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Statements by Brazilian President Lula da Silva at the 81st Session of the UNGA. teleSUR
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00:00to the president of Brazil to the president of the General Assembly
00:06Ambassador Cadillor Rahman from Bangladesh I greet each of the head
00:13states of and government and delegates present I address specifically the
00:22Secretary General of the United Nations in particular throughout his two terms
00:26in office Antonio Guterres has been a direct witness to the excesses of the
00:32superpowers mr. president this is the tenth time I have opened the general
00:42debate of this assembly since I first took up to this podium in 2003 this is
00:49undoubtedly the most critical moment for the United Nations the feeling that
00:54drives me today is one of indignation the UN is failing in one of its most
01:03important missions to rid humanity of the scourge of war its credibility has never
01:12been lower its ability to protect the most vulnerable those who have no army or
01:19arsenals has never been so weak we are all held hostage by the inaction of the
01:28Security Council for failing to fulfill its role in 1946 at the first session of this
01:36assembly Brazil warned of the high price that the international community would
01:41pay for the right to veto this inherent flaw in the UN Charter granted the great
01:49powers the luxury of the insensible to this original sin a profound leadership
01:58crisis is now added the year of 2025 record the highest number of armed conflict
02:07since the World War two trillions of dollars are funding a new arms race
02:15geopolitical tensions threatened to transform regional conflicts into a
02:21conflagration of global proportions those at the helm of crucial decisions must
02:29act with responsibility and with a sense of urgency the leaders of the country
02:35members of the Security Council must meet I'm no stranger to the realities of
02:43power but concessions to the law of the stronger have surpassed all limits this is
02:49not idealism but pure realism war is not the continuation of politics by other means
02:58it's the complete breakdown of politics in an interdependent world leading is to
03:06reconcile the interest of the nation with those of humanity this is the
03:11observation of someone who represents a nation that loves peace and freedom
03:17someone who fought against a military dictatorship and defended their country
03:21against a coup d'etat it is the conviction of a plant worker who was elected president
03:29three times and we who removed Brazil from the hunger map this general assembly
03:34recently corrected a historical distortion in the world map it recognized the
03:40trafficking of enslaved Africans as the gravest crime against humanity
03:54it approves a more accurate representation of the world map now it
04:01needs to focus on issues crucial for the future of humanity we are called to
04:06to choose between multilateralism or unilateralism democracy or extremism sovereignty or
04:16subordination these choices require courage political will and clarity of
04:23objectives this is what we expect from a statesman Yasser Arafat and Izaqi Rabin were
04:33statesman they challenged the past to envision a future of peace they were defeated by hatred
04:42generations of Palestinians will carry the pain and trauma left by the genocide of women and
04:51children perpetrated by Netanyahu government in Gaza Israeli civilians paid the price for radicalism and
05:01intolerance of Hamas terrorist acts persecuting the international criminal court and its members
05:08encourages these crimes to go unpunished the UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese must not be
05:18silenced for telling the truth illegal settlements in the West Bank are making the two-state solution
05:29increasing unviable essential for Israelis and Palestinians to live in safety
05:34threatening civilizations with extinction will not bring stability to the Middle East
05:40the Strait of Hormuz became has become a battleground when it should have remained a vital passage for international trade
05:50families around the world are paying for the rising the price of fuel fertilizers and food the war between Russia
06:01and Ukraine has dragged on for five years in a humanitarian drama that continues to claim lives we all know
06:12that there will be no winners on the battlefield diplomacy is
06:17the only option initiatives such as the friends of peace group created by Brazil and China revealed that there are
06:25forces in the international community willing to work towards dialogue in Latin America and the Caribbean region geographical proximity to
06:36the world's greatest military power is inescapable
06:38especially in the context of renewed hegemonic temptations Brazil does not fit in anyone's backyards
06:54we need partners with a positive agenda that fosters development ideological differences should not hinder higher integration amongst
07:07the world's greatest neighbors the countries in the region have experienced the horrors of authoritarian regimes we have a come
