond, in the case of bylaw, specifically prohibit the public display of animals in circuses and similar. It is not, therefore, the use of a speech ready-, but a mobilization against this aberration that exceeds even the limits already too loose and accepted by society. Proof that these limits exist and have popular support is that they are expressed in the form of laws.
In relation to its demand for consistency in our position, what you describe as "radical vegetarianism ", stating that we should abstain from the consumption of meat and defend the closure of all zoos, Jockeys clubs, farms with animals for breeding and upgrading of our relations "animals " domestic, I speak for myself and many members of our movement to say that we fully agree with your perception of the coherence, since our struggles and practices harboring all these demands and beyond. Among many other practices that should be added to your list, also do not consume eggs and dairy, thus failing to cooperate with the industries that exploit and enslave animals to steal them these products. The same is true for the leather industries, the wool, da seda, rodeos, two circuses, animal experiments and many other variables of animal exploitation that pervade our society, that too numbed by the prevailing culture of exploitation is difficult to see the intensity of the horror that billions (yes, billion) animals are submitted each year for the sole purpose of serving the interests (and, In most cases, the luxury) human.
Any art form that reinforces the misperception that animals are objects for human use is harmful to the formation of a culture of respect for all life forms. Therefore, Sr. Nuno Ramos, stop whining about "injustice " with which judges have been victimized and take your misconception with honor and tranquility, as well as many other, Lord is just another victim of this speciesist society that believes that nonhuman animals belonging to the lower species and therefore may be overwhelmed at our pleasure. Its cultural and artistic education is just one more result of this culture of exploitation and domination that has no more space in the model of society that the planet needs and therefore is doomed to collapse. The good news is that anyone is allowed to wake up to a new perception of this reality and so glimpse the size of the task that is to be performed: reviewing the way we relate to nature and the acceptance of the challenge to convey a message to society that is truly and fully imbued with positive intentions, Sanaa e justas. A until, doubtless, has much to contribute to this awakening and this is why art can never be combined with cruelty.
George Guimarães, nutritionist, 36 years
RG: 13.564.803-8 SSP / SP
President of the NGO VEDDAS - Ethical Vegetarianism, Defense of Animals and Society
(Read here text "White Flag, love: In defense of superb art and will”.)
