Chronique

Opération "fiches propres" au Brésil

par Jean-Pierre Langellier

C'est une pétition impressionnante, et inédite au Brésil. Plus d'un million et demi d'électeurs l'ont signée ; plus de trois millions l'ont appuyée sur Internet. Et cette initiative populaire, prévue par la Constitution, est devenue une loi, votée à l'unanimité par les députés et sénateurs. Une loi anticorruption, au nom symbolique : ficha limpa - "fiche propre", en français.

Que dit-elle ? Toute personnalité politique condamnée en première instance par un collège de magistrats - la sentence d'un seul juge ne suffit pas - pour corruption électorale, achat de votes ou malversation sera inéligible pendant huit ans. Cette sanction frappera aussi les petits malins qui, jusqu'ici, démissionnaient de leur poste pour échapper à la justice.

L'adoption de la loi "fiche propre" est une victoire politique et morale spectaculaire de la société civile dans un pays où la corruption et ses corollaires - népotisme, clientélisme, favoritisme - gangrènent la vie publique du haut en bas de l'échelle, des ministres aux plus modestes conseillers municipaux. L'opinion a fait savoir avec éclat qu'elle ne veut plus être représentée par des élus à la "fiche sale".

Tout commence en septembre 2009 lorsque le Mouvement de lutte contre la corruption électorale (MCCE), un réseau de 44 associations, dépose sa pétition devant la Chambre des députés à Brasilia. Une démarche soutenue par l'Eglise et par de nombreux journaux. Deux mois plus tard, des vidéos accablantes montrent le gouverneur du district fédéral de Brasilia, José Roberto Arruda, un membre de l'opposition, recevant de grosses liasses de billets. Il démissionnera et passera deux mois en prison.

Cette énième affaire légitime un peu plus la croisade citoyenne dont l'ampleur prend de court la classe politique. Elle est popularisée sur Internet par le site Avaaz.org, mouvement mondial qui parraine en ligne des campagnes démocratiques. Le texte de loi fera la navette entre les deux Assemblées pendant huit mois.

Certains élus rechignent, d'autres traînent les pieds. Un sénateur a le malheur de déclarer que ce projet "n'est pas prioritaire". Il suscite aussitôt une levée de boucliers dans la presse. A l'approche des élections présidentielle et parlementaires d'octobre, il est décidément difficile d'aller à l'encontre d'un tel courant d'opinion. Finalement, les élus prennent le train en marche et adoptent la loi dans une étrange séance d'autocongratulation collective.

Leur vote opportuniste est un hommage du vice à la vertu. Car la justice a une grosse clientèle au Congrès fédéral. Selon le site Congresso em foco, 150 parlementaires de tous bords - 129 députés et 21 sénateurs - ont actuellement maille à partir avec la Cour suprême. Soit un congressiste sur quatre. L'un d'eux est même accusé de viol. Presque autant font l'objet d'une enquête de la Cour des comptes brésilienne.

Sur la liste de l'ONG Transparency International, le Brésil occupe, en matière de corruption, un rang moyen : 75e sur 180. Mais son image souffre de l'impunité dont il est un champion. Depuis le vote de la Constitution, en 1988, la Cour suprême n'a condamné qu'un seul élu fédéral. Et encore, très récemment : neuf ans après les faits et douze jours avant leur prescription. Ce député a payé une amende ridiculement basse par rapport aux sommes qu'il avait détournées lorsqu'il était maire ; et il conservera son mandat jusqu'aux prochaines élections.

Aucun homme politique n'est allé en prison après l'énorme scandale du mensalao, la "caisse noire", qui, en 2005, a failli provoquer la démission du président Lula. Son parti achetait généreusement les votes des députés alliés. L'ancien chef de l'Etat, Fernando Collor, destitué pour corruption en 1992 et déchu de ses droits civiques pour huit ans, est revenu au Congrès, comme sénateur. Au Brésil, péché d'argent n'est pas mortel. Et l'on pratique beaucoup la rédemption.

Pourtant, la corruption coûte cher au Brésil. D'après une récente étude officielle, elle lui fait perdre près de 40 milliards de dollars par an. Elle freine la croissance, entrave la productivité et empoisonne le climat des affaires.

