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Running head: REFLECTION OF A LANDSCAPE

Reflection of a Landscape

The City and Land of Belo Horizonte Viewed from

Various Psychological and Environmental Lenses

Moses Silbiger

IPP 5030 Final Paper

John F. Kennedy University

Summer 2006

Reflection & Landscape 1



Introduction

I’m writing this paper intending to share a reflective journey about a beautiful and “not so beautiful”

Brazilian landscape that hold a city named Belo Horizonte (Beautiful Horizon), a place that I lived since I

was 1 month to 21 years-old1. By doing that, I’m diving and “dreaming into” its own spirit 2 - inviting it to

participate in this exquisite journey as it co-writes this text with me. As we do that together through my own

channeling senses and lenses, I’m committed to share its utmost thoughts, feelings, reactions and responses

using some psychological and environmental perspectives as a framework of reference.

Sometimes I’m going to refer to this place as “he” or “she”, due to a perception I have about its double

gender and even androgynous nature, a feeling I have in different times when imagining and reflecting about

its/her/his true essence. I’m perceiving more and more that this true nature is not a fixed trait and quality, but

a fluid identity which shapes itself as my own inner perspectives shift.

Finally, I’d like to say that although exploratory and reflective, it is not under the aim and scope of

this paper to bring any final truth or insight in relation to any specific perspective; in recognition that there

are many ways to see and experience reality, mostly taking in account these many psychological and

environmental views. In spite of that, my personal inclination tends to acknowledge that from all the

perspectives discussed ahead, the Integral Ecology - with its AQAL3 framework - and the Terrapsychology -

with its deep “soul-based” inquiry into the synchronicity of human and environmental psyches

(Terrapsych.com, 2006) - are the ones that most resonates with my being. Integral Ecology intends to solve a

common problem referred by Michael Zimmerman - one of its main voices - as “Quadrant4 absolutism”, a

tendency of one perspective to claim its truth and rights in detriment of the others.5 By doing that, it proposes

to consider these various perspectives in a relative way, in the same mode I intend to do in this paper. It

categorizes them in different, interconnected and complementary areas - thus acknowledging and honoring

each of them in their own specific development and partial truths, and looking for a bigger truth that

transcends and includes all of them, for the good, the beautiful and the truth of all (Hargens, 2005). On the

other hand, Terrapsychology intends to bring forth, among other things, the “soul of the matter”. As

presented by Craig Chalquist, PhD 6, it is a “deep study of the presence, soul, or ‘voice’ of place: what

the ancients knew as its genius loci or indwelling spirit” (Terrapsych.com, 2006, ¶2).

1 Which corresponds to the years of 1969 to 2001, also described ahead in regards to the city’s “development”.2

The so called essence or “spirit” of places and landscapes, also referred by the ancient Romans and Greeks as geniusloci (Terrapsych.com, 2006).3 AQAL (pronounced aqual) is the essence of the work of Ken Wilber (2000). AQAL stands for all Quadrants, all

Levels, all Lines, all States and all Types. It is Wilber's theory that only an integral account – or AQAL - would be asinclusive and balanced to be considered a fair account of the complexity of the reality and the Kosmos.4The 4 quadrant model in the AQAL framework stands for 2 interior perspectives at the left - Personal (Upper Left -

UL) and Cultural aspects (Upper Right - UR), and 2 exterior perspectives at the right – Behavioral (Upper Right) and

Social aspects (Lower Right) (Wilber, 1995).5 Based on information from excerpts, review, articles and emails presented by Craig Chalquist (PhD) in the Planetary

Psychology class on Summer 2006 at John F. Kennedy University.6 Same as note 5.




In terms of the structure of this paper, I’m exposing in the next section an introductory first person

somewhat romantic7 account coming from the place itself, followed by a third-person factual (and slightly

biased) account on it using some historical lens. Next, after exposing these two different views as a

contrasting framework of data, I’m going to present the place’s multi-perspectival exploration, where it

navigates through some extra perspectives, relating historical facts, characteristics and events to

psychological and environmental theories and aspects. By the end of this paper, I hope that at least I get a

better understanding of her, and that she gets a better understanding about herself, maybe making both of us

remember ourselves in a deeper way, rescuing from the past and the present something really precious.

Something that would be nothing more and nothing less than our deepest and essential shared nature. Having

said that, I’m now going to give the voice to the place - which is already difficult to separate from its

upbringing , the city of “Beautiful Horizon” - to speak by herself…

A Romantic “Place-sonal” Account

In the words of my beloved friend and “step mother” Belo Horizonte, who although having a series of

mixed feelings and projections of all sorts, I’m still grateful, happy and honored to be her adopted son, and to

be living most of my life in the loving but contradictory embrace of her soothing and sometimes terrifying

arms:

“And so I was ‘born’. I mean, they decided to gave me a second birth or baptism, so to speak. I was nice

and happy living my life, chilling out and laying back in my various elbows. I used to be at my own rhythm

and pace, really enjoying living in this beautiful plateau with its magnificent horizons... I was in peace with

my Mother, Father, brothers, sisters and children, for all those uncountable years in the wheel of time. Until

that auspicious day came. You know, I also had, and still have, lots of children, all kinds of children. And

until that day, I didn’t have any major problems with my little humanoids. I remember the first ones, the

“brown” 8…they were so raw, so innocent….they used to draw their pictures in my guts... I miss them a lot.