07:15a long way to restore popular will democracy is once again under threat we witness once more interference in electoral
07:27processes dividing the world into zones of influence and neo-colonial incursions for strategic resources are
07:35are anachronistic gestures the Venezuelan people deserve to define their own destiny
07:44Nicaragua will not solve its problems by preventing the opposition from running in the elections the crisis in Haiti continues
07:52to test the limits of the international community's indifference in Cuba the world watches in horror as collective punishment is
08:02imposed on 10 million people by an illegal economic and
08:05energy embargo Mr. President Brazil does not underestimate the challenge represented by organized crime we are ready to face the
08:18criminal organization that terrorize our local communities workers are robbed
08:24are robbed mothers lose their children police officers do not make it back home people are tired of violence but
08:33we will not we will not outsource the responsibility of the
08:35responsibility of defending its borders and guaranteeing our population the right to live without fear we do not need aircraft
08:44carriers guarding our waters we need cooperation to block the flow of weapons and money that feeds
08:52crime organized crime that's the spirit of the proposal that I personally handed to the US president we want to
09:02fight money laundering carried out by brazilian
09:05criminals abroad for a long time brazilian states acted each in their own way crime made the most of the
09:15lack of coordination but this is changing in manaos city of the amazon state we created the amazon international police
09:24cooperation center bringing together public safety authorities from nine amazon region countries in 2025 we carried out the biggest operation
09:35against
09:35organized crime against organized crime in brazil's history we broke records of drug seizures as well as unlawful assets and
09:43resources we are facing all levels of crime including the crime tycoons the anti-faction bill that we just have
09:54passed established heavier sentences for organized crime than those carried by terrorism organized crime and corruption walk hand in hand
10:04the fight against corruption shall remain relentless no matter who it hurts no one is above the law
10:13ladies and gentlemen the pillars of multilateralism are being eroded the world trade organization is being kept on life support
10:22when governments capsulate vis-a-vis those who use tariffs as weapons of coercion and blackmail consequences are harmful in
10:33the age of the world's
10:34of misinformation of misinformation obscurantists resist the evidence of science we will never forget the millions of lives lost due
10:43to the negligence in the fight against covid-19 anti-vaccine campaigns are bringing back diseases we thought were eradicated
10:52weakening the world health organization makes everyone more vulnerable until recently the response to climate change was firmly established
11:03at the center of the center of the international agenda this year however the topic disappeared from the debates
11:10of the g7 and g20 forms that bring together the largest carbon emitters it is time to resume the offensive
11:21and inflict the defeat on denialism
11:25nature reminds us every day that we live on one planet the glaciers in the himalayas are melting the super
11:36erroneum may cause torrential rains droughts and forest fires in different parts of the globe its effects will hit the
11:46most vulnerable the hardest
11:56on the planet
11:56has been demonstrating that it is possible
11:59to combine economic growth
12:02with reduced emissions
12:03we have achieved our self-sufficiency in oil
12:07and we'll continue to explore the potential of new reserves
12:11such as those in the equatorial margin
12:13but we will not abandon the environmental
12:16agenda. We will move forward with a roadmap for the decarbonization of the Brazilian economy.
12:23The Tropical Forest Forever facility launched at COP30 in the city of Belém shows that it is
12:31possible to change old paradigms. The forest is worth more standing than destroyed. We will
12:39continue to reduce redeforestation, which has been cut in half in the Amazon and reaching its lowest
12:46level in 11 years. We have the moral authority to reject protectionist measures disguised as commitment
12:55to the environmental cause. Brazil is a global reference in green energy. We have the critical
13:02minerals and the rare earths that the world needs to make the energy transition. Our natural wealth
13:10belongs to the Brazilian people, and it is in their benefit that it will be exploited. Access to
13:19our minerals will be contingent upon mandatory value generation in our territory, technology transfer,
13:28and the supply of strategic national sectors. Mr. President, we are living through an unprecedented
13:38technological revolution with great risks and opportunities. It would be an unforgivable historical
13:45omission not to address the challenge of regulating the big techs and artificial intelligence. A handful of
13:53technical oligarchs want to resurrect a version of digital ultraliberalism without rules or transparency.
