BETINHO DIES BETINHO DIES

“Brazil is Paradise for a minority, “Brazil is Paradise for a minority,

Purgatory for most people, and Hell for Purgatory for most people, and Hell for
20 per cent of the population” (Betinho, 20 per cent of the population” (Betinho,
1935-1997) 1935-1997)

Herbert José de Souza (“Betinho”), a Herbert José de Souza (“Betinho”), a

Brazilian sociologist who fought for the Brazilian sociologist who fought for the
poor, died August 9 at age 61. Betinho, poor, died August 9 at age 61. Betinho,
a hemophiliac*, died from a hemophiliac*, died from
complications of Aids, as had his two complications of Aids, as had his two
brothers, also hemophiliacs. He fled brothers, also hemophiliacs. He fled
Brazil after a right-wing military Brazil after a right-wing military
dictatorship had taken over in 1964, but dictatorship had taken over in 1964, but
returned under a general amnesty in returned under a general amnesty in
1979. Betinho was deeply involved in 1979. Betinho was deeply involved in
national movements for agrarian national movements for agrarian
reform, an end to hunger, and an end to reform, an end to hunger, and an end to

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police brutality, and founded the non- police brutality, and founded the non-
governmental Brazilian Institute for governmental Brazilian Institute for
Social and Economic Analysis, whose Social and Economic Analysis, whose
motto is “democratize information to motto is “democratize information to
democratize society”. He also promoted democratize society”. He also promoted
Aids prevention, fought prejudice and Aids prevention, fought prejudice and
offered aid to the sick. offered aid to the sick.

Theologian Leonardo Boff Theologian Leonardo Boff

called Betinho “a messianic figure who, called Betinho “a messianic figure who,
like all Messiahs, fought for the poor, like all Messiahs, fought for the poor,
mopped up tears and kept hope alive.” mopped up tears and kept hope alive.”
Historian Francisco Alencar called him Historian Francisco Alencar called him
“the Brazilian Gandhi, an unarmed Che “the Brazilian Gandhi, an unarmed Che
Guevara, a Mandela who did not Guevara, a Mandela who did not
become president.” become president.”

*hemophiliac: a person who suffers *hemophiliac: a person who suffers

from hemophilia, a serious disease in from hemophilia, a serious disease in
which the blood does not clot which the blood does not clot
normally. normally.
Caricatura: Baptistão Caricatura: Baptistão
http://baptistao.zip.net/ http://baptistao.zip.net/