Samuel Sales Saraiva
Distressed and with a feeling of helplessness in the face of reality, I contemplate the senselessness. In the threshold of consciousness, serenity, while time rapidly runs out, leading everyone to nothingness.
I have been looking at humanity’s senseless course with deep indignation, despair, impotence, sadness and shame, unable to glimpse any positive indicators that might shed light on the fate of future generations. I ask myself: Why have we disregarded reason and abandoned the ability to discern?
In the natural process imposed by the human condition, with one suddenly being replaced by another, I feel the time has come to embrace alienation, to give up on the need to write, as a way of decompressing impotence.
I say this in the sense that I cannot figure out the best way to make an effective contribution that may change the course of somber events.
I used to write projects and ideas when struck by lucidity, feeling the responsibility to bring them to light. At some point, I had the illusion that if my suggestions were fully developed, they would enable countless legitimate social and environmental demands to be addressed with due urgency.
My website lists these projects one by one, each written with the utmost concern for human solidarity, the security of the Americas, and a better future for all.
For some time, getting confirmation that my suggestions had been received was enough for me, like when I proposed measures that would benefit natural production chains in the Brazilian Amazon. It filled me with encouragement to receive the acknowledgement of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Brazilian government, which adopted some of my suggestions. I imagined that this would be the case with other suggestions, such as those regarding the state of Rondônia. I’ll talk about that later.
The freezer-drying system for food: a project postponed amid natural disasters, economic crises, and wars.
Concern for the most vulnerable
A brief retrospective of the long journey within the lifetime granted to me on this Planet may be comparable to the blink of an eye in the face of eternity. I thus leave here my share of contribution—unassumingly, and without seeking recognition or flattery to the ego.
All of this comes with the testimony that I never saw myself as ahead of my time, but rather adrift in it—heading north on the narrow path to reason, with a deep admiration for those who devoted themselves to it. Along this path—long before I ever managed to reach it—I remained indifferent to the habits of Faith and to fantastical beliefs, never becoming a sheep with a deficit of intelligence amid the flock.
Certified by the electoral court as an alternate federal representative for the state of Rondônia in 1983
Critical, but a promoter of feasible ideas
I have pursued, to the best of my ability, riddance from labels or sectarian positions, whether of a political, philosophical or ideological nature. I have walked like a solitary rebel, to arrive at this moment with the feeling that I have broken free from omission, mediocrity, selfishness and monetarism by offering some modest yet profound contributions that justify my existence.
I’m confident in the significance of each one, because I have received positive feedback from participants in my projects, as well as from the chiefs of the government offices that received my suggestions. Some of the planet’s wealthiest people could easily implement them within a few days and nights, but unfortunately…
My ideas were appreciated by the appropriate forums, and sometimes the opportunists on duty claimed them as their own. Still, it has all been documented, whether in the form of published articles or books of a technical-legislative nature, such as the Transfronteira project, available in the libraries of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Brasilia, as well as the Library of the American Congress, in Washington D.C.
In the archives of the Brazilian National Congress.
In the Transfronteira project, in partnership with congressmen José Guedes, Assis Canuto and Raquel Cândido, I proposed the sustainable development of the area where the Brazilian Amazon borders neighboring countries. Road systems were to be interconnected in an intermodal, international way, and the planned occupation of that continental region would guarantee national security over it.
The project could prevent the irreparable damage seen today. Analyses of what this project would represent rest in the historical archives of the Brazilian Parliament and in some libraries. Perhaps, one day, they will serve as a point of reflection for researchers looking for answers to what cannot be understood.
In the course of three decades, proposals to strengthen the extraction and international sale of products from the Amazon rainforest, support for humanity’s natural heritage, and declare any aggression that causes damage to the environment a universal crime
Uncompromising respect for the environment
In the same vein, I saw one of my suggestions result in a Ministerial Order: the proposal that strengthened the origin of the More Sustainable Amazon National Fund. It emphasized the development of public policies that could transform the Amazon into an effective agroforestry food production barn, while reforesting degraded or burnt areas. In short, it would guarantee that farming is restricted to supplying the region and it would ensure that the economic vocation of the Amazon biome is fully respected.
