A coronation that is not ours.
Lula should have known for a long time that at the banquet of the lords of the empire, what remains for the poor are only leftovers, writes André Lobão.
247, by André Lobão - President Lula's presence at the coronation of Charles III deserves to be questioned because of the negative symbolism it conveys, a point that almost no one in Brazil is debating.
The British Empire was a precursor and, for centuries, exercised what is called imperialism, a set of cultural, political, and economic policies of domination over other countries. And this is still evident today in South American countries like Brazil. Imperialism, we know, has had a new "boss" for over 100 years—the USA—but British power, despite its decline, still has its historical significance in terms of exploitation.
Lula has included international trips on his agenda to recover Brazil's prestige, which has been tarnished in the last six years. So far, no problem. Given its size and the political and economic potential it holds in the Global South, the country needs to fulfill its leading role. However, attending parties of the "decadent rich" is, in reality, a way of endorsing a past and present of complicity with imperialism.
This is a stark contradiction to what Lula himself always advocated for Brazil, such as independence and economic development. As a result of the visit, the Brazilian government proudly announces that it has secured resources in the order of R$ 500 million for the Amazon Fund, a little over US$ 100 million. A real pittance!
Meanwhile, Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil company, is increasingly expanding its presence in oil exploration in Brazil, naturally channeling resources back to the British crown, making the British king happier and Brazil poorer. It's worth noting a statement by the company's president in Brazil, Cristiano Pinto da Costa, who said that "the last drop of Shell oil in the world will come from Brazil." This gives an idea of the company's perspective regarding its future in Brazilian waters.
The British company currently produces more than 400 barrels of oil per day in the country, with 14 oil rig ships. This production is second only to Petrobras, which extracts 2,64 million barrels per day.
Lula should have known for a long time that at the banquet of the lords of the empire, all that remains are leftovers that will be thrown to the starving servants and peasants.
* This is an opinion article, the responsibility of the author, and does not reflect the opinion of Brasil 247.