This was echoed by female enthusiasts of Satish’s teachings in Brazil. Most of the conferences during the tour were led by female leaders: Andrea Kestenbaum, CEO Positive VenturesPatricia Ellen da Silva, Director Systemike Co., Ltd. Fernanda Guerra from Brazil is a lawyer and conscious contractand Bia Tadema, CEO Schumacher School.
No trip to Brazil is complete without seeing its beautiful natural landscapes. Brazil is three times the size of India, so there is plenty of natural landscape to enjoy.
We were invited for a three-day visit. Ebit In Minas Gerais, 6,000 hectares of Atlantic forest are slowly being completely rewilded. It is the life project of owner Renato Machado, who started Ibiti in 1982.
This extensive conservation effort includes a monkey sanctuary for the endangered Muriki monkey, a puma research and conservation project, an animal rehabilitation program, a wildlife release area, and a recently opened orchid greenhouse, providing sustainable support to the entire community in which it is located.
Satish saw his first film of his life in Ibiti. Every detail is taken into consideration for this special outdoor screening next to a beautiful lake, complete with deck chairs, blankets for extra moisture, and vegetarian cuisine prepared by talented chef Daniela Rosa.
One of the main focuses of the trip was for Satish to meet with activists in Brazil and share ideas. His first meeting was with a group of young indigenous activists, Amanda Costa, Thiago Guarani, Cleidiana Carvalho, Natalha Theofilo, Waja Xipai and many others who were united by their deep discontent with the treatment of indigenous people by successive governments.
They seek recognition of their culture, land, and indigenous status. Things have changed recently since the appointment of Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s first indigenous minister.
Guajajara has provided a political impetus for indigenous people that they have long needed. Satish added that while embracing their core message at the conference, “love is the most powerful tool for change.” Through online activities following the conference, this message seemed to resonate deeply with this new generation of activists.
benevolence
In Rio de Janeiro, Satish met with two Brazilian legends of his generation, Gilberto Gil and Ayrton Crenac, for a discussion. The conversation was philosophical in tone, dealing with the idea of separation from different cultural perspectives: African, indigenous and Indian.
Ailton Krenak added his reflections on the wind: “Our ancestors considered the wind important. They taught us that the wind was a separate entity from the human idea that it was just a part of nature, like the waves of the ocean or the rays of the sun.
“We found that these beings communicate with us, heal us, move us, and give meaning to our lives. It’s very close to the concept of angels that Westerners brought here. They are always moving around us like consciousness, they are conscious, they are conscious, and we are talking to them in the wind.”
Book publication Radical Love Perhaps the headline event of our trip was at the National Theater in São Paulo. Satish, introduced by host Caze Pecini, received a standing ovation when he came on stage. He spoke with great passion about his life, his mission, and his message, which seemed to resonate deeply with the Brazilian audience.
This is probably why Escola Schumacher has managed to run 70 courses with over 7,000 students in just 10 years. The anniversary was celebrated in true Schumacher style with fireside conversations, poetry, songs and healthy vegetarian food.
Satish’s visit created a huge wave of genuine goodwill and charity, planting seeds for the future. Escola Schumacher is about to create a foundation of trustees and sponsors, with the first goal of creating a permanent home for the school. Momentum is building, and Brazil is ready for change.
This author
James P Graham Artist and environmental activist. He is a former director of the Resurgence Trust. Satish Kumar is a member of the Resurgence Trust’s executive team. The trip was funded by the Ibiti and Escola Schumacher communities in Brazil.
