Brazil's ministers go on 'misery tour'

www.guardian.co.uk Alex Bellos in Rio de Janeiro Saturday January 11, 2003 The Guardian

President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and 30 of his cabinet colleagues began a two-day visit yesterday to some of Brazil's poorest areas.

It has been dubbed the president's Misery Tour and is aimed at showing ministers the extent of hardship in the country.

The political caravan is the new leader's first official trip since he took office last week and a symbolic gesture to show that his government's priority is to fight hunger and poverty.

He has given each of his ministers 15 days to come up with proposals to redress poverty, and has set up a new ministry specifically to combat hunger.

For Lula, as he is universally known, it is a journey back to his roots.

He was born and raised in the impoverished semi-arid north-east of the country.

The tour began yesterday in Irma Dulce, near the north-east city of Teresina, which is thought to be one of the biggest shantytowns in Latin America

Lula spoke to and mixed with a crowd of about 3,500 there.

The party then flew to Recife. Today the tour continues to impoverished areas in the state of Minas Gerais.

Lula introduced his ministers as "comrades" and said that they would work together to end poverty. "My job is not do promise but to do," he said.

The loudest cheer went to the culture minister, Gilberto Gil, who is also from the north-east and is one of Brazil's most successful pop stars.

Lula said he had seen a four-year-old child with an arm that was "thinner than my finger".

"This means malnutrition, and this is what we will fight against," he said.

"Don't think that I can change everything with a magic wand but let's work against this situation."

He walked for about 400 metres through the shantytown and visited the home of a 23-year-old woman with three children who lives on less than £10 a month. She asked him for working materials to help improve her home.

Last week Lula became the first working-class president in Brazilian history. His inauguration brought unprecedented crowds to the capital Brasilia and has created an exciting climate of political change.

The Misery Tour was originally aimed at remoter regions but the route was changed at the last minute when it was realised that the high cost of would go against the spirit of helping the poor.

Ana Toni, Brazil director of Action Aid, said Lula's decision to show his ministers the reality of Brazilian life was an important symbolic gesture.

"For the first time in Brazilian history the fight against poverty is a government priority and not an add-on policy."

"Ninety-nine per cent of middle-class Brazilians have never seen this type of poverty. Lula is giving his ministers a reality check."