C'est un objet privilégié d'analyse. Historiens et sociologues mettent en cause la tradition "patrimoniale" héritée de l'ancien empire, où l'on confond volontiers biens publics et intérêts privés et où la carrière politique est perçue d'abord comme un moyen de s'enrichir.

Au Brésil, le respect du service public, le sens de l'intérêt général et le pacte citoyen entre le contribuable et l'Etat ont du mal à l'emporter sur les liens de dépendance, les relations de clientèles ou les échanges de faveurs.

Pour les initiateurs de la campagne en cours, la lutte continue. Leur texte, disent-ils, n'est que la première étape vers une grande réforme politique, promise puis abandonnée par Lula, qui codifierait, entre autres, le financement des campagnes électorales.

Parviendront-ils à vaincre les vieux tropismes - ignorance, indifférence ou méfiance - qui entretiennent le fatalisme du plus grand nombre envers les tentatives de moralisation politique ? La nouvelle loi ne s'appliquera qu'au moment des élections municipales de 2012. D'ici là, les "fiches sales" ont encore un peu de temps pour leurs magouilles.

March 25, 2010:
This Avaaz.org video, directed by Anthony Lappe, award-winning investigative journalist and documentary-producer, and Executive Editor of Guerrilla News Network, discusses the potentially confusing reasons behind the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

War wages on between Israel and Palestine, despite 63% and 61% of Israelis and Palestinians respectively agreeing on life as two separate states and two separate peoples. While President Obama urges to end the violence by creating two states, extremists both in the Middle East and the United States of America are fighting against this chance to bring peace to a conflict-ridden area.

Washington, 22 March: Most Americans back President Barack Obama's Mideast strategy to stop Israeli settlement-building, lead negotiations for a two-state peace and get tough with both sides if necessary, according to a poll released today on the eve of a critical meeting between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The poll was conducted for the global advocacy network Avaaz by YouGovPolimetrix.

62% of those polled said the growth of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory will only lead to greater hostilities.

52% of respondents support, and 31% oppose, the Obama administration's demand that Israel stop all settlement-building.

53% thought the US should be ready to get tough with both sides in peace negotiations if necessary, while only 33% disagreed. The results come after two weeks of US-Israeli rows over building plans announced during Vice-President Biden's visit to the region.

"Settlements are a peace-killer. This poll shows the American people want peace, and clearly back President Obama's efforts to stop the settlements" said Ricken Patel, Executive Director of Avaaz. "Obama won on health care when he took a tougher stand; the public supports that approach to the settlements issue."

The poll showed broad support for President Obama's overall approach to the region. 61% of respondents supported the administration's plan to lead negotiations to broker a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians during the coming months, with only 25% opposing that approach. The US goal of a two-state peace agreement between Israel and an independent Palestine is supported by 64% of the US public, according to the poll.

Avaaz is now asking its 400,000 US members to call their Congressional representatives to urge them to support the administration's tough approach, based on the clear mandate of this poll. "Our message to Congress is clear -- listen to the people, not the lobby groups, and support President Obama's efforts at peace" said Patel.

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The following questions were asked by YouGovPolimetrix in an online poll of 1000 US citizens for Avaaz.

1. How closely have you followed recent news reports about Vice-President Joe Biden's trip to Israel and the Middle East peace process?
   
2. Do you support or oppose the US goal of a Middle East peace agreement based on two states, Israel and Palestine, living in peace and security with each other and the region?
   
3. The US plans to lead negotiations to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians during the coming months. Do you support or oppose this approach?
   
4. Do you support or oppose the idea that the US should be ready to be tough with both sides in Middle East peace negotiations if this is necessary to achieve peace?
   
5. If Israel builds more settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, do you think this will lead to peace? Lead to more hostility? Or not make any difference?
   
6. The US has asked Israel to stop all settlement-building until the borders between Israel and a future Palestinian state have been negotiated. Do you support or oppose this position?

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Also on March 22nd, Hillary Clinton and Israeli PM Netanyahu delivered their speeches to the AIPAC Summit, America's Pro-Israel lobby.