I dared to submit a draft resolution for consideration by governments, scholars and technicians at the United Nations, in which I proposed classifying as a crime against humanity’s environmental heritage any action that causes damage to the planet’s fauna, flora and water reserves. Neglect, incompetence and indifference prevented it from being considered.
Senator Álvaro Dias – Podemos- PR.
Transformation cannot be achieved without education
It is worth recalling two other proposals forwarded to the Bolsonaro and Lula administrations. Although both proposals were disregarded and shelved without an assessment of their merits, they were made public thanks to the sensitivity of then Senator Álvaro Dias (PODEMOS-PR), who gave a speech proposing an amendment to Law No. 6.938 of 1981, which provides for the National Environmental Policy.
He suggested that article 12 of the Law should establish that official credit institutions must require borrowers to take courses about environmental preservation as a prerequisite for access to lines of financing.
The legitimate owner participates directly in the profits arising from the national wealth. Otherwise, he will be nothing more than a fool deceived in his rights by centuries-old frauds perpetrated by criminals disguised as guardians and tutors of the country.
Distribution of royalties from national resources
This proposal suggested reformulating the criteria for distributing these resources, directly involving the population in sharing the revenues derived from the nation’s underground wealth. It emphasized the distributive and equitable role of the State within a democracy, encompassing the Federal Government, States, and Municipalities.
These resources are diluted by corruption, leaving only a negligible portion for social welfare. It must be emphasized: nothing is more just than ensuring a portion of these national riches goes directly to Brazilians, in the form of royalties, without intermediaries, as a natural right. This distribution should not privilege the geographic region where resources—such as oil, gold, or other minerals—are extracted.
Unlike Brazil, a successful example can be found in North America. During her tenure as governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin enacted a law ensuring this just and simple approach: distributing a small portion of the wealth (negligible to speculators) directly to individual citizens who were taxpayers in good standing.
No human being has the right to legislate or establish rules in perpetuity. Future generations have the legitimate right to choose their own path.
Nothing in the universe is static; everything is in constant change. Revising outdated laws in light of new realities and concepts is an essential necessity. The current criteria for distributing underground wealth require inclusive discussions to ensure Brazilians—owners of Brazil—fairly benefit from these resources.
Let us not forget that delayed justice becomes injustice. The current system and its criteria are outdated, perpetuating corruption, feeding opportunists, and benefiting those comfortable with the status quo. Structural problems require media attention to foster debates between the State and society. Without such pressure, those in power will continue to feign ignorance, as change does not serve their interests. This complacency has persisted for decades.
The nation must awaken and mobilize to urgently reform these unjust and obsolete laws, which have harmed the people for over a century. The populace would not need welfare programs, handouts, or populist policies if they were simply given what is rightfully theirs.
Hands that reach out in search of food
Addressing Food Waste and Hunger
Effectively combating hunger — a subject exploited by demagogic politicians and religious figures — was among my aspirations. I envisioned large-scale food dehydration facilities to process surplus food wasted due to inadequate storage, which causes it to rot while human beings are cruelly subjected to hunger, losing their dignity in silence.
The elites, who bear the moral responsibility of leading their people wisely, instead choose destruction through senseless wars devoid of logical or moral justification. Similarly, politics, now an appendage of economic power, has become a vast marketplace where unscrupulous, greedy criminals take turns in power, focused solely on personal enrichment and advancing their criminal organizations at the expense of collective interests.
These actors have completely lost political and social legitimacy, transforming politics into a profitable enterprise that exploits the most vulnerable members of society, decimating them with missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Their actions disregard reason and promote environmental devastation with an irrationality that leads us to admire the purity and the harmonious coexistence among those animals that we dare to call irrational.
