1 00:00:00,702 --> 00:00:04,847 Interview with Clay Magalhães 2 00:00:04,847 --> 00:00:09,861 Constant Congress Secretary of the Universala Kongreso (UK) 3 00:00:09,861 --> 00:00:13,337 You're the constant congress secretary, so... 4 00:00:13,337 --> 00:00:15,376 What is the Universala Kongreso (UK)? 5 00:00:15,376 --> 00:00:24,407 It's the largest and most popular and well-known Esperanto conference. 6 00:00:24,407 --> 00:00:37,716 It has all kinds of meetings from just seeing friends again to art performances, plays, 7 00:00:37,716 --> 00:00:45,218 music, concerts, lectures, all kinds of lectures, meetings, 8 00:00:45,218 --> 00:00:52,427 meetings of different associations and also excursions. 9 00:00:52,427 --> 00:00:55,940 How many people typically attend UK? 10 00:00:55,940 --> 00:01:04,017 The congresses and the UKs are largest when they take place in Europe and if it is 11 00:01:04,017 --> 00:01:14,095 in a strong country of our movement, then the number of attendees is relatively larger than otherwise. 12 00:01:14,095 --> 00:01:27,841 Recently, European congresses had around 2000, but it's already had more than 3000. 13 00:01:27,841 --> 00:01:35,800 In recent years, it has been around 2000 or somewhat more or less depending on the region. 14 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:48,832 Outside of Europe, it sometimes has less than 1500, but that's also relative, and depends on whether 15 00:01:48,832 --> 00:01:55,729 that region or country has a large Esperanto movement or not. 16 00:01:55,729 --> 00:02:00,676 And where will next year's UK take place, what makes it attractive? 17 00:02:00,676 --> 00:02:11,988 So, next year, 2011, the Universala Kongreso will be in Copenhagen, Denmark, on July 23-30. 18 00:02:11,988 --> 00:02:21,851 So, we haven't had an UK in Denmark for several decades. 19 00:02:21,851 --> 00:02:27,098 The city itself is beautiful and quite attractive as a hot tourism spot. 20 00:02:27,098 --> 00:02:43,167 Additionally, the congress's Esperanto program will be structured, so that it targets... 21 00:02:43,167 --> 00:02:58,693 ...everything happens somewhat linked to Scandinavian culture and also around the year of Unesco. 22 00:02:58,693 --> 00:03:06,247 In fact, could you explain a bit about your work, how do you prepare for the congress? 23 00:03:06,247 --> 00:03:13,678 Yes, my work is, or the work of the congress department is, that when the congress starts 24 00:03:13,678 --> 00:03:20,091 or even earlier, when there is a proposal for congresses 25 00:03:20,091 --> 00:03:32,161 after the director general's visit, which researches conditions, infrastructure and other necessary aspects. 26 00:03:32,161 --> 00:03:42,099 Later, when the congress is chosen by the board, we go to the city to have our first meeting 27 00:03:42,099 --> 00:03:51,691 with the LKK (Local Congress Comittee), to prepare for the congress, so we explain the LKK's work and 28 00:03:51,691 --> 00:04:01,691 eventually details about how the steps are accomplished. 29 00:04:01,691 --> 00:04:10,187 So, how does this separation of work happen? What do you do and what does the LKK do? 30 00:04:10,187 --> 00:04:18,926 LKK aims to do things related to the local aspects of the congress. 31 00:04:18,926 --> 00:04:27,641 So, contact with the authorities, eventual grant requests, which unfortunately have not been as easy lately. 32 00:04:27,641 --> 00:04:41,588 Generally contact itself, contact with agencies and hotels, preparing the way 33 00:04:41,588 --> 00:04:49,173 for when we go to have meetings with those locations and hotels. 34 00:04:49,173 --> 00:04:58,167 Later, based on that meeting, we get offers and choose the best and most suitable. 35 00:04:58,167 --> 00:05:11,747 And LKK also has to arrange the honorary committee and also find the high protector. 36 00:05:11,747 --> 00:05:16,393 That is important for the congress. 37 00:05:16,393 --> 00:05:18,967 And what is the high protector? 