Avaaz supporters turned up to perform some humorous street theatre. Dressed as Prime Minister Netanyahu wearing a construction hat and flanked by illegal settlement buildings (humans dressed in 8-foot high apartment block costumes), carrying placards demanding "BUILD SETTLEMENTS, WRECK PEACE!" 
 The 8-foot tall settlement blocks, which drew good-natured crowds curious about the costumes, suggested that they were expanding the illegal settlements programme from East Jerusalem all the way to the AIPAC Conference in Washington, DC. Photos below:

The Avaaz community supports the Obama administration's efforts to peace kick-start negotiations. 


Avaaz reports back on the relief actions in Haiti.
With donations from over 19,000 Avaaz members adding up to over $1.3 million, Avaaz and its members have helped local organizations with the means to provide food, shelter, and medical care, saving thousands of lives.

The effort doesn't end there - with a global campaign to relieve some of Haiti's debt signed by hundreds of thousands of members, we helped secure a commitment to over $1 billion in debt relief at the Summit of Finance Ministers in February 2010!

In the last two days an incredible 5,000 Avaaz members from across Scandenavia have contacted Nordea Bank, urging them not to fund a destructive pulp mill in Tasmania, Australia.

For the first time, Nordea bank announced via Twitter today that they would not finance the Gunns pulp mill in Australia if its widely-publicized environmental impacts were not curbed. It's a spectacular example of the power of rapid public pressure to affect global companies, and of the power of the global network: Australian Avaaz members and partners, facing a threatened environmental disaster, appealed to Scandinavians to take action and moved one of the world's leading banks. Increasingly, corporations face accountability everywhere for what they do anywhere.

But the fight isn't over yet! Nordea has to make crystal clear that it won't fund the pulp mill unless specific safeguards are put in place. Click here to read a press release explaining more -- or check out the background information below to learn the history and possible impact of the pulp mill.

Quick Links

More Information

The proposed Bell Bay pulp mill in Tasmania, Australia was announced by Gunns Ltd. over five years ago.
Gunns is unable to complete the project without significant financial investment, and has so far failed to find such funding.

Nordea and the Pulp Mill

Nordea has been considering financing the pulp mill since 2008 after being approached by Gunns ltd. Today (6 January 2010) Mr. Sjøhelle confirmed that Nordea "would not finance a project in the form presented in the media so far."¹

In 2008 a coalition of NGOs including Europe-based BankTrack and Australian organisations GetUp and The Wilderness Society ran an international advertising campaign in the Financial Times which led to more than 15 leading banks ruling out involvement in the project, including all major banks in Australia. Nordea was the only bank to respond that they were considering funding the project. In response to the campaign, Nordea wrote, in an email to the campaigning coalition in August 2008,

"Nordea has been approached by Gunns Ltd. in the initial finance processes of the proposed pulp mill in Tasmania. Nordea has not committed to any financing of the project yet. Nordea is at this stage researching all aspects of the project prior to a finance decision."²

In July 2009, VG Newspaper in Norway ran an expose on the environmental devastation the mill would cause. Nordea Communication Director Rune K. Sjøhelle told the paper: 

"We know the project, and Gunns has been in contact with us. Nordea is the biggest bank in the Nordic countries, and the Nordic countres are world leaders on this kind of industry. So it is not surprising that we have been contacted about financing."³ (translated to English)

On September 28, 2009, The Australian newspaper wrote " Gunns' financiers" were "thought to include Nordea Bank."⁴

As of December 16, 2009, the Australian firm Mimram Planning and Development had a page up on its site describing its work on behalf of Gunns to assess the pulp mill:

"Acting for the project financiers - ANZ and Nordea Banks - Mimram, in collaboration with its European associates, recently carried out extensive and in-depth research into how the Gunns pulp mill project complies with the 9 Equator Principles and their Performance Standards, as promulgated by the IFC (World Bank)." ⁵

Other investors

Another Scandinavian company, pulp and paper company Södra, have recorded interest in financing the pulp mill. Their involvement has been welcomed by campaigning groups after Södra set minimum benchmarks for any pulp mill development in Australia, saying it would need to be totally chlorine-free (TCF), 100% plantation-based and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.⁶

Any pulp mill development should be totally chlorine free, draw 100% on existing plantations rather than virgin forests, and fully assessed to community standards. Crucially, the proposed site of the mill in the Tamar Valley is not a suitable site.

