Brazil: the perfect freedom of expression?

international | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis

Tuesday January 08, 2013 18:16

by Emilio José Lemos de Lima - The Popular Initiative

emiliojoselemosdelima at gmail dot com

but I will defend to the death your right to do so!"(Voltaire),

In Brazil we have a history of abuse and arbitrariness: from the most vile censorship, like that practiced during the "military dictatorship*", even dishonest and virulent attacks carried out by sectors of the press, against institutions, citizens and even banks.
It is controversial the relationship between freedom of expression and the degree of development of societies.
Many seek to justify the repressive character of the current regimes as a price that must be paid for achieving progress.
Throughout history, however, people fought and died for the right to speak, to question, to publish.
It is no coincidence that in many countries today, people debate legislation on the subject. This is the case of our neighboring republic, Argentina, to name just one instance.

Is big the brother that is watching us?

Brazil: the perfect freedom of expression?

"I don't agree with only one of the words you say, but I will defend to the death your right to do so!"(Voltaire),

It is controversial the relationship between freedom of expression and the degree of development of societies.

Many seek to justify the repressive character of the current regimes as a price that must be paid for achieving progress.

Throughout history, however, people fought and died for the right to speak, to question, to publish.

Specifically we found, to our great relief, that the more developed societies are precisely those who managed broader and unquestioned freedom of expression.

However, there are difficulties everywhere, because everywhere there are those who use free speech as a weapon of war, war itself, political war and commercial war.

It is no coincidence that in many countries today, people debate legislation on the subject. This is the case of our neighboring republic, Argentina, to name just one instance.

In Brazil we have a history of abuse and arbitrariness: from the most vile censorship, like that practiced during the "military dictatorship*", even dishonest and virulent attacks carried out by sectors of the press, against institutions, citizens and even banks.

Who does not remember the school closed in São Paulo, for alleged sexual abuse against children? Or a known and respected politician who had his reputation soiled and took years and many slow lawsuits to reestablish the truth? And a certain large bank, labeled as "broken" by a magazine of great circulation, to then face really great difficulties caused by those malicious news and to end (badly) sold?

I mention only these three cases, sorrowfully celebrated. There are so many and so systematic of them, however, that a known journalist coined a facetious neologism : The P.I.G. (Partido=Party, Imprensa=Press, Golpista= Coupist).

Attempting to, from this historic, setting up any form of censorship or restriction would cause a setback unbearable for the young Brazilian democracy.

Thus, President Dilma Rousseff and so called "power base" are studying a creative and innovative alternative, able at once to ensure a completely free functioning of the press and to protect the rights and interests of citizens, institutions and companies: The Law of the Right of Response, designed to operate as an immediate measure, supported in the faith on the claims of the plaintiff and on the determination of avoiding irreparable damage to reputations and assets.

More or less like this: the citizen, institution or company potentially harmed, requests the immediate right of reply in the same vehicle with identical prominence, placement, time, drawing, etc ... Being immediately attended by the judicial authority, as and when warranted.

So, in no way it restricts the freedom of journalists and vehicles, but even before trigger justice for the restoration of true, the aggrieved can now publish his version of events.

Considering the costs involved and the damage to professional journalists and their vehicles, the law tends to act as a moderating element.

As the friend reader can see, besides boosting the waterway Caribbean-Plata, with neighboring countries; accelerate and enhance the acquisition of small properties, and enable with Ernst Götsch the recovery of semi-arid region of Brazil ("Brazil: Structural changes on the way" voltaaomundopresidenta.blogspot.com), Dilma Rousseff and her allied base, lay the foundations for further progress in deep democratization of Brazil.

* "The military coup" of 1964, was woven, financed and controlled from abroad. Featured local supporters, of course. Including important sectors of the armed forces. After the coup, who remained in these public institutions had no choice but to join. See "1964, Conquest of the State" by Prof. Dr. René Armand Dreifuss, published in 1981 by Voices. Apparently included in any "Index Librorum Prohibitorum" because very hard to find.

** In time: the Caribbean-Plate waterway project is just one of the wonders offered by the book "South America; Integration and Development", organized by Darc Costa.