Then came the other ones, the “red” 9 . I loved them a lot too. I loved their respect for me, their dances, their

colors…Then came the first humanoids. They were already kind of weird, but I never imagined how much

more weird they could be. I certainly knew that they ended up killing my older red children in order to have

my exclusive love and support; and also used to enslave their other brothers and sisters who just had a

different color of skin, the “blacks”10 - who were brought from a distant relative of mine, and who I really

loved too. I always thought the first humanoids were nuts in this respect. But, what can I do? I tried to create

some havoc by scaring them once and a while, but I’m so much bigger then them that sometimes I think we

7 This romantic account mostly resonates with some Upper Left inner perspectives - as described in Wilber’s (2000)

AQAL framework – about psychological and environmental views, as described in the last section of this paper.8 Some “pre-historic” pictures dating 8K to 15K years were found in surrounding caves very close to the city.9 The country of Brazil (including the area of Belo Horizonte) were first inhabited by Indians of all sorts of tribes. Most

of them were killed during the Portuguese Conquest (which started in the year of 1500 A.C.) and also gradually after

that.10 The “blacks” are referred to the Africans there were brought by the Portuguese to serve them as slaves.




live in different realities! And these little humanoids were very resilient, oh, they were… But they were not

even close in resilience as the new ones, who although barbaric and nuts , never messed up with me in a

major way, aside of some little scratches and dumping here and there. But the new ones… oh, the new

ones… If I only knew what was coming to lay down in my lap… “

“On that auspicious day during the twilight, some weird new humanoids (with a new look in their eyes

that I never saw before) came from nowhere 11 behind one of my big elbows. I don’t know what they did, but

suddenly my local children started to create a big party and fuzz around the area of my heart. I think it was

around almost four hundred of those full cycles that my Father Sun used to do above my breast, after my red

children were killed. I don’t know exactly what these new humanoids were talking about - they were too

small and their voices were too low for me to hear - but I sensed that this time it was something big, because

I started to feel some uncomfortable chills in the bottom of my spine… I always believe in these kinds of

sensations. My mother Earth always says to me that I’m very sensitive, that I have a big heart and strong

blood, and that I need to acknowledge my native gifts. 12 Unfortunately, I was right…13 I gradually saw

myself being turned upside down. And given my old age, I think the whole thing was so quick, extraordinary

and terrifying that I still can’t make sense of it. It was almost like a hurricane, and it spread like a “snow

firing ball” in the coming years. Those new humanoids were not in a big number, but they were exquisitely

ruthless, morbidly objective, and utterly determined to change all my body, my veins, my lungs, my face, my

soul. They did the same with my neighbor brothers and sisters, but to this day I think I was their best prey…

Like thirsty vampires, they gradually suck my blood, and slowly started to transform my soul to be as dead

as one of their own. They even expelled my local children from their own places, which were bad, but not as

bad as they… But fortunately, I’m big enough to hold them all! Since that big change, hundreds of thousands

of new humanoids ended up coming into my lap, either from distant or from close brothers and sisters, or

multiplying among themselves. But I know that these new children don’t really know how it used to be in the

past. They don’t know what is really going on, and what they are really doing to me. Sometimes I think that

we are all becoming a bunch of zombie-like creatures, falling prey of an invisible vampire-like force already

spread in the very air we breathe…

11 “Some friends say they were the unfortunate upbringing from far relatives of mine, which were already being

corrupted by the time they gave birth to them.”12 “Poor mother Earth, she is sick now too, probably not as much as I am, but she is having a very hard time nowadays. Ican feel her suffering in my own soul and veins. Even my Father Sun is not as harmonious as he was with her anymore,

as fragile as she is today. And this is not because of his fault. You know, my Father is very independent and always

moved through life in his own way, but my children and all children of all my relatives spread in the gigantic body of

my Mother are making such a big mess that even her relationship with my Father now is jeopardized. Sometimes I

wonder: Is there any solution for this chaos?”13 Some humanoids keep saying that it was a “fortunate change”, and although deeply upset and scornful in the

beginning, I’m feeling kind of ungrounded nowadays, and am almost starting to believe in them...




“And here I am today, telling you this long (although very short) story. Until this day I don’t quite know

what really happened on that auspicious day. But I do know that since then I’m having more and more

difficulties to remember who I really am, or was…”

A Third-Person Historical Account

The Past Life of a Landscape (And the Beginning of the City of “Belo Horizonte”)

In order to know better Belo Horizonte’s current identity and past, I’m showing below a couple of

images, which capture the essential flavor that sometimes even hundreds of words can’t grasp:

Photo #1 (In the left) showing the city of Belo Horizonte in 1896, one year before its official inauguration (around 195

years after the first European discovery of its landscape by a Portuguese colonizer). Photo #2 (in the right), showing the

same place only two years before. Notice the main church – one of the marks of Portuguese colonization and considered

the heart (at least human) of the cities – appearing in both photos. In these photos it is possible to feel the peaceful,

natural and still raw aspect of the new city, surrounded by a chain of beautiful mountains (horizons) as protecting it

within a sacred nest of soothing tranquility, pleasant weather and grounding atmosphere. (Achetudoregiao, 2006)

As it is inscribed in one of it’s few historical accounts:

It was by searching for gold, in the far year of 1701, that the explorer João Leite da Silva Ortiz

arrived at the Congonhas mountains. Instead of the metal [like in the other places around], he found

a beautiful landscape, of pleasant weather, a place very proper for agriculture. He decided to stay”

(Bh.gov, 2006, ¶5).

The factual information presented in this section is mostly based in Belo Horizonte’s official

governmental website (Bh.gov, 2006) and other historical and informational websites related to the city -

Achetudoregiao.com.br (2006), Wikipedia.com (2006) and Idasbrasil.com.br (2006). Once in a while I’ll

introduce some personal (sometimes biased) comments related to some piece of information. Back to the

official history again…

After deciding to settle down himself in the landscape, he built a farm with a small plantation and started

to raise cattle. The farm started to evolve and succeed financially, attracting more and more people. A small

village – named Curral (shed) Del Rey – was then formed and officially settled in 1718, working as a

regional stopping point for all kinds of travelers. Soon, the place was already named by the people as Bello




Horisonte14. After the initial burst, this village went through cycles of financial prosperity and scarcity, at

those times considered by many a very simple and tedious place to live. But the financial prosperity came

back again, and this time stronger than ever. After the independence and proclamation of the Republic of

