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AN ALERT OF THE RISKS OF INTERVENTION IN SESC
Danilo Santos de Miranda, regional director of SESC – Serviço Social do Comércio (Commerce Social Services) in São Paulo, signs an open letter about the risks of the intervention intended by the federal government. The resources that Sesc receives from the workers in commerce, 1,5% monthly, are used to improve the quality of life of the workers themselves and their families, besides promoting cultural activities around the country, expanding the benefits to all the ones interested. Not by chance, SESC is many times compared to a Culture Ministry for the amount of actions it promotes, stimulating cultural diversity and spreading ideas, musical shows, theater and cinema. The São Paulo International Film Festival, which in 2008 reaches its 32nd edition, has had the Sesc’s support since its third year, in 1979.
SESC’s director speaks about the seriousness of this perspective:
“Dear friends and partners of SESC:
I would like to share with all of you the risk to which SESC is exposed at this moment. You might have heard about it in the media: the federal government has taken new measures to improve the technical formation of Brazilian youngsters which, the way they are proposed, as well intended as they might be, constitute a threat of State intervention in a private entity.
The project, in a nutshell, intends to review the distribution of resources of the inappropriately called System S. It determines that good part of the revenues of these entities be destined to a new Fund for technical education. The fact is, though, that the entities of the so-called System S are already the result of Funds created in the 1940’s, partly, with the same aims.
The destination of the resources of these Funds to a new Fund, however, will imply in the drastic restriction of the diversity and reach of SESC’s well-known action, jeopardizing the permanent education promoted daily to its thousands of frequenters.
Facing this situation, I feel it is my duty to come to you again, above all because I am sure of the value of this institution. The best way to understand the meaning of its action is live day-by-day in the unities (nowadays there are 31, only in the São Paulo State); listen to the frequenters about the importance of SESC in their lives and for their families; to be there and to use the first quality equipment and installations, open to all social levels, and take part in the countless activities that reach a wide arch of interests and needs, putting together an extremely diversified public.
I believe all of you have already had this opportunity. You are, therefore, witnesses of the beneficially efficient, committedly effective and profoundly educational nature of the work SESC has been developing for over 61 years. This heritage cannot be sacrificed in the altar of transitory priorities, in the name of which an immeasurable loss to the country will be perpetrated.
Make Education simply technical, bureaucratic and pragmatic, dissociating it from the symbolic, subjective, critical and creative universe, the axis of the Cultural Action, is an evident step back, the offspring of a flagrantly obscure vision.
Being sure that you will understand the seriousness of this perspective, I write to you, opinion makers, class representatives, artists, thinkers, friends and partners of SESC to manifest yourselves, using the means you have, for the continuity of our work. A project which, in final instance, we built together.”
Danilo Santos de Miranda
Regional Director SESC SP
English version: Laura Rebessi