Chico Whitaker
Encyclopedia
Francisco "Chico" Whitaker Ferreira (born 1931), is a Brazil
ian architect, politician and social activist. A devout Catholic
, Whitaker inspires his work in the liberation theology
, while maintaining close ties with the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, a body linked to the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil. Whitaker served as an alderman for the Workers' Party
in the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo
from 1989 to 1993, when he acted as the majority leader
for mayor Luiza Erundina
. He left the party in 2006, and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the non-profit organization Wikileaks
.
governor Carvalho Pinto, which spanned from 1959 to 1963. He was also head of land reform
planning during the João Goulart
administration. Following the coup d'état that overthrew Goulart, he joined the opposition movement against the military dictatorship. From 1965 to 1966, he was an advisor of the National Conferences of Bishops of Brazil (Conferência Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil, CNBB) at the First Joint Pastoral Plan. In 1966, fleeing political persecution in the country, he went into live in exile with his wife and four children.
Until his return to Brazil in 1981, Whitaker lived and worked in France
and Chile
as a researcher and advisor for the Catholic Committee Against Hunger
, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
, among other organizations. From 1982 to 1988, he served as an advisor for the Archdiocese of São Paulo
and the CNBB. In 1988, he was elected to serve in the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo
for the Workers' Party
. There, he acted as the majority leader
for then mayor Luiza Erundina
.
In 2001, Whitaker helped organizing the World Social Forum
. In 2006, he received the Right Livelihood Award
, an annual prize given since 1980 to support people who not only dedicate themselves to social justice
and the environment, but who live according to those principles. The prize – 220,000 euros (around 285,000 U.S. dollars) – is shared among three other winners, and was awarded in December of that same year. During the local elections of 2008
, he helped organizing the Ficha Limpa project, which aims to prevent the candidacy to public offices by citizens responding to legal actions.
In addition to being part of the Advisory Board of Wikileaks
, Whitaker is also a founding member of the nongovernmental organization Transparência Brasil, which is affiliated to the Transparency International
and aims to fight against corruption in Brazil. He also is a member of the World Future Council
. The World Future Council brings the interests of future generations to the centre of policy making.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian architect, politician and social activist. A devout Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, Whitaker inspires his work in the liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
, while maintaining close ties with the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, a body linked to the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil. Whitaker served as an alderman for the Workers' Party
Workers' Party (Brazil)
The Workers' Party is a democratic socialist political party in Brazil. Launched in 1980, it is recognized as one of the largest and most important left-wing movements of Latin America. It governs at the federal level in a coalition government with several other parties since January 1, 2003...
in the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo
Municipal Chamber of São Paulo
The Municipal Chamber of São Paulo is the unicameral legislative body of the city of São Paulo....
from 1989 to 1993, when he acted as the majority leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
for mayor Luiza Erundina
Luiza Erundina
- Political history :From 1980 to 1997 she was affiliated with the PT party . In 1997 she changed to the PSB party. Erundina served on the São Paulo city council from 1983-1987. From 1987-1988 she was a state deputy for the state of São Paulo. She was São Paulo's mayor from 1989 to 1992, and is...
. He left the party in 2006, and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the non-profit organization Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
.
Biography
From 1953 to 1954, Whitaker was the chairman of the Catholic University Youth of Brazil, formed by Catholic University students from all over the country. He then served on the strategy group of São PauloSão Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
governor Carvalho Pinto, which spanned from 1959 to 1963. He was also head of land reform
Land reform
[Image:Jakarta farmers protest23.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Farmers protesting for Land Reform in Indonesia]Land reform involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution,...
planning during the João Goulart
João Goulart
João Belchior Marques Goulart was a Brazilian politician and the 24th President of Brazil until a military coup d'état deposed him on April 1, 1964. He is considered to have been the last left-wing President of the country until Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2003.-Name:João Goulart is...
administration. Following the coup d'état that overthrew Goulart, he joined the opposition movement against the military dictatorship. From 1965 to 1966, he was an advisor of the National Conferences of Bishops of Brazil (Conferência Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil, CNBB) at the First Joint Pastoral Plan. In 1966, fleeing political persecution in the country, he went into live in exile with his wife and four children.
Until his return to Brazil in 1981, Whitaker lived and worked in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
as a researcher and advisor for the Catholic Committee Against Hunger
Comité catholique contre la faim et pour le développement
The Comité catholique contre la faim et pour le développement [Catholic committee against hunger and for development) is a Catholic humanitarian-aid non-governmental organisation.-External links:More information*...
, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean was established in 1948 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. In 1984, a resolution was passed to include the countries of the Caribbean in the name...
, among other organizations. From 1982 to 1988, he served as an advisor for the Archdiocese of São Paulo
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of São Paulo
The Archdiocese of São Paulo is a major see in the Roman Catholic Church in Brazil. The Diocese of São Paulo was erected by Pope Benedict XIV on 6 December 1745. It became an Archdiocese on 7 June 1908...
and the CNBB. In 1988, he was elected to serve in the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo
Municipal Chamber of São Paulo
The Municipal Chamber of São Paulo is the unicameral legislative body of the city of São Paulo....
for the Workers' Party
Workers' Party (Brazil)
The Workers' Party is a democratic socialist political party in Brazil. Launched in 1980, it is recognized as one of the largest and most important left-wing movements of Latin America. It governs at the federal level in a coalition government with several other parties since January 1, 2003...
. There, he acted as the majority leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
for then mayor Luiza Erundina
Luiza Erundina
- Political history :From 1980 to 1997 she was affiliated with the PT party . In 1997 she changed to the PSB party. Erundina served on the São Paulo city council from 1983-1987. From 1987-1988 she was a state deputy for the state of São Paulo. She was São Paulo's mayor from 1989 to 1992, and is...
.
In 2001, Whitaker helped organizing the World Social Forum
World Social Forum
The World Social Forum is an annual meeting of civil society organizations, first held in Brazil, which offers a self-conscious effort to develop an alternative future through the championing of counter-hegemonic globalization...
. In 2006, he received the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
, an annual prize given since 1980 to support people who not only dedicate themselves to social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
and the environment, but who live according to those principles. The prize – 220,000 euros (around 285,000 U.S. dollars) – is shared among three other winners, and was awarded in December of that same year. During the local elections of 2008
Brazilian municipal elections, 2008
The Brazilian municipal elections of 2008 will be held on October 5 and October 26. Over 130 million voters will choose mayors and city councillors for the 5,565 municipalities of Brazil....
, he helped organizing the Ficha Limpa project, which aims to prevent the candidacy to public offices by citizens responding to legal actions.
In addition to being part of the Advisory Board of Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
, Whitaker is also a founding member of the nongovernmental organization Transparência Brasil, which is affiliated to the Transparency International
Transparency International
Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...
and aims to fight against corruption in Brazil. He also is a member of the World Future Council
World Future Council
The World Future Council is an independent body formally founded in Hamburg, Germany on 10 May 2007. "Formed to speak on behalf of policy solutions that serve the interests of future generations", it includes members active in governmental bodies, civil society, business, science and the arts...
. The World Future Council brings the interests of future generations to the centre of policy making.
Publications
- 1992: O que é vereador? ISBN 8511012656
- 1994: Idéias para Acabar com os Picaretas
- 2005: Desafio do Fórum Social Mundial: um Modo de Ver ISBN 8515027410
- 2006: Towards a New Politics. What Future for the World Social Forum? ISBN 9781842777985
- 2007: Eleições, Cidadania e Redes (DVD)
- 2007: Das Weltsozialforum: Offener Raum für eine andere Welt ISBN 978-3-89965-231-4