WEBVTT 00:00:00.702 --> 00:00:04.847 Interview with Clay Magalhães 00:00:04.847 --> 00:00:09.861 Constant Congress Secretary of the Universala Kongreso (UK) 00:00:09.861 --> 00:00:13.337 You're the constant congress secretary, so... 00:00:13.337 --> 00:00:15.376 What is the Universala Kongreso (UK)? 00:00:15.376 --> 00:00:24.407 It's the largest and most popular and well-known Esperanto conference. 00:00:24.407 --> 00:00:37.716 It has all kinds of meetings from just seeing friends again to art performances, plays, 00:00:37.716 --> 00:00:45.218 music, concerts, lectures, all kinds of lectures, meetings, 00:00:45.218 --> 00:00:52.427 meetings of different associations and also excursions. 00:00:52.427 --> 00:00:55.940 How many people typically attend UK? 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 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. 00:01:14.095 --> 00:01:27.841 Recently, European congresses had around 2000, but it's already had more than 3000. 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. 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 00:01:48.832 --> 00:01:55.729 that region or country has a large Esperanto movement or not. 00:01:55.729 --> 00:02:00.676 And where will next year's UK take place, what makes it attractive? 00:02:00.676 --> 00:02:11.988 So, next year, 2011, the Universala Kongreso will be in Copenhagen, Denmark, on July 23-30. 00:02:11.988 --> 00:02:21.851 So, we haven't had an UK in Denmark for several decades. 00:02:21.851 --> 00:02:27.098 The city itself is beautiful and quite attractive as a hot tourism spot. 00:02:27.098 --> 00:02:43.167 Additionally, the congress's Esperanto program will be structured, so that it targets... 00:02:43.167 --> 00:02:58.693 ...everything happens somewhat linked to Scandinavian culture and also around the year of Unesco. 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? 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 00:03:13.678 --> 00:03:20.091 or even earlier, when there is a proposal for congresses 00:03:20.091 --> 00:03:32.161 after the director general's visit, which researches conditions, infrastructure and other necessary aspects. 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 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 00:03:51.691 --> 00:04:01.691 eventually details about how the steps are accomplished. 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? 00:04:10.187 --> 00:04:18.926 LKK aims to do things related to the local aspects of the congress. 00:04:18.926 --> 00:04:27.641 So, contact with the authorities, eventual grant requests, which unfortunately have not been as easy lately. 00:04:27.641 --> 00:04:41.588 Generally contact itself, contact with agencies and hotels, preparing the way 00:04:41.588 --> 00:04:49.173 for when we go to have meetings with those locations and hotels. 00:04:49.173 --> 00:04:58.167 Later, based on that meeting, we get offers and choose the best and most suitable. 00:04:58.167 --> 00:05:11.747 And LKK also has to arrange the honorary committee and also find the high protector. 00:05:11.747 --> 00:05:16.393 That is important for the congress. 00:05:16.393 --> 00:05:18.967 And what is the high protector? 00:05:18.967 --> 00:05:29.336 A high protector, generally, is someone, usually a politician, an important figure of the country, 00:05:29.336 --> 00:05:42.100 which gives us, the congress something which can help us 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 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 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... 00:06:03.074 --> 00:06:07.654 so, it's someone who gives prestige to the congress. 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. 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. 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? 00:06:45.624 --> 00:07:00.691 Look, after the Havana congress, TEJO gave us advice, a question, a plea 00:07:00.691 --> 00:07:09.615 for us to prepare congress information about the people who attend for the first time 00:07:09.615 --> 00:07:17.348 because typically during the first day of the congress, the first meeting is done 00:07:17.348 --> 00:07:21.888 for people who attend for the first time 00:07:21.888 --> 00:07:33.527 and in it, we explain a lot about how it works, and how to enjoy everything 00:07:33.527 --> 00:07:40.740 as much as possible, but based on TEJO's advice, 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:48.638 we'll start on something newer, an information campaign to those first time participants. 00:07:48.638 --> 00:07:52.351 Of course, those who register at the congress itself, 00:07:52.351 --> 00:07:58.172 because people register on site, we can't know if they are first timers or not. 00:07:58.172 --> 00:08:03.440 Through our system, the computers which show us who are first timers or not. 00:08:03.440 --> 00:08:10.104 And we contact those people beforehand and send them information explaining how the congress works 00:08:10.104 --> 00:08:19.696 what they can have the best overview of the program. 00:08:19.696 --> 00:08:24.089 So, we can give advice to first timers. 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 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. 00:08:40.368 --> 00:08:45.717 So, first, study the program and then decide which are the most suitable for yourself 00:08:45.717 --> 00:08:57.155 meetings, lectures, presentations, art performances or even excursions, because the excursions themselves are 00:08:57.155 --> 00:09:01.838 a way to practice both their Esperanto and also to meet with others. 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? 00:09:10.614 --> 00:09:24.175 We have a rendezvous board in the congress where people can leave messages for others 00:09:24.175 --> 00:09:28.587 whether they know them or want to meet them for the first time. 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, 00:09:37.383 --> 00:09:44.005 which happens along with the movement fair, so it's two programs in one. 00:09:44.005 --> 00:09:53.064 People can get to know each other along with different Esperanto associations. 00:09:53.064 --> 00:09:58.306 So, thank you for everything and thanks for giving a face to the UK. 00:09:58.306 --> 00:10:01.656 You're welcome, it was a pleasure.