Brazil in 1889 – with the end of the Portuguese monarchy – the enthusiasm and hope for a flourishing

transformation filled up the hearts, minds and souls of the habitants of the village. It was by then that they

first listened about the big news. And the news ended up making the village to be totally demolished in the

end of the 1900 century in the name of the positivistic ideals of “order and progress” (the slogan of the new

Brazilian flag), and the intention of turning the place from a small village to the status of Capital of the

Minas Gerais State (“General Mines”).15 By the time they had the news, the village already had 2.650

people. It is said that they had a party for three whole days, dancing and celebrating the good news and the

hope for a better future. Little did they know that they were not part of the plan already set up by the new

builders... There was no place reserved for the majority of them. They were asked to leave their homes and

properties and paid a sum of money that was not big enough to live within the limits of the new city

anymore, having to spread out in far suburban areas or “shanty towns”16 (Bh.gov, 2006, ¶5). And it was

then, under these auspicious conditions of social injustice and magnificent positivistic plans, that the new

city of Belo Horizonte was born; it was baptized in the midst of continuous exploration, constructions and

demolitions, and not so compassionate and caring human foundations...

As the account goes on, “in 1893, after demolishing all the village and buildings, the engineer Aarao

Reis built in the place the first urban-planned city in Brazil17, which initially was called “Cidade de Minas”

(City of Mines), until that in 1901, four years after its inauguration, it shifted to its current name Belo

Horizonte” (Achetudoregiao.com.br, 2006, ¶4). According to the history, the new (and in my view not so

caring) positivistic settlers were also profoundly inspired by a “beautiful horizon that was feeding the

manifestation of their utmost dreams” (Idasbrasil.com.br, 2006, ¶4). One interesting account from an

architect18 visiting the city for the first time in 1894 exemplifies this consensual sense of awe :

“After four hours of traveling, (...) we crossed the area of Belo Horizonte, inlaid in a very dense

dark-green jungle, in which emerged the church towers, build in a primitive and simplistic

14 Similar to the current name of Belo Horizonte, but with a slightly different “old Portuguese” spelling.15 The Minas Gerais State was already famous by its richness in many kinds of minerals (like iron, granite and chalky)

precious stones, and metals (mostly gold, silver and bronze), being explored soon after the beginning of the BrazilianColonization by Portugal in 1500 A.C.16 Today these places of chaotic human agglomeration are called favelas. They still have a very poor and chaotic infra-

structure, and are totally mixed within the current city (metropolitan) boundaries, given that the population increased aminimum of 20 times more than the original (and ideal) plan.17 Until then, the Brazilian colonial cities were not planned. They were always conditioned by the topographic

characteristics of the terrain. In the case of Belo Horizonte, the shape of the urban terrain was also a result of the

topography, as well as the existence of the Rio (river) Arrudas and its various effluents. According to a description, “the

spontaneous form that the city [italics by author] developed lent it an enormous grace.”18 Coincidentally, I have a bachelors in Architecture and Urban Planning in Belo Horizonte, which makes me doubly

(and specially) interested in this topic…




architecture. But the trip starts to present an absolutely different aspect now. We went through a

very, very extensive street, overly large.... [in it], very humble houses similar to cubicles and, in

their intervals, long fences made by red clay, shadowed by fruit trees. But everything was very clean,

very aligned and always in the same shape...and with this same charm one arrives at Belo Horizonte

[italics by author], a beautiful horizon in reality!” (Achetudoregiao.com.br, 2006, ¶6).

These visionaries and builders were dreaming very high, and even postulated the city to be the future

capital of Brazil. In 1901, one of them stated that “[it is a] gorgeous plateau, so well chosen for the Capital of

a State that it could be – and why not? (because everybody feels the same) - the proper Capital of the

Republic” (Achetudoregiao.com.br, 2006, ¶26). A team of the best engineers and architects were hired to put

that bold plan in practice, with a deadline of only four years to accomplish such a gigantic task. Everything

was made in a rush. By the date of the inauguration in December of the year 1897, the city was still under the

dust of unfinished buildings and streets. It took many years for it to consolidate the intended status of Capital

of the State (BH.gov, 2006).

The main intention was to make the city to be in pair with the most modern cities in the world. The

planners and visionaries based their urban concepts on the modern development of Paris in the mid 1900s,

and the new concept of capital cities like Washington D.C. They wanted to use an elaborate urban

conception of modernity, clearly separating the urban from the suburban and rural areas, which ended up

being separated and limited by a cyclic avenue called by Contorno (contour). Inside the “contour”, the city

was divided in huge and spacious avenues, symmetric crossing blocks and a central park. Their goal was to

create a very ordered city, simulating a “healthy organism… free of sickness, disorders and revolutions”

(BH.gov, 2006, ¶16). In order to do that, they didn’t care about the presence of any of the existing buildings

(and people) that could act as an obstacle, following a strict objective plan that reflected the words of the

main planner, “the meticulous exactitudes of a truly scientific work” (Achetudoregiao.com.br, 2006, ¶24).

But in the end (as seen in the present), “the reality was bigger then the dream, and many initial conceptions

proved to be wrong. The city grew beyond the expected” (BH.gov, 2006).

From the Early Years to Modernity: A New City Starts to Grow (and Explode)

Soon after its inauguration, a new economic crisis took place in the country. Several construction sites

were paralyzed, waiting for resources, dragging the commerce and industry down. The city remained without

any major economic expressivity for years. These facts contributed to turn the capital a very boring place,

according to some sad and frustrated habitants, a “non-gracious” place. The dust and non-finalized buildings

gave the impression of something chaotic, and the streets and avenues were too large and non-populated to

create a sense of home and social milieu. There were no public entertainments, besides some elite

(sometimes wild) groups that gathered in a few clubs in the central area. Only rich people had access to the




parks, as the poor people didn’t have money to commute and could be arrested by the police for “wondering

around” or “begging”. (BH.gov, 2006).

