I am an extremely sensitive person. I cry for little and I cry a lot when something really touches me.
Since I started following the tragedy in Rio, I haven't stopped crying. The highest point happened yesterday, seeing that lady hold her pet with so much love in her eagerness to save him and decide to let him die, in favor of her own life.
Seeing the strength that came from the depths of his soul, clinging to that rope, broke my heart.
– What if it was my mother? My mother in law? A friend? – I thought as I watched, appalled, that chaotic scene.
– Thank God, she made it! – I thanked her quietly while she breathed a sigh of relief at seeing her saved by her neighbors, who also drew strength from the depths of their souls to lift her up the wall.
– I need to do something! – the need to help was urgent, with the same force as the waters that swept away houses, lives, cars, animals, stories.
– Well, besides donating money and hoping that some reputable entity starts collecting clothes and food in São Paulo, what else can I do?
I have over 700 followers on Twitter and almost 7.000 on Facebook. I imagined that propagating ways to help Rio's victims would be a principle.
Furthermore, I volunteered to play at any party that raised funds for the homeless.
To my HUGE surprise, no nightclub or party producer responded and one or the other retweeted my message with Red Cross bank details.
Furthermore, I sent a message to my work colleagues, letting them know that I was going to Banco Real to deposit my donation and that I would be willing to take donations from those who did not have time to go to the bank.
No one answered.
I wonder: if it were a relative, friend or acquaintance, would people have the same attitude (or lack thereof)?
I'm not religious, nor do I believe in religion. I believe in God, as a greater force and that is enough for me.
But don't most of them preach that we are all brothers?
If we analyze genealogically, unless you are pure Indian, native to Brazil, don't we all have the same blood?
Or, if we think that all the citizens of the world come from the same origin (from the first hominid) then, really, aren't we all brothers?
How can it not hurt me to see someone crying because they lost everything and don't know how to start over? How can it not hurt me to see a father hugging his son for hours on end to save his life? How can it not hurt me to know that I still have my home, my north, my reference, a place to return to at the end of the day and hundreds of people only have their own lives?
Yes, they are my brothers and I was also a victim of this disaster.
I heard the most lame excuses for “non-help”:
– It’s the fault of the people who didn’t know how to vote! (you know?)
– I don’t have money to help (not even R$1,00?)
– Who ordered the construction in a risk area? (interestingly, the flood also reached the RICOS area)
– Donations never reach those in need (if everyone believed this, the number of deaths from hunger and thirst would have geometrically increased the number of victims)
Excuses, excuses, excuses.
As my dear colleague Valtinho Fragoso suggested, “do your part and don’t expect help from others”
I believed that, as a reasonably well-known person in the gay community, trying to mobilize others would also be “doing my part”.
In fact, I continue to believe in this, which is why I am here, once again, in public, trying to mobilize you, who bravely reached the end of this text, to help another human being who now needs any type of donation.
Anyone who wants to HELP ME help, Saturday, January 22nd, I will donate my participation in the TPM party box office to the Red Cross. Therefore, by paying the entrance fee to the party, you will also help.
TPM Party – January 22nd from 22pm
Front Lounge Bar – Rua Fernando de Albuquerque 77, close to Rua Augusta.
Price: R$10,00 entry; RS30,00 consumption – Part of the entry will go to the Red Cross
VIVA RIO (21) 2555-3750 and (21) 2555-3785
Donations Banco do Brasil Ag: 1769-8, C/C 411396-9 and CNPJ: 00343941/0001-28
Red Cross
Banco Real, ag 0201 c/c 1793928-5
Other ways to help: http://t.co/fFkxnFu
Thank you for helping my relatives.