Environmental impacts

Water

The proposed mill would dump 64,000 tonnes of toxic pollution into Bass Strait, Tasmania⁷. This effluent will contain dioxins and furans--some of the deadliest substances known to science. These build up over time in the food chain, contaminating fish, shellfish, seals and other marine life. Oceanographers have warned that the effluent will frequently blow back to pollute the shore and the Tamar Estuary⁸. The pulp mill will consume 26 to 40 billion litres of fresh water each year⁹. This is almost as much as the combined use of all water users in Northern Tasmania¹⁰. 

Economy

Air

The Australian Medical Association (Tasmanian branch) says the pulp mill 'could cause an increase in the already existing morbidity and mortality from atmospheric pollutants'¹². The pollution from the mill will also threaten the viability of local vineyards, farms and tourism.

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¹ Nordea Communication Director Rune K. Sjøhelle responds to twitter petition: http://act.ly/1kz

²Email correspondence from Knut Rorbakken, Group CSR Officer, Nordea Bank, 28 August, 2008.

³ "Nordea Vurderer Skandale-Prosjekt" VG, July 9, 2009. Original article http://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/VG%20Nordea%20Article%20Translation.pdf , English translation http://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/Norwegian%20news%20Gunns%20Nordea.png

⁴ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/state-politics/when-enough-is-enough-the-policy-gets-pulped/story-e6frgczx-1225779451172

⁵ This can still be viewed in Google's Cache: http://google.com/search?q=cache:AEYdet8cKFwJ:www.mimram.com.au/assignments/anz-nordea-gunns-pulp-mill although it is now offline:  http://www.mimram.com.au/assignments/anz-nordea-gunns-pulp-mill/.

⁶ https://secure.wilderness.org.au/cyberactivist/cyberactions/09_06_sodra-cyberaction.php?

⁷  Gunns' referral under the EPBC Act, April 2007

⁸ Dr Stuart Godfrey http://www.cleantamar.com.au/pulp_mill_press_release.html

⁹ Gunns Ltd, Bell Bay Pulp Mill, Draft Integrated Impact Statement

¹⁰ Annual Reports, Esk Water and Cradle Coast Water

¹¹ Business Round Table for Economic Sustainability, http://www.lec.org.au

¹² Australian Medical Association Tasmania, position statements, http://www.amatas.com.au/issues/

On December 12, 2009, over 3000 vigils were held on all corners of the world. Including a vigil led by Desmond Tutu, leader of The Elders, humanitarian, and Nobel Peace Prize winner, at the COP15 conference's own Bella Centre, these vigils were organized to send one message to our leaders - the world wants a real climate deal.
With the potential to make a real difference in the way governments deal with climate change, people all over the world cry out for leaders to make a binding climate treaty to help prevent the aggravation of climate-driven global problems, from the sinking of Tuvalu, wars in Kenya fought over water scarcity, to flooding in the USA - and innumerable other climatic disasters that are sure to affect the entire world.

The only way we can save our world is together, and our leaders must play a part!

On what was scheduled to be the last day of the Copenhagen climate talks, a diverse crowd of global civil society locked out of the negotiations sent a clear message of "Climate Shame" to Obama, Merkel, Hu, Harper, and other leaders who are most responsible for the current stalling of the negotiations.

With the talks now running well past their projected closure time. It's clear, there is one reason why climate negotiations have not moved forward in Copenhagen -- the failure of the U.S. and other developed nations to support emission reduction targets and climate finance at the levels needed to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Today a UN document was leaked that stated what many climate experts have been claiming throughout Copenhagen -- that the combined commitments of all nations in Copenhagen would leave the world with 3 degrees celsius of warming and 550ppm eCO2. A rise of 3C would mean up to 170 million more people suffering severe coastal floods and 550 million more at risk of hunger, according to the Stern review.

We've just heard that Obama has postponed his flight and is in meetings with key world leaders into the night. Let's hope these leaders see the light and raise their ambitions in the final hours. I wouldn't count on it. Either way, we will fight on.