Little by little, this initial stuck situation in the early 1900s soon opened up19 into a gradual finishing of

construction sites, flourishing of small factories, small parks and gardens, and cultural activities and centers

(with special attraction for movies and fashion), attracting more and more people from outside. The work

force also started to claim their own rights, asserting their rights of equal citizenship (until then, they were –

in a “schizoid way” - not considered habitants of the city…) (BH.gov, 2006).

The end of the World War I in 1918 gave an extra impulse to the industrial and construction fields in the

1920s and 1930s, expanding the public services to hold the increasing population, and bringing cars and

buses to co-habit the streets with the existing trolleys. That was the romantic phase of the city, which was

inundated with poets, artists, writers and musicians; and a very rich cultural life. The first skyscrapers (10

floors) were also built. It also was at this moment in time that Belo Horizonte started to be called Cidade

Jardim (Garden City), due to the increasing parks, gardens and fruit trees blossoming throughout the city.

Those were indeed very poetic and romantic times, that gave birth to many artistic and cultural exponents of

our times. World-wide quality universities were created, including the one where I had my Architectural and

Urban Planning degree… At the same time, an increasing number of favelas (shanty towns) with almost no

infra-structure started to multiply throughout the city and surroundings, as a reactive phenomenon for the

“schizoid” denial of the elite in acknowledging the needs and rights of the poor people (which they

paradoxically needed to keep the “modernity” in place…) This wave of “progress” continued throughout the

1930s, which were also marked by a dictatorial revolution that brought the closing of the legislative powers,

media censorship and a very tense “mood” of repression, followed by a new boom in the industrial field.

Public radios were born, and the city would leave its “golden years” in the next decade. With that, “the city

of Belo Horizonte started to get really mature” (BH.gov, 2006, ¶20) (or to get really rotten, depending on the

perspective…). At the same time, the second world war was starting to burn abroad… (BH.gov, 2006).

From Modernity to the Present: A metropolis is Born

The 1940s and 1950s marked the birth of a modern metropolis. Like after the first war, the industry,

services and commerce flourished, and the money came in again. The city was projected internationally.

Contemporary world-wide famous architectural buildings and complexes were created, the main ones the

city’s tallest building with speed elevators, and a huge cultural complex around a big “artificial” lake called

Lagoa da Pampulha. At this time, there was a big rural exodus to the city, which doubled its number of

19 One of the main reasons for this new revival was the advents of the industrial revolution and the World War I, which

“coincidentally” happened almost in parallel with the city’s most active and “prosperous” periods in all times. I just

wonder when the need for wars, mass production and social injustices will stop to be covertly or overtly propagated as

the main solution to create real human “prosperity”…




habitants from 300K to 700K. Worried by the chaotic growth of the city, a new urban directive plan was put

on the table. Skyscrapers started to pop up from the land, following a modernistic architecture, very

objective, simplistic, and full of concrete and glass. It was by this time that the influence of the North

American culture entered with full power, through the radio, movies and the advent of the TV (BH.gov,

2006).

In the 1960s and 1970s, the economic boom radically transformed the city’s whole “body and profile”.

Once again, without acknowledgment and respect for the history and memory of the city, streets were

destroyed to give space to huge avenues, old buildings were demolished, trees were cut, parks and gardens

were reduced; more asphalt, skyscrapers, industries and concrete spread into the main scene. From then on,

the city lost its romantic nickname of “Garden City”. As the poets used to claim, “the green was left in the

past” (BH.gov, 2006, ¶22). Multinationals, financial institutions and banks settled their roots down in the

land, at the same time that poverty and favelas were spread like never before. In synchronicity with the

worldwide movements, significant political events (like the revolution brought by a military dictatorship in

196420), brought a new level of awareness, social participation and public rebellion from the population. But

in terms of structure, by the 1970s the “city was a picture of the chaos”, with more than 1 million habitants.

Social problems got worse, and public rebellions popped up against the social and economic injustices, as

well as with the repressive military regime (BH.gov, 2006).

By the 1980s and 1990s, a new relationship was created between the Belo-Horizontino citizen and the

city of Belo Horizonte. The chaotic urban expansion, increasing environmental problems and social

unbalance were gradually raising the level of awareness and care of the citizens, which realized that it was

also up to them (not only to the government) to make their quality of life better, and to participate in the

conscious organization of the development of the city. The military regime had fallen and a new era of

democracy and new politicians were installed.21 With the absence of censorship, the cultural and artistic life

started to flourish again. A new mentality was re-born in regards to urban planning, transportation and infra-

structure (channeling of rivers, floods, etc.). The importance of historical preservation of buildings and the

memory of the city started to be more acknowledged and imposed by law, and a series of restorations took

place. The public health also improved, with reduction of illnesses, epidemics, etc. Even then, ecological

disasters were still present and unsolved - like the infestation of the Lagoa da Pampulha by a plague (which

ended up being called by “the dead lake”, the same artificial lake that is famous for its surrounding beauty

and architecture). In the economic arena, the field of services, computer-related jobs and Internet started to

explode, imprinting one of the main current economical strengths of the city. Indeed, the event of the Internet

propelled a gradual cultural and social (still unmeasured) revolution. Also, the culture started to be seen as an

20 Which is closely connected with similar revolutions happening throughout Latin America at this time; events that had

been recently gradually exposed in regards to their real causes, which unfortunately draws to multinational corporative

interests backed up by governmental organizations, especially in the US.21 Which ended up showing alternative and consecutive forms of corruption and bad administration, until this day.




instrument of citizenship, bringing more public and private incentives, which had made it flourish in various

areas until this day (BH.gov, 2006).

