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AWESOME CREATORS :: 100,000 POETS for CHANGE : Sao Paulo, Brasil: SIAMO TUTTI IGUALE, SIAMO TUTTI ROM


Video: Poet Roberto Malini at La Notte de Diritti Umani (The Night of Human Rights)
Nostre mantra solito: siamo tutti iguale, siamo tutti Rom
Siamo tutti iguale, siamo tutti Rom
Siamo tutti iguali, siamo tutti Rom
Siamo clandestini, siamo Africani
Siamo gay, siamo lesbi,
que siamo tutti iguale,
Siamo neri, siamo bianci,
Siamo diversi,
Siamo tutti iguale

Siamo tutti Rom
Siamo tutti iguale, siamo tutti Rom
Siamo tutti iguale, siamo tutti Rom 
Siamo tutti umani, siamo tutti Rom 

Our one mantra: we are all equal, we are all Rom (gypsies)
We are all equal, we are all Rom
We are all equal, we are all Rom
We are illegal immigrants, we are africans
We are gay, we are lesbians
We are all equal
We are black, we are white
We are diverse
We are all equal
We are all Rom
We are all equal, we are all Rom
We are all equal, we are all Rom
We are all human, we are all Rom
There are an estimated 800,000 people of Romani descent living in Brazil, to which they were deported in a colonial campaign by the Portuguese — today, they form a group known as the Brasilian Calo Nomads, who continue to face marginalization and widespread association with “genetic criminality,” according to ERRC, the European Roma Rights Center.
Despite this stigma, Roma culture thrives and has consistently grown stronger in its relationship to the battle for human rights and social change, sending delegates to UN summits and representing not only their history but a deep belief in the equality of all.
Italian Poet Roberto Malini has emerged as a strong voice for the Rom people, this year winning  Honorable Mention from the Camaiore Literary Award committee for his book, “The Silence of the Violins,” which includes both new original work and Malini’s translations of American author and activist Paul Polansky.
On November 16th, The Petraca-Dini Family, who organizes literary salons and other collaborative events with a focus on social activism a group of Brasilian artists, musicians, and poets celebrated the work of Malini in an evening under the banner of 100,000 Poets for Change — another example of how creative people across the globe continue to hold events all year long, expanding the 100TPC vision far beyond the original September 29th annual celebration.
On the 16th of November,  the occasion of the World Day of Tolerance (established by the UN in 1996) the The Petraca-Dini Family held an event celebrating the work of the Poet Roberto Malini, awarding him primary recognition in an event promising to be held annually in coordination with 100TPC. The Petraca-Dini are active organizers within the creative and activist communities, holding literary salons and other collaborative events with a focus on social change and visibility for Romani culture.

Adriano Petreca Dini, a gypsy artist of Sicilian origin, his wife, Alessandra Maria Da Silva, a dancer and poet, and a impressive array of artist friends gave an impassioned new interpretation of Malini, translated into Portuguese, and accompanied by traditional Romani guitar and  dance.

“We are delighted that the consent of all the Roma community grants to Brazilian poems by Roberto Malini,” say the organizers, “who is a wonderful poet, a brave defender of the rights of the Roma people and a great friend of ours. This is why we decided to create in a big way the first literary salon dedicated to him, with a reading of his poems in Portuguese from ‘The silence of the violins.’ There will be music, rhythm, passion and memory. Roma  landed in Brazil in 1574, after being expelled from Portugal. Then, during the first years of the twentieth century more of us came from Sicily, our ancestors Rom, bringing creativity, music and love for poetry: as we have inherited and that are in our DNA.”

Some of the text has been translated from Via Reggiano. Siamo tutti Rom and notes translated by Lynne DeSilva-Johnson.

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Editor’s note: it is a true honor to host these first person letters and words from organizers around the world, poets and musicians “walking the walk,” exemplifying the power of creativity as direct action for social change. Ultimately it is the chorus of voices, often in translation as you see above, that reminds us simply how vast our numbers are — and how powerful our shared intention.
In addition to Taha Abdel’s message from Egyptian poets to the poets of the world, we recently shared Lee Ballinger’s inspiring 100,000 Musicians for Change Letter from Los Angeles, “A Change is Gonna Come”, as well as a report from a little closer to home, musician Bob Goldberg writing on the work of Musicians for Sandy, who have been active in the relief and recovery efforts here in New York City after the storm.
Plans for next September’s events are growing every day. Perhaps you’d like to organize something where you are?  Learn the backstory: get introduced to this amazing movement, and figure out how you can be a part, wherever you are in the world!  Check out the ongoing work that musicians, actors, poets, and more are doing in Trinidad and Tobago, with organizer Rachel Collymore, then keep travelling!  learn what organizer Nana Nestoros has been doing with 100,000 Poets for Change in Greece, and then visit México, where Pilar Rodriguez Aranda has been tirelessly organizing events nationwide for two years!
You can support 100TPC on their page via direct donation HERE:
Please consider helping this essential organization grow and thrive!
 

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