**More photos from today's stunt to follow.

Thanks to Josh Lynch at the Avaaz action factory for this post

Copenhagen, 14 December 2009:
Climate campaign adverts launched today depict President Obama, Prime Minister Hatoyama and Chancellor Merkel ‐‐ due in Copenhagen this week for UN climate talks ‐‐ as characters from science fiction‐adventure film, The Matrix.
The press ads, produced by global campaign network Avaaz.org and funded by thousands of small online donations from individuals around the world, call on the three heads of state to use their powers to achieve a planet‐saving climate deal.
"It is time for Obama, Merkel, and Hatoyama to face their responsibilities," said Ricken Patel, executive director of Avaaz.org. "They have the power to redefine the reality of the climate talks by offering long‐term climate financing."
Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland who is at the talks, added: "Copenhagen must deliver not just deep emissions reductions, but at least $200bn a year in new money to help the poorest countries tackle climate change." Policy experts confirm the need for large‐scale, long‐term funding.
"The US, Japan, and the EU can break the current Copenhagen deadlock by putting money on the table. Climate finance could be exactly what the doctor ordered to free
humanity from fossil fuel dependence," said Patel.
"Real money is a green pill that can open a new, climate‐safe world," he added, referring to a choice the lead film character must make between two coloured pills representing contrasting futures.
The adverts appear in a special climate supplement of the Financial Times as a front quarter page and full back page. The paper is being distributed to delegates at the UN climate talks this week by activists dressed in distinctive long coats, black leather and dark glasses of The Matrix heroes Trinity, Neo and Morpheus.
In a recent Avaaz member poll, 94% voted for the campaign group to make climate change its top priority. Many have given money to support the campaign effort in Copenhagen.

Today -- December 12, 2009 -- hundreds of thousands of people around the world gather at 3000 events in over 130 different countries with one message: the world wants a real climate deal at Copenhagen. Below is a slideshow with high-resolution photos from these actions around the world. To download them, please click on the image you prefer, you will direct to the "World Wants a Real Deal" flickr account and be able to save a copy from there. This Flickr account is shared by the partners of this day of action: Avaaz.org, 350.org and the TckTckTck campaign.

For press enquires please contact:

In Copenhagen: Alice Wynne Wilson -- Tel: +45 5273 0467, Email: aliceww@avaaz.org

In New York: Lisa Main -- Tel: + 1 347 278 3763, Email: lisa@avaaz.org

It's a huge part of Copenhagen, the financing of the $200 billion fund for climate change adaptation. We cannot get a deal unless richer nations -- also referred to as Annex 1 in legal-speak -- put money on the table to help developing nations grow cleanly and vulnerable countries adapt to the climate impacts already under-way.

Countries like the US have made short term financing suggestions but nothing in-line with what is really needed. It's a game of poker, with each country making a bet, and slowly increasing the pot. Now it's Japanese turn, and the new Prime Minister, Hatoyama, has indicated he may be willing to significantly raise the stakes.

The Japanese youth delegation know the potential that exists for Japan to be a climate leader on finance. They realize Japan has the opportunity to be a leader in unlocking the additional financing caught up in political posturing and rhetoric. To crank up this message the youth delegation joined the Avaaz aliens to take demands directly to Japan's delegation; demands that humans can't seem to muster up the courage to ask. Hiroyuki Hori and Jouju Vechi from Tokyo, and Yaicha Bookhout of Missoula suited up and went green to hunt down the Japanese representatives. They were determined to deliver the Japanese youth statement to Japan's negotiators

Word spread to the Japan's offices as the aliens wondered the hallways calling for Japan to take up a climate leadership role in Copenhagen. The aliens were essentially asking Japan to save Copenhagen as without real finances there is no real deal.
Japan quickly sent message to the aliens that the Japanese delegates would like to meet with the aliens and make a statement on what they are asking of Japan!

The Japanese youth got quick response from the delegation, which is promising, however we need commitments not promised statements from. The meeting is set to take place in s few hours and we'll be watching to see what happens.

Will Japan take the bold leadership needed to save Copenhagen or will they fall in line with other annex one countries that refuse to commit the additional funding needed to save the most impacted countries?

As far as these young leaders are concerned, they believe that Japan will make the right decision and become bold leaders here in Copenhagen.

**Thanks to Nick Magel from Avaaz Action Factory