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Interview with Clay Magalhães

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Constant Congress Secretary of the Universala Kongreso (UK)

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You're the constant congress secretary, so...

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What is the Universala Kongreso (UK)?

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It's the largest and most popular and well-known Esperanto conference.

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It has all kinds of meetings from just seeing friends again to art performances, plays,

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music, concerts, lectures, all kinds of lectures, meetings,

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meetings of different associations and also excursions.

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How many people typically attend UK?

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The congresses and the UKs are largest when they take place in Europe and if it is

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in a strong country of our movement, then the number of attendees is relatively larger than otherwise.

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Recently, European congresses had around 2000, but it's already had more than 3000.

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In recent years, it has been around 2000 or somewhat more or less depending on the region.

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Outside of Europe, it sometimes has less than 1500, but that's also relative, and depends on whether

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that region or country has a large Esperanto movement or not.

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And where will next year's UK take place, what makes it attractive?

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So, next year, 2011, the Universala Kongreso will be in Copenhagen, Denmark, on July 23-30.

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So, we haven't had an UK in Denmark for several decades.

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The city itself is beautiful and quite attractive as a hot tourism spot.

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Additionally, the congress's Esperanto program will be structured, so that it targets...

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...everything happens somewhat linked to Scandinavian culture and also around the year of Unesco.

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In fact, could you explain a bit about your work, how do you prepare for the congress?

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Yes, my work is, or the work of the congress department is, that when the congress starts

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or even earlier, when there is a proposal for congresses

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after the director general's visit, which researches conditions, infrastructure and other necessary aspects.

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Later, when the congress is chosen by the board, we go to the city to have our first meeting

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with the LKK (Local Congress Comittee), to prepare for the congress, so we explain the LKK's work and

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eventually details about how the steps are accomplished.

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So, how does this separation of work happen? What do you do and what does the LKK do?

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LKK aims to do things related to the local aspects of the congress.

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So, contact with the authorities, eventual grant requests, which unfortunately have not been as easy lately.

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Generally contact itself, contact with agencies and hotels, preparing the way

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for when we go to have meetings with those locations and hotels.

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Later, based on that meeting, we get offers and choose the best and most suitable.

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And LKK also has to arrange the honorary committee and also find the high protector.

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That is important for the congress.

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And what is the high protector?

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A high protector, generally, is someone, usually a politician, an important figure of the country,

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which gives us, the congress something which can help us

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when we need to find a way, for example to request a grant or when we need to contact

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authorities for invitation letters or to request invitation letters or to find a solution for some difficult

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cases of necessary people who need to attend and have some problem related to their visa or travel...

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so, it's someone who gives prestige to the congress.

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We already have had presidents. Historically there were also queens, different politicians, governors, mayor's secretaries, etc.

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So, that is the work, the need, maybe not really need, but it makes the event appear prestigious too.

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So, if someone is going to the UK for the first time, what advice would you give that person?

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Look, after the Havana congress, TEJO gave us advice, a question, a plea

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for us to prepare congress information about the people who attend for the first time

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because typically during the first day of the congress, the first meeting is done

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for people who attend for the first time

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and in it, we explain a lot about how it works, and how to enjoy everything

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as much as possible, but based on TEJO's advice,

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we'll start on something newer, an information campaign to those first time participants.

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Of course, those who register at the congress itself,

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because people register on site, we can't know if they are first timers or not.

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Through our system, the computers which show us who are first timers or not.

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And we contact those people beforehand and send them information explaining how the congress works

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what they can have the best overview of the program.

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So, we can give advice to first timers.

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Certainly, the first time, study the congress book, which everyone receives when they register and get their

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congress documents, along with their name badge. The entire week's program is in this congress book.

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So, first, study the program and then decide which are the most suitable for yourself

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meetings, lectures, presentations, art performances or even excursions, because the excursions themselves are

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a way to practice both their Esperanto and also to meet with others.

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Is there a way to contact others who you don't yet know? Some board or something of the like?

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We have a rendezvous board in the congress where people can leave messages for others

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whether they know them or want to meet them for the first time.

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The first day of the congress, the first evening, the first Saturday, is the Get Acquainted Evening,

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which happens along with the movement fair, so it's two programs in one.

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People can get to know each other along with different Esperanto associations.

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So, thank you for everything and thanks for giving a face to the UK.

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You're welcome, it was a pleasure.