The Sixth Congress has as its principal function the final ratification of the policies to guide the MST in the next five year period.  These policies were discussed and debated first, in each settlement, then, by representatives at the state level and now, at the national level. Many of the policies have been agreed to, including the slogan to guide the next period:

STRUGGLE, BUILD A PEOPLE’S AGRARIAN REFORM!

What is a “people’s agrarian reform?” Generally, it consists of three elements:

1.  To develop an agricultural model based on agro-ecology rather that agro-business, i.e. sustainable agriculture that respects the land (non-use of agro-toxins and petro-based chemicals).

2.  To advance forms of cooperation based on food sovereignty, cooperative forms of production and the process of agro-industrialization (i.e. processing agricultural products into various consumable forms – sugar and cachaça from sugar cane or yogurt products from milk) in order to capture the added value.

3. To transform agrarian reform settlements into a political force by ecological integration between the countryside and the cities by, for example, providing food to urban schools or providing healthcare in the countryside.

Go to the MST's website to view a history slide show HERE.

NEW! Artist Donates Artwork to Help Fund the Congress

by PETE DOLACK

The ultimate monopoly would be control of the world’s food supply. Although not the only multi-national corporation attempting to achieve the ability to dictate what you eat, Monsanto Company appears the most determined.

by ZACH KALDVEER and RONNIE CUMMINS

The biotech industry, led by Monsanto, will soon descend on the state of Washington to try their best to defeat I-522, a citizens’ ballot initiative to require mandatory labeling of foods that contain genetically engineered (GE) ingredients. Voters should prepare themselves for an onslaught of discredited talking points, nonsensical red herrings, and outright lies designed to convince voters that they shouldn’t have the right to know what’s in the food they eat.

By Najar Tubino
Da Carta Maior

The federal government will soon launch the National Plan for Organic Production and Agroecology ( PLANAPO ), after more than a year of discussion with dozens of civil society organizations and representatives of 10 ministries. The Minister of Agrarian Development, Pepe Vargas said the plan will be important not only for the family farm, but for the whole country .

On May 25, 2013 over two million people marched and protested against agribusiness giant Monsanto.  See coverage from USA Today, Huffington Post and a roundup of articles on the Occupy Monsanto website.  The MST has long decried the unsustainable agricultural model that Monsanto has developed for profit – including the use of GMO seeds and a reliance on a flood of agro-toxins.

We include an article on how the Brazilian government is seemingly organizing for organic production, when in reality it is only support for agribusiness.  We also include two articles on Monsanto’s war on health, GMO labeling and its attempt to control the world’s food.

 “Agroecology Will Have A National Plan and Create A New Milestone for the Country” from Carta Maior.

 From CounterPunch magazine:

 “Monsanto’s Dirty War: Why Labels on Genetically Engineered Foods Won’t Cost Consumers a Dime”

 “Monsanto Seeks to Control World’s Food: It's Not Science Fiction Anymore”

Thousands of workers on strike in Brazil

By Stan Lehman

Tens of thousands of workers across Brazil walked off their jobs on Thursday in a peaceful nationwide strike demanding better working conditions and improved public services in Latin America's biggest nation.

Metalworkers, transportation and construction workers as well as teachers and civil servants adhered to the "Day of Struggle" organized by Brazil's biggest trade union federations.

Strikers either partially or completely blocked 40 interstate and intercity highways in 14 states.

Unions make shutdowns and blockades on highways in 23 states

At least 23 states recorded on Thursday (July 11) strikes in factories and banks, roadblocks and street protests. The acts are part of the "National Day of Struggle" and are organized by unions as CUT, Union Force, Conlutas and UGT.

The protests are scattered and have fewer people than in actions recorded in June throughout the country.

National Day of Struggle: Track mobilizations across the country

Follow coverage of the mobilizations, strikes, occupations and road blockades realized on Thursday (July 11) around the country

ALAGOAS

Unified mobilization block disposal plants in Alagoas