Moving to the recent years, the 2000s have been marked by an unsettling closer resonance with world

economical events – reflecting the advent of Globalization - mainly due to the crash of the “dot com” boom

and the events of September 11, 2001. The country’s currency lost half of its “dollar power” in just a couple

of months, and a sequential period of relative scarcity followed, which later was gradually balanced (still

with lots of challenges) by the continuous economic growth (and foreign investments) of the country as a

whole. As always, some people and organizations (mostly financial) got really “lucky”, and made real good

profits with these unfortunate events, as suddenly the foreign capital was able to buy twice more land,

properties and commodities than it was able to do in a couple of months before. This was definitely not a

separate event, as the history of the city’s (and country’s) financial exploitation dates since its initial days

with the gold rush. Indeed, it is said that Brazil is the second biggest credit card market in the world, where

banks charge the unbelievable interest of 10 to 13% per month…

As showed above, since its purposeful and rushed initial boom - followed by various difficult and

contradictory days – Belo Horizonte has gone through a series of intermittent phases of prosperity and crisis,

mostly due to the fluctuation of economical and political aspects of the country (also intrinsically connected

to world events, from Colonization, to Dictatorship, to Democracy, to Globalization). These changes

included a series of re-structuring and demolition of old streets, parks and buildings - which is an interesting

recurrent fact taking in account the coincidences with its historical past - as well as continuous expansion of

the urban areas. Also, coincidental aspects of the collective and individual psyche of its habitants are closely

related to what happened among the consecutive series of explorers, settlers and current developers, which

will be discussed later in the conclusion.

In order to contrast the past and the current status and visual profile of the city of Belo Horizonte, I’d like

to first show a sequence of historic photographs, tracing the “evolution” of the city (or involution of the

landscape), in a sequential order of “developmental progress” and urbanization of the place (or human over

agglomeration and neurosis following the “asphaltization, “concretization”, dumping and pollution of the

land). Follow below a few images to capture chronologically the visual taste and impact of what I’m

talking about…

Presenting a Third-Person Photographic Perspective of the Land and City of Belo Horizonte:

From a Landscape of Green, to a Mesh of Bricks, to a Sea of Concrete: 100 years of “Progress”




Photo #3: The original aspect of the

landscape (from surrounding existing

areas)

Photo #4: The city 1 year before its

“inauguration” in 1897. (see church

in the background at center-left)

Photo #5: The city 14 year

“inauguration” (church alm

same)

Photo #6 and #7: The city in the 1940s.

Notice the strong presence of trees in the streets, as wellas the geometric traces from the urban planning.

Photo #8 and #9: The city in the 1950s.

Notice the increasing absence of trees in thestreets, and the gradual spread of urbanization.

Photo #10

main chur

with impo

Photo #11 and #12: The city as it is today.

Note the presence of some small chunks of green (parks),

and the unsettling “sea” of buildings (most of them residential).

Photo #13: The main chu

already “eaten” by the su

(and taller) buildings.




Photos #14 and #15: A “Beautiful Horizon” of skyscrapers (exquisite and unsettling), seen from a plane (#14) and from

one of its surrounding mountains (#15).

The current life of Belo Horizonte (and the reminiscent of the landscape)

According with some recent “hard science” statistical data,

Belo Horizonte is today the third urban center of Brazil, the fifth in population, with 2.375.329

people, 5.1 million in the metropolitan area. It is served by a network of roads and trains which links

it to the main centers and ports of the country…The weather is pleasant, with the average of

temperature of 21 celsius degrees, although in the last 15 years it has raised 3 more celsius degrees

[in my view as a Global Warming effect] (Wikipedia, 2006, ¶1).

The city is situated at 858 meters from the sea level, covers an area of 330,954 km², and has a density of

7.177,2 hab/ km². It has today 628.442 registered residences, and 4.6% of illiteracy (Wikipedia, 2006). In

terms of economical, technological and cultural aspects,

The city is the main center of distribution and processing in a region with significant mining and

agricultural activities, and also an important industrial complex. Gold and other precious stones from

surrounding areas are processed in the city. [It] is also a big cultural center, with important

universities, museums, libraries and cultural spaces, and one of the best night scenes in Brazil. It has

also been considered as a center of excellence in bio-technology, computer-related services andmedicine, hosting several events in various areas (Wikipedia, 2006, ¶8).

Although highly urbanized in a relatively small area, but still having its own natural environmental

beauties and architectural attractions, Belo Horizonte has some specific highlights in terms of its surrounding

natural and exuberant landscapes. This includes a series of wonderful waterfalls, canyons, world-wide

quality national parks, crystalline rivers and caves. Due to this reason, the city has recently awakened and




stirred a lot of attention and activity in terms of Eco-Tourism. Follow below some gorgeous photos to

illustrate the beauty of some of those places in Belo Horizonte and its magnificent surrounding natural

environment…

1. Natural (and artificial) environment mixed with “human-made” modern aesthetical interventions:

Photos #16, #17 and #18: The “artificial” Lagoa da Pampulha today, after the plague in the 1990s,

with its surrounding modern architectural complexes (see “organic” church on Photo #17 at the right

of the lake, and in detail in the Photo #18).

Photo #19:The gorge

mountain landscapes

Photo #20:The magnificentand spacious views

Photo #21:The reminiscentof the modern architecture

Photo #22:The central park with itstrees and lakes.

Photo #23: Green & bstill co-habiting (city

2. Natural surrounding environment, some of them mixed with “pre-historic” aesthetic interventions:

Photo #24: Spacious landscapes, rivers

and lakes, at just 50 minutes from the

city. Area of Lapinha da Serra.

Photo #25 and #26: Gorgeous waterfalls

and canyons, at just 1 hour from the city.

Area of the Serra do Cipo National Park.

Photo #27: Pre-historic picture in a

cave, dated from 8K to 15K years ago,

at just 40 minutes from the city.