14:02They are promoting a race with no ethical boundaries, bypassing the United Nations and the Scientific
14:09Panel on Artificial Intelligence. As Pope Liu XIV warned, decisions about technology should,
14:17quote, should never be separated from awareness and responsibility, end of quote. Companies that are
14:24aware of the risks of their products are transferring the impossible task of confronting algorithms to the
14:31families. The billion-dollar betting industry turns addiction into profit. Its exponential dissemination is
14:40increasing debt levels and destroying homes. Brazil will not tolerate this business model. We passed one of the
14:53most advanced pieces of legislation in the world to protect children, adolescents, and women in the digital
15:00environment. We will ensure fair compensation for artists, musicians, and artificial content creators. We will not give
15:10anything to pressure from multinationals that want to privatize our PIX, a free public payment
15:17infrastructure that has made financial inclusion a reality for millions of Brazilians. Ladies and
15:26gentlemen, the Sustainable Development Goals are currently under attack from reactionary forces that wish to
15:35normalize injustices. Inequality and underdevelopment are the result of political choices. It is possible
15:43to include the poor in the budget and make the rich pay their share. It is necessary to cut privileges
15:50and invest in
15:52free quality education and health care. There is a legitimate desire for change throughout the world. But change is not
16:00the same as going
16:01backwards. It's not about taking away rights. It's not about reviving theories of racial
16:08supremacy or female subjugation. It's not about recolonizing the global self. Change means moving towards a more
16:16participatory future and more achievements. It is about creating and sharing effective public solutions to
16:22development challenge through a democratic, strong, efficient, and capable state. It's about betting on the
16:30spirit of solidarity and cooperation with Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean region. Initiatives such as the
16:38Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, launched by Brazil and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Inequality, launched by
16:46South Africa's team from this political will. Brazil is in a hurry to become a developed and socially fair
16:53nation. We have adopted an economic model based on income distribution, job creation, and wage increases. We are
17:03invested in improving productivity, expanding credit, and building a robust social safety net. Brazil has returned to
17:14sustainable growth. We are the third largest destination of foreign direct investment. Despite the high
17:22tariffs imposed against our economy, this year we shall break a new record in our exports. There's still much to
17:30be
17:30done. The world of work is undergoing a transformation. Older people want to stay active. Young people want to become
17:40entrepreneurs. Workers need time to rest, improve their skills, and spend time with their families. In Brazil
17:49achieving this goal requires ending the so-called six times one working schedule to guarantee workers two days
17:56off per week. This change is crucial to alleviate the domestic burden that still falls on women.
18:14We are building a Brazil where women don't need permission to occupy positions of power or enter the job
18:24market. A country free from femicide where no woman inside or outside their home lives under the threat of
18:32violence. This is a cause that the whole world needs to embrace.
18:44Mr. President, when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Martha Luther King stated,
18:52quote, what self-centered men have torn down, other centered men can build up, end of quote.
19:01The UN was born under the sign of hope. Over eight decades it has contributed to the decolonization,
19:11promoted human rights, and supported sustainable development. It has protected migrants and refugees,
19:19condemned racism, anti-Semitism, and religious intolerance. These were achievements of leaders who
19:28took up to this podium, driven by indignation at the injustices of their time. Men and women who refused to
19:39accept war as a destiny, colonialism as a right, apartheid as a legitimate system. It was from this ability
19:48to say no to inequalities that some of the greatest transformations we have experienced were born.
19:56Faced with the paralysis of the United Nations, we need to rediscover the political will so that it may once
20:04again
20:04become a temple of peace. I want to conclude with a message from my country to everyone who is listening.
20:13On October the 4th, millions of Brazilians will go to the polls to define their destiny.
20:21They are not just voting for president of the republic, state governors, and representatives of the legislative branch.
20:29They will decide between democracy and denialism. If Brazil will move towards a future with more opportunities,
20:40or go back to a past of exclusion. We shall have competitive and transparent elections where every candidate
20:50benefits from the broadest freedom of speech. We know that some abuse of this freedom to associate themselves
21:01with foreign interests against the country. We do not underestimate the challenge of misinformation networks
21:09that aim to distort public debate during the campaign. But we have a modern and robust election system.
21:17Under the watchful eye of a pluralistic citizenry and a free press, we will not allow the enemies of democracy,
21:28whether domestic or foreign, to undermine popular will.
21:33Brazilian democracy belongs to Brazilians. Brazil continues to be a sovereign country.
21:40Nobody, nobody, nobody will turn us away from this path. May God bless us all.
21:47And thank you very much.