It's not enough to just bang the pot! You have to fill it!

By Marcelo Auler, on your blog and for the Journalists for Democracy

Dissatisfaction with Jair Bolsonaro's (mis)government, particularly with his positions, those of his sons, and the so-called ideological core surrounding him in opposing social isolation policies, has caused a significant portion of Brazilian society, even during quarantine, to awaken from the ostracism to which it had been relegated. Prevented from going to the streets, citizens from all corners of Brazil are expressing their opposition to the (mis)government by going to their windows, almost daily, to bang pots and pans.

However, there is a greater cause for concern. The unpreparedness (not to mention the negligence or even contempt) of the (mis)government in getting food to those most in need. To those who have no income, no work, but family and children (who have lost their school meals) to feed.

These are the “who used to make ends meet as 'informal workers', now without clients, and those without any work at all."described by Janio de Freitas in his Sunday column (12/04) in FSPIn his column, Janio de Freitas warns:Hunger has already reached many families. More than 20 million people from these segments are not included in the group that, according to the government, will receive R$ 600 in three days.Then he warns:Whether in cash or in kind – the former being more versatile, as goods will not always be what the recipient needs most – donations are the only way to mitigate government delays and supplement official aid, which is clearly insufficient.". To then conclude: "Those in need have no way to take the initiative in providing help. The initiative lies with the donors. Ours. Yours.".

Banging pots and pans as a form of protest is legitimate. Demanding the president's resignation is part of the democratic process. Indeed, it's necessary today, even knowing that it won't happen easily. This is a political struggle that will take time and will be made more difficult by the pandemic itself and the social isolation to which everyone is subjected. One can even pressure politicians for impeachment, but the outcome is still uncertain.

However, we need to awaken to the victims who are already going hungry. The unemployed and those without a source of income. Those who, due to the unpreparedness, incompetence, negligence (not to mention contempt) of this (mis)government, may even escape COVID-19, but risk dying of hunger.

In other words, we need to worry about filling the pots of those who are hungry. This would prevent the potential social chaos that many Bolsonaro supporters are betting on, perhaps hoping to find justification for a coup against our aging democracy.

Certainly, helping to distribute food is difficult for those who are in quarantine, locked in their homes. But it's not impossible to support and help. As Janio de Freitas reminded us, “The initiative comes from the donors. Ours. Yours.".

Quarantine prevents people from circulating. This leads to a direct benefit that those locked in their homes are certainly beginning to notice: the savings from not spending, especially on weekends, on going out. For example, on entertainment: bars, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, parties, etc. This benefit is easily reflected in everyone's credit card statement.

An economy that, in a moment of despair for many, could be transformed into salvation for those most in need. In the form of donations. Turning the beer that was left undrunk at the bar into essential food in the pots of those who have none. Pots of those who have lost all income but still have families to feed. This is the "initiative" that Janio de Freitas spoke to us about. Which can be done without leaving home. Online.

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