38 00:05:18,967 --> 00:05:29,336 A high protector, generally, is someone, usually a politician, an important figure of the country, 39 00:05:29,336 --> 00:05:42,100 which gives us, the congress something which can help us 40 00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:48,394 when we need to find a way, for example to request a grant or when we need to contact 41 00:05:48,394 --> 00:05:57,492 authorities for invitation letters or to request invitation letters or to find a solution for some difficult 42 00:05:57,492 --> 00:06:03,074 cases of necessary people who need to attend and have some problem related to their visa or travel... 43 00:06:03,074 --> 00:06:07,654 so, it's someone who gives prestige to the congress. 44 00:06:07,654 --> 00:06:23,663 We already have had presidents. Historically there were also queens, different politicians, governors, mayor's secretaries, etc. 45 00:06:23,663 --> 00:06:36,046 So, that is the work, the need, maybe not really need, but it makes the event appear prestigious too. 46 00:06:36,046 --> 00:06:45,624 So, if someone is going to the UK for the first time, what advice would you give that person? 47 00:06:45,624 --> 00:07:00,691 Look, after the Havana congress, TEJO gave us advice, a question, a plea 48 00:07:00,691 --> 00:07:09,615 for us to prepare congress information about the people who attend for the first time 49 00:07:09,615 --> 00:07:17,348 because typically during the first day of the congress, the first meeting is done 50 00:07:17,348 --> 00:07:21,888 for people who attend for the first time 51 00:07:21,888 --> 00:07:33,527 and in it, we explain a lot about how it works, and how to enjoy everything 52 00:07:33,527 --> 00:07:40,740 as much as possible, but based on TEJO's advice, 53 00:07:40,740 --> 00:07:48,638 we'll start on something newer, an information campaign to those first time participants. 54 00:07:48,638 --> 00:07:52,351 Of course, those who register at the congress itself, 55 00:07:52,351 --> 00:07:58,172 because people register on site, we can't know if they are first timers or not. 56 00:07:58,172 --> 00:08:03,440 Through our system, the computers which show us who are first timers or not. 57 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:10,104 And we contact those people beforehand and send them information explaining how the congress works 58 00:08:10,104 --> 00:08:19,696 what they can have the best overview of the program. 59 00:08:19,696 --> 00:08:24,089 So, we can give advice to first timers. 60 00:08:24,089 --> 00:08:31,968 Certainly, the first time, study the congress book, which everyone receives when they register and get their 61 00:08:31,968 --> 00:08:40,368 congress documents, along with their name badge. The entire week's program is in this congress book. 62 00:08:40,368 --> 00:08:45,717 So, first, study the program and then decide which are the most suitable for yourself 63 00:08:45,717 --> 00:08:57,155 meetings, lectures, presentations, art performances or even excursions, because the excursions themselves are 64 00:08:57,155 --> 00:09:01,838 a way to practice both their Esperanto and also to meet with others. 65 00:09:01,838 --> 00:09:10,614 Is there a way to contact others who you don't yet know? Some board or something of the like? 66 00:09:10,614 --> 00:09:24,175 We have a rendezvous board in the congress where people can leave messages for others 67 00:09:24,175 --> 00:09:28,587 whether they know them or want to meet them for the first time. 68 00:09:28,587 --> 00:09:37,383 The first day of the congress, the first evening, the first Saturday, is the Get Acquainted Evening, 69 00:09:37,383 --> 00:09:44,005 which happens along with the movement fair, so it's two programs in one. 70 00:09:44,005 --> 00:09:53,064 People can get to know each other along with different Esperanto associations. 71 00:09:53,064 --> 00:09:58,306 So, thank you for everything and thanks for giving a face to the UK. 72 00:09:58,306 --> 00:10:01,656 You're welcome, it was a pleasure.