Landless Peasants in Brazil

Maria Elvira Mariano was a court representative in Sao Pualo, Brazil, for Landless Peasants. Here she tells Nerve what this movement is all about. The Brazilian Landless Workers Movement, known by the acronym MST (Movimento dos Sem Terras), is the largest social movement in Latin America and one of the most successful grassroots movements in the world. Hundreds of thousands of landless peasants have taken onto themselves the task of carrying out a long-overdue land reform in a country mired by an overly skewed land distribution pattern. Less than 3% of the population owns two-thirds of Brasil's arable land. While 60% of Brasil's farmland lies idle, 25 million peasants struggle to survive by working in temporary agricultural jobs.

How and where did the movement start?
In the 1970s hundreds of workers were persecuted by the dictatorship in Brazil, and some workers started taking over land, but this was not an organised movement. In 1984 with the end of the dictatorship the first MST meeting was held in Parana State.
In 1985, with the support of the Catholic Church, hundreds of landless rural Brazilians took over an unused plantation in the south of the country and successfully established a cooperative there. They gained title to the land in 1987.

What was the response of the authorities?
At first, Brazilian's authorities tried to spread fear in Brazilian society, telling lies about the movement. Then, the authorities tried to marginalised the MST and criminalise the leadership and members. Also, the government created new legislation to make it even harder for people to move on to the land. During all those years and even now, there are still violent clashes between the MST and police, as well as landowners, claiming the lives of many peasants and their leaders. The Landowners are not always prosecuted. Today, the law has not changed, but the relationship between MST and the President, Lula, (Worker's Party), is more cordial, but the long wished for changes have still not come.

How many people are involved?
The MST has spread all over Brazil it is a massive movement with hundreds of thousands people directly involved. Today more than 250,000 families have won land titles to over 15 million acres after MST land takeovers. There are currently over 71,000 families in encampments throughout Brazil awaiting government recognition. The MST has created 60 food cooperatives as well as small agricultural industries.
The MST has huge numbers of supporters overseas as well. They are linked with other social movements such as Trade Unions, Students, Human Rights Groups, etc.
Also, it is important to mention that the MST has received a number of international awards, including The Right Livelihood Award and an education award from UNICEF. Their literacy program involves 600 educators who presently work with adults and adolescents. The movement also monitors 1,000 primary schools in their settlements, in which 2,000 teachers work with about 50,000 kids.

What is the ultimate aim of the Landless Movement?
The struggle for land reform has broad aims such as the attainment of all the social rights that comprise what one would call full citizenship. The success of the MST lies in its ability to organise. Its members have not only managed to secure land, thereby guaranteeing food security for their families, but have come up with an alternative socio-economic development model that puts people before profits. This is transforming the face of Brazil's countryside and Brazilian politics at large.
The land is a gift for everyone, and the land must be used in a way that is of service to society. MST want work for all (zero unemployment) and wealth distribution; social justice and equal rights. They believe in humanitarian and socialist values and they are against all kind of discrimination with special attention to equal opportunity for women.

What does the future hold?
The MST has to continue to challenge for land for all workers who want work. They need to build on the 'Plan for the Land' (Agrarian Reform). They also need to intensify the organisation of poor people, develop solidarity and new values and to urge a cultural revolution.
The tasks are many, but if the MST stick to the path it was pursuing in the eighties and nineties, the dream for Brazil to get Agrarian Reform will become a reality.

To find out more about the Brazilian Landless Workers Movement visit: www.mstbrazil.org

We have limited numbers of the film “MST” by Metin Yegin
about the struggle of the Landless Peasants to give away, FREE!
To claim one ask at the counter in News from Nowhere, Bold Street,
or contact us at the Catalyst office, 85-89 Duke St, Liverpool, L1 5AP.