Exit USA, Good Afternoon Brazil!

It is true that, for the Argentinean that I am, what follows may seem to be a bit strange, but nonetheless… We have just attended, in the crumbling of the climate negotiations framework in Copenhagen, the resignation of a superpower (United States), and the arrival with brilliance of a nation (Brazil) that waited at the starting blocks until this moment.

Obama and Lula’s speeches were much more than just speeches on the major issues that our heads-of-state were sensible to address in Copenhagen. Their speeches are contain much more, in my opinion, marking the long and twisting history of the decline of the American Empire.

The refusal to negotiate is the first report of weakness in a power. Today, Obama did not show any signs of possible flexibility regarding the three suggestions that he put on the table, and he did this after carefully avoiding any indication that the United States is principally responsible for the accumulation of greenhouse gas.

Lula, however, demonstrated all leadership, will, and ambition. Clearly Lula is not perfect; the question is not there, but he showed to the eyes of the world that his country was ready to play on the course of the big nations.

We witnessed Friday in Copenhagen, as I have said, the resignation of a superpower: a huddled power submerged in anachronistic institutions, impressive lobbies, and a media that submits its citizens to ignorance and fear of others. At the same time, we witnessed the emergence of a future leader.

The time has come for President Lula’s heartened power and ambitious openness. He was not afraid to take the rudder of a boat that had almost failed.