Breaking Free from Colonial Legacies
I have been fortunate to perceive reality beyond the constraints of the social and religious constructs of the cradle that destiny reserved for me when I arrived in the present dimension. The journey toward exercising a free mind, unburdened by guilt for seeing beyond the bubble, was long, arduous, and often misunderstood. However, it was fulfilling to reject the indecent and unreasonable discrepancies of institutions and self-proclaimed representatives of divine will.
These individuals amass treasures in the name of faith while preaching values they do not practice, indifferent to ethics, morality, and basic principles of respect and dignity. Organizations with assets valued at three trillion dollars (!) stand in stark contrast to the hunger that claims thousands of lives. This is just one among entities that thrive on ostentation, extravagant privileges, and excess, insulting common sense.
Their rhetoric of kindness, compassion, and fraternity is a façade—a marketing strategy for relentless fundraising. This leaves behind a trail of blood and death, sustained by chronic ignorance passed from generation to generation through fear-based indoctrination. The result is legions of fanatics inhabiting a realm of lies, folly, and hypocrisy.
Reflection and Clarity
In my writings and conversations, I sought to inspire reflection and illuminate sincere yet indoctrinated minds. I never intended to offend anyone’s faith in the dream of a better world, as no living soul has returned from the beyond to report what it might hold.
To the best of my ability, I endeavored to bring people toward life with reasonable arguments, steering them away from passive acceptance of their lethargy. Was I bold and pretentious? Yes. I aimed to clarify the shadows that hinder discernment, despite the risks involved. However, my vision was not always understood, as deeply ingrained traditions, dogmas, and beliefs kept many imprisoned within their own minds.
Gratitude and Material Detachment
Finally, devoid of vanity, I am gratified by the sense of having freely contributed within my limited means. Often, I redirected personal resources to this cause, grateful for the most precious gift my late parents gave me: the privilege of life — an increasingly rare recognition.
They inspired me with empathy and the courage to believe in improvement, to contribute without being asked, to think differently, and to remain independent, realistic, and perhaps unpopular.
Indignation and Call to Action
Corruption, like a malignant cancer, has become the dominant culture across all societies, especially within public institutions. Encouraged by impunity enshrined in unjust laws, it targets minorities — particularly the poor — who are exploited, manipulated, and robbed by agents tasked only with repression. These agents deprive people of basic survival conditions and inclusive policies that ensure a dignified life.
Inclusive policies exist only theoretically, in the cold and insensitive constitutional texts, fostering a national sentiment of revolt and powerlessness. The law is exploited for criminal purposes under a fraudulent and unjust veneer of legitimacy, evident in the degrading official swindling that leaves the population with nothing but the duty to vote, pay taxes, and comply.
Dawn in Olney, Maryland, in the Washington DC metropolitan area.
A Hopeful Farewell
I extend my sincere thanks to those who have read my articles or have been with me at some point in this journey. Intoxicated by reality, I staggered along the thin line at the edge of the abyss of ignorance, between reason and madness, believing that perhaps the true lunatics are those consciously causing humanity’s misery.
This misery is rooted in the violence we experience in various forms since childhood. We are victims and we learn to project onto society the ills to which we are subjected on our way to reaching the so-called “age of reason”. Few find healing or reach the peak of consciousness that allows them to question and comprehend existence.
Suddenly, I am moved by the chirping of birds and the serene beauty of a rainy spring morning, a reminder of nature’s enduring grace.
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Note:
Samuel Sales Saraiva is the author of projects and proposals focused on social welfare and environmental protection. Accredited by the New York Police Department (NYPD) in 1992, he worked as a correspondent and was a member of the National Press Club of Washington (NPC) and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) in Washington, D.C. (USA). In 2001, he founded the magazine USLatin, which focuses on trade and investment issues in Latin America. He served as a correspondent for the Amazonian website Gente de Opinião and as a contributing columnist for the magazine Momento Brasil, as well as for the website Expressão Rondônia.
He is working to establish a ‘Coalition of Reason’ or ‘Brazilian Academy of Reason’ as a permanent forum for debating national issues, involving representatives from all segments of Brazilian society, state authorities, and the scientific and academic communities, without excluding any school of thought.