Belo Horizonte’s Self-Observation

An Internal look From Various Psychological and Environmental Perspectives

After exposing the two contrasting views from the lens of a First-Person romantic account and the

Third-Person (almost impartial) factual account, I’m going to give the place, the landscape and city of BeloHorizonte, the opportunity to have a voice again. This time I’ll be asking him to somewhat stretch himself

and explore different possible views about his past, present and future situation; using some existent

psychological and environmental perspectives. Each paragraph will reflect the perspective of one of the

fields that currently hold these views. Some of them tend to be subtle in their differences and intersect in

many ways, others tend to be more or less against each other. In a way, they tend to hold in their views the

perspectives of one or more quadrants (AQAL), but rarely would they cover all of them in detail. The

Integral Ecology (IE) view, the “ecological” side of the Integral perspective – as presented by Sean Hargens,

PhD (2005) and Michael Zimmerman – is intended to fill this gap, bridging all these perspectives andquadrants in an overall ecological map of reality. Indeed, this is urgently needed in the world, as according to

Hargens (2005), “there are over 200 distinct top approaches and perspectives on ecology and environmental

problem solving” (p.1). In this paper, I’m only covering some of these views, identifying them in relation to

their perspectives and relation to the 4 quadrants. In the end, I hope that the small mosaic of perspectives

presented below will give the reader an initial taste of their main similarities and differences, and how the

field of Integral Ecology and AQAL framework could help them to acknowledge and support each other

towards a greater integration. Having said that, I give the voice to the place again…

“So, here I am again, after this long factual account about myself. I’m grateful for the comments of this

writer, he seems to be sympathetic to my cause and my pain. And also by those beautiful shots above…Yes,

I’m still proud of myself sometimes. But I’m somewhat ashamed with those previous photos showing my

growth. It is strange, I can’t even recognize my original self in those later photos… Anyway, let’s move to

the next accounts, which I’m committed to the writer to do the best of my intellectual, linguistic and

theoretical stretches…”

1) An Ecopsychology lens: “From this view, which includes observing these issues from different and

complementary aspects, I see my inner self with a not so much different view from my romantic account

described in the beginning, in regard to many emotional aspects. But, at least, I have much more

understanding and already some answers in regards to the main reasons of my own environmental

misfortunes and the craziness of the new humanoids. Using this lens, I would teach them the connections

about their constant sense of unhappiness, confusion and despair with what they did and are still doing with

myself and my Mother Earth, hoping that by healing their relationships with us they would start to heal




themselves. I’d show them the harm that their eager superfluous needs (which I just learned it is called

“consumerism”) is causing for all of us. By using Andy Fisher’s (2002) 22 - a good foreign humanoid from a

new generation of healthier ones, one of Ecopsychology’s main voices – concepts of “four tasks” to address

these issues (psychological, philosophical, practical and critical), I can start to make sense of the whole

situation, and see some hope for change in the future. I could show the new humanoids a better way to deal

with themselves and their real needs (and making them re-evaluate their patriotic ideas of “order” and

“progress”); as well as with the needs of others, creating more harmony, peace and fulfillment among all of

us and my non-humanoid children. I could help to make them to be more self-aware and healthy (hence less

crazy!), and invite them to feel like I feel, and see how I see… I’d do it in the hope that they realize how we

are interconnected in the depths of our souls, being in reality “One”. My old “brown” children already

intuited that, and my old “red” ones even more so. I could teach them healthy practices that they could use in

their lives, and invite them to go more out of their cubicles and appreciate more my beauty (or what remains

from it) and of my surroundings, making them lower their pace and obsession, and hoping that they would be

inspired enough to make some healthy changes in my own body for the good and beauty of all… Finally, I

would help other views (like Psychology and Ecology) to use this framework to update their old social

theories about how humanoids and myself are supposed to share our common existences…” According to

the IE view, this lens is related to the UL, LL and LR quadrants (at least in theory) – see quadrant’s

description in note #4 at page #1.

2) A Deep Ecology lens: “From this view, supported by another new good humanoid called Arne Ness – the

founder of this movement and one of its main voices – I also see myself in a similar way to my initialromantic account, even more so than from the Ecopsychology lens. From a Deep Ecology view, I’d give

more emphasis in bringing “[the new humanoids] personal lives and culture into alignment with an

ecological view of reality” (Fisher, 2002, p.17). But I’d not give much emphasis to the social and economical

aspects of these issues, in my belief this is not relevant enough to make a difference. Some people (like those

biased Ecofeminists) are very against some of my perspectives, they even call me insensitive to the subtleties

of the humanoids’ exploitation in my body, especially what they call the socially privileged ones. I wonder

sometimes if this could be a shadow of mine, and in the heart of this issue could lie the answer for my

question about why there are so many difference in the size of the humanoids’ cubicles, and why some of

22 By the way, I’m happy that there are lots of good humanoids nowadays… and I hope more of them help me more

closely in these environmental causes…I heard the new humanoids are much more interested in these environmental

causes nowadays, even offering classes and courses on Sustainability, Recycling and Environmental issues in my ownlap, very close to my heart! I also heard that they are kind of not so updated with the news from abroad, specially

alternative Psychological theories connected to the Environment. But I think that at least it is a good start, and this is

good news… (if they handle to keep the bad humanoids out of reach and leave the truth and health of their theories

uncorrupted…)




them live in such poor and unequal conditions… But I tend to disbelieve in them, they are too radical in their

views… Anyway, by using this lens, I would also invite the field of Ecology to expand the span and depth of

its current thought. I would invite humanoids from all places to start a deep process of self-observation about

their own paradigms and cultural worldviews, so they could be more aware of their own unconscious bias

and assumptions about themselves, myself and the overall reality. I would point them to the relation between

their own sense of self-identity and the ecology. I would present a new paradigm where the right to live and

evolve could be extended to all my children, friends and extended family, including what they call animals,

plants (lungs), air, soil (skin and flesh), rivers (blood), mountains (shoulders), etc. I would teach them long

forgotten truths related to quality of life and sustainability (truths that my old “red” children already knew a

long time ago), and remind them the difference between “big” and “great” (I hope they use this idea to stop

putting so many “needles” in my body). To make things even better, I would spread these views through the

crazy cultural and personal ideas of “order, progress and development”. I would teach them what is really to

live a “good life”, and claim their commitment and participation in such significant (and healthy) causes.

