São Paulo - The weapons turned in to the state of São Paulo in the Disarmament Campaign have been transformed into a playground, which was inaugurated in São Paulo on Saturday (20). The Ministers of Justice, Márcio Thomaz Bastos, and of Culture, Gilberto Gil, were present at the event. The federal government's disarmament campaign, which began on July 15, has already collected around 170 thousand weapons throughout the country. São Paulo is the state which has received the largest number of arms: 48,333 through November 16.

Installed in an area donated by the municipal government, the playground contains a specially designed seesaw, swings, and a slide, made of forged metal from the weapons gathered by the Federal Police and handed over to the Army.

The Disarmament Campaign is scheduled to end on December 23. However, in light of its success, Minister Bastos intends to ask President Lula to extend the campaign for six more months.

The Brazilian campaign received the 2004 UNESCO Award in the category of Human Rights and the Culture of Peace. It was considered one of the best strategies ever developed in the history of Brazil for the promotion of peace.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Mylena Fiori
Translator: David Silberstein
11/22/2004