MIGkiller
02 Jul 2004, 12:11 AM
Remember the time when Pelé and other Brazilian players were able to stop wars? Now it's time for Ronaldo and cia.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3852095.stm
Brazil to play Haitians for peace
Brazil is bringing its own brand of peacekeeping to Haiti
The Brazilian national football team is to play a friendly match in Haiti in August at which tickets will be offered in exchange for guns.
The idea for a match to "alleviate tensions" was suggested by Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue in an interview in May with Brazilian journalists.
"A few Brazilian soccer stars could do more to disarm warring militias than thousands of peacekeeping troops," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
Some Haitians are already going nuts over the possibibilty:
http://arquivoglobo.globo.com/pesquisa/texto_gratis.asp?codigo=1741149
Some translations:
— If I have a chance to see Ronaldo, it will be the best day of my life — said Lafortune, who lives in a local favela in the disctrict of Cité Soleil, where violence is a way of life.
— (Haiti) is my country, but forgive me. I'll root for Brazil — said Lafortune.
— It will be my only chance to see Ronaldo. I would exchange my M-14 por a ticket — said a man who identified himself as Don Tutu.
When the seleção plays, many Haitians skip woork or go home earlier. The schools also release the students early.
— When I watch Brazil play, it's like a drug. My hunger and my problems go away, forgotten at least for a while — said Jacques Milien, who lives in a favela called Bel-Air.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3852095.stm
Brazil to play Haitians for peace
Brazil is bringing its own brand of peacekeeping to Haiti
The Brazilian national football team is to play a friendly match in Haiti in August at which tickets will be offered in exchange for guns.
The idea for a match to "alleviate tensions" was suggested by Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue in an interview in May with Brazilian journalists.
"A few Brazilian soccer stars could do more to disarm warring militias than thousands of peacekeeping troops," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
Some Haitians are already going nuts over the possibibilty:
http://arquivoglobo.globo.com/pesquisa/texto_gratis.asp?codigo=1741149
Some translations:
— If I have a chance to see Ronaldo, it will be the best day of my life — said Lafortune, who lives in a local favela in the disctrict of Cité Soleil, where violence is a way of life.
— (Haiti) is my country, but forgive me. I'll root for Brazil — said Lafortune.
— It will be my only chance to see Ronaldo. I would exchange my M-14 por a ticket — said a man who identified himself as Don Tutu.
When the seleção plays, many Haitians skip woork or go home earlier. The schools also release the students early.
— When I watch Brazil play, it's like a drug. My hunger and my problems go away, forgotten at least for a while — said Jacques Milien, who lives in a favela called Bel-Air.