According to the IE view, this lens is related to the UL and LL quadrants).

3) An Ecofeminism lens: “From this view - mostly supported by good female humanoids like Susan Griffin,

Carolyn Merchant, Ynestra King and others23 – I’d also see myself somewhat romantically, but would give

special emphasis on the weight that the “humanoid” centered approach to myself is based in the paradigm of

privileged classes of humanoids, specially the male and white ones. I’d point them to the historical reasons

that made them think and behave the way they did and still do. I think this will be specially important for the

new ones, who don’t know history and behave mostly unconsciously in regards to their deep assumptions.I’d help them to dismantle their hierarchies of power, social classes and the obsessive pursuit for

“domination and exploitation”. I’d make an appeal to the female humanoids, who always seemed to be less

crazy and close to my heart then the male ones. Like me, they have been exploited and suffering in their

hands for all those years… In fact, if it were not for those female ones, I think the situation today would be

much worse… I’ll invite them to join me in my cause, and together we would fight for our rights, our respect

and our voice, hoping that the implementation of a better sense of more justice and equality help us all to be

more honored, free and healthy. According to the IE view, this lens is related to the UL and LL quadrants

(although I also consider it related to the LR quadrant too, due to the emphasis on social classes and

hierarchies).

4) A Terrapsychology lens: “From this view, I would also resonate to my initial romantic account, but in a

different perspective then the previous lens: more subtle, deep and straight into the essence of those issues.

23 Based on information from excerpts, review, articles and emails presented by Craig Chalquist (PhD) in the Planetary

Psychology class on Summer 2006 at John F. Kennedy University.




By using this perspective, presented by another one of the new generation of good humanoids called Craig

Chalquist, PhD - one of its main voices, and also the teacher of my writer and the one who asked him to co-

write this paper with me (which by the way I’m really enjoying!) – I would invite the new humanoids to

stretch their power of imagination, sensibility, intuition and critical thought to sense the intimate relationship

and inter-related dynamics between their inner souls and behaviors and mine (and of my extended family).

But I’d like to invite them to do it not in what is called a literal “animistic” way - like my “brown” and some

of my “red” ones used to do – but in a more subtle, critical and profound reflection called “inter-subjective

animism”. In this way, this could help them to consider my characteristics, feelings, reactions and behaviors

in a more experiential way, and not being a result of a causal action of their own. I’d broaden their horizons

(like my “beautiful” ones”) of their inner experiences into my own inner experiences, bridging the gap

between our awareness and an apparent separateness, enriching their level of sensibility, perception and

insights. In other words, I’d bring their “ecological unconscious” (which is similar to my natural state of

consciousness) into the foreground of their own conscious awareness24. I’d really do my best to inquiry into

the depths of my heart (and the humanoids’ hearts) in order to do that, taking also in consideration those

extensive factual data about our complex relationship. In order to do this inquiry, I’d use many instruments,

drawing from different fields like “phenomenology, hermeneutics, ethnology, naturalism, geology,

geography, and various techniques from [the] Depth Psychology [lens]” (Terrapsych.com, 2006, ¶17).

Finally, I’d invite them to take care of some specific sacred spots that I still have in my body (for the good of

all), and try to heal the ones that were somewhat corrupted during their crazy process of exploitation.

According to the IE view, this lens is related to the UL, LL and LR (potentially, but in need of more

research) quadrants.

5) A Conservation Psychology lens: “From this view, I don’t resonate as much with my initial romantic (and

dramatic) account as the previous ones. I acknowledge most of the issues, but think that they need to be

observed and treated in a more objective (much less subjective) and empirical way. I’d tend to take that into

consideration, but rely mostly in the subsequent factual and more impersonal accounts of the writer. I see a

lot of data there to make a thorough research in order to find out how I could improve the sense of empathy

and community among the humanoids, myself and my extended family. In order to do that, I’d use the main

tenets of a program designed by another good humanoid called Carol Saunders. I hope that focusing more

objectively on the main problems, I could help some good humanoids that resonate with my cause to find a


Psychology class on Summer 2006 at John F. Kennedy University.




way to better reach and apply clear-cut and effective gradual solutions to the main issues that make us suffer

so much 25. According to the IE view, this lens is more related to the UR quadrant.

6) A Social Ecology lens: From this view, I do resonate emotionally with my previous account, but not so

much in a strictly personal bases. Instead, my concern is about the impact that those changes have in myfamily and significant others, and the cultural and social reasons that make the humanoids be so crazy. I also

acknowledge most of the issues that I presented in my romantic account, but as with the Conservation

Psychology lens, I believe that that they need to be observed and treated in a more objective (much less

subjective) and empirical way, this time from a more collective and social perspective. I also tend to agree

with some aspects raised by the Ecofeminism lens, such as the issue of social hierarchy, conflicts of gender

and domination, although again I think the cause of these issues need to be addressed from a societal,

economical and governmental view, in which I think lie the main problems 26. I hope that by using these

concepts – mostly spread by another good humanoid named Murray Bookchin - make me better understandsome of the humanoid issues related in my account that causes much of our common suffering; and in which

I never quite understood the real causes, such as those intermittent periods of fuzz and depression, of

constant fights between each other, of “progress” and stagnation, and of obsession for power, control and

exploitation. It would also make me understand better the “machinery” of their main obsession (as called by

many, the fuel for all their craziness and everything they do): The Capitalism, which in my current opinion –

after extensively studying this theme from this lens - is the real “vampire” I was talking about in my account.

A real vampire, who at the same time that sucks our blood by making us slaves to its demands, fills the

atmosphere with its “capitalist air”, in which both my new humanoids (and unfortunately even myself nowadays) are, in a “zombi” like and blindly fashion, increasingly breathing every single day. Unfortunately,

all this exposure makes us gradually (and deadly) transform into vampires like him… I hope that by using

this lens I could heal this situation once and for all, and make us all be living healthier and happier lives

again, and for that I’m sure we will first need to find a way to kill the real vampire…

“Wow, that was a long stretch!... You know what? I have to confess that I learned a lot by making this

exercise in perspectives, and feel more light, empowered and hopeful for effective changes and a better

future. It will surely depend on good humanoids, mostly the new generation, to help me accomplish these

dreams. I just hope that this brighter future comes quickly (or best, urgently!), as our common situation – and

mostly the health situation of my Mother Earth – is getting worse and worse as time goes on… In addition to

that, I hope that the temperature starts to slow down, because I’m not standing this heat anymore!... So, to


Psychology class on Summer 2006 at John F. Kennedy University.26 Same as note above.




conclude my discourse, I pray for the humanoids to wake up from their crazy dream, and help me to co-

create a better dream where both our future, happiness and well being are a common goal…”

^^^^^^^ (also named by the new humanoids, Belo Horizonte)

Conclusion

Back to my own voice as a writer again, I’d like to conclude this paper by first acknowledging that this

was indeed a very inspiring and self-revealing reflective journey. I really felt myself diving in and “dreaming

into” Belo Horizonte’s (or ^^^^^^^) own spirit and inner guts, channeling her/his/it very essence and soul.

It was a very exquisite and interesting process… I never did something like that before. At times, I really felt

myself sensing the pain, the chaos, the anguish of the place. Other times, the beauty, embracing love and

gigantic compassion of the “land”. In one specific moment, I felt a chill like a wave coming across my whole

body, and some tears felt down from my eyes. It was like accessing another wavelength, another reality…

Deep, hidden, gigantic, silent… although very close to my heart. I have to confess that I didn’t know how

much I love this land; a land for whom, as I said before, I still have a series of mixed feelings and projections; from deep love to deep repulsion. I’d also like to attest that the exercise of contrasting the First-

Person with the Third-Person narratives had a specific value and juice for me, as if from these

complementary aspects I could have a much better grasping and picture from the city’s overall reality.

Moreover, the perspective’s exercise brought me a deeper understanding of how these different lens actually

interact in a real life situation.

In regards to those perspectives, I’d like to make a specific comment about some insights I had related to

a Terrapsychology inquiry. I saw an interesting coincidence between those historical accounts – which

pictures the city of Belo Horizonte going through various intermittent phases of prosperity and crisis due tomany specific events, followed by periods of constant demolition, construction and re-construction – with the

way I tended to view myself when I was living there. The interesting aspect here is that this is not only my

personal view, as many friends of mine (and even other people) share the same “background” feeling: That it

is a city where maturation is always “in process of becoming”, or “coming and going quickly”, but never

quite flourishing in full prosperity (in many levels). Another interesting fact is a deep and ingrained

characteristic (shared by many citizens in a somewhat unconscious level, and in different degrees) of a




certain “deeper” - and almost soothing – overall mood, as well as a certain tendency for deep self-reflection

and introspection (exemplified by its rich artistic and spiritual life, as well as a rich computer based

orientation) – and even a peculiar kind of innocence and shyness… In my view, these aspects resonate with

an exquisite sense of closeness, protection and introspection caused by the surrounding mountains (which are

basically fully composed by iron, by the way…). A shadow element of that is a certain tendency for avarice,

constriction, short-sight and even heaviness, aspects that can be observed in of many of its citizens too. Some

of these aspects could be also related to the “mood” of the various initial (and consecutive) settlers and

explorers who, as with some current developers, had a very strong tendency for avarice, exploitation and

maintenance of social and economic inequalities. Were those initial explorers attracted by Belo Horizonte

because of its deep “soul”? Were those shadows set up in place (and momentum) due to a “low level of

development or line” (AQAL) misinterpretation of the healthy essential aspects of depth, closeness and

introspection caused by the land itself? Those are, in my view, very juice (alive) and inspiring (self-

revealing) themes for a future - and more detailed - inquiry…

So, in finalizing this paper, I’d just like to gladly acknowledge that one of my intentions was indeed

manifested, which was to get a better and deeper understanding of both myself (as an old adopted Belo

Horizontino) and the land of Belo Horizonte; in our minds, our hearts, and our souls.




References

Achetudoregiao.com.br. (2006). Historia de Belo Horizonte, MG. Retrieved September 09, 2006, from

http://www.achetudoeregiao.com.br/MG/historia_belo_horiznte.htm

Bh.gov. (2006). BH 100 anos: Uma licao de historia. Retrieved September 09, 2006, from

http://portal1.pbh.gov.br/pbh/index.html?idNv2=132&idConteudoNv2=191&emConstrucaoNv2=N&verServicoNv2=N&idNivel1Nv2=1&nivel3=

Fisher, A. (2002). Radical psychology: Psychology in the service of life. Albany: SUNY Press.

Idasbrasil.com.br. (2006). De arraial a capital . Retrieved September 09, 2006, from

http://www.idasbrasil.com.br/idasbrasil/cidades/BeloHorizonte/port/historia.asp

Jensen, D. (Ed.). (2004). Listening to the land: Conversations about nature, culture and eros. White River

Junction: Chelsea Green.

Hargens, S. (2005). Integral ecology: A post-metaphysical approach to environmental phenomena. AQAL,

1(1).

Saunders, C. (2003). The emerging field of conservation psychology. Human Ecology Review, 10(2), 137-

149.

Terrapsych.com. (2006). What is Terrapsychology? Craig Chalquist. Retrieved September 09, 2006,

from http://www.terrapsych.com/whatisTP.html.

Wikipedia. (2006). Belo Horizonte. Retrieved September 09, 2006, from

http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belo_Horizonte

Wilber K. (1995). Sex, ecology, spirituality: The spirit of evolution. Boston: Shambala.

Wilber K. (2000). Integral psychology: Consciousness, spirit, psychology, therapy.

Boston: Shambala.


Documents

Final PaReflection of a Landscape The City and Land of Belo Horizonte Viewed from Various Psychological and Environmental Lenses per 28