News and Updates: all

President Lula meets with wife of MST leader, José Rainha
By José Machio
[11/7/2005] Folha de São Paulo

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with Diolinda Aves de Souza, wife of MST leader José Rainha Jr., after he spoke in Assis, São Paulo.

Diolinda stated that she shared “a coffee" with the president – that he...

The first official visit by U.S. President George W. Bush to Brazil lasted less than 24 hours and provoked protests around the country.

In Brasília, the only city visited by Bush, around 40 protestors gathered at an icon of U.S. industry: McDonalds. With signs reading, “Bush Out‿, protestors entered the fast food restaurant, sat at...

Upsurge in Violence against Landless
by Marcelo Netto Rodrigues
[11/3/05-11/9/05] Brasil De Fato - Edition #140

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s indifference toward agrarian reform has contributed to an increase in rural violence and to the criminalization of the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST). In under a week, three...

[10/31/2005] Escalation of Violence Against Landless in Pernambuco

Since Thursday, October 27th, the state of Pernambuco has seen an extreme escalation of rural violence. In less than 4 days, 3 rural workers have been assassinated and a number of encamped families have been ambushed by hired gunmen.

After suffering constant...

Dear Friends of the MST,

This Special Edition of the ‘MST Informa’ has been written to share an historical event in these 505 years of Brazil’s existence: a gathering, during the 25th and 28th of October, of representatives from over 40 Brazilian social movements. Members of urban and rural movements, the National Confederation of...

In a letter sent to President Lula, the 8 thousand plus social and land reform activists participating in Brazil’s “Popular Assembly", held in Brasília, criticized the lack of action on the part of the government.

See Below for the Full Text:

Your Excellency
Luis Inácio Lula Da Silva

Esteemed President,

We...

Dear friends of the MST,

On October 23, Brazilian society will be called upon to decide if we should outlaw arms sales. The MST and the social movements that belong to Via Campesina Brasil said a long time ago that we are definitely in favor of outlawing sales of arms and weapons.

We decided this unanimously without any doubts...

João Pedro Stédile on promises from the government to MST: “Little or nothing has been done.‿

Montbläat: Considering that the right to property is one of the pillars of the capitalist system, how can a movement that proposes to expand this right be qualified as communist? What is the concept of unproductive land that justifies the...

ROBERT F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
& WASHINGTON OFFICE ON LATIN AMERICA
ANNOUNCE WEEK OF EVENTS ON RURAL VIOLENCE IN BRAZIL

For further information contact:
Emily Goldman, Senior Program Officer, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial: (202) 463-7575 ext. 235; goldman@...

ROBERT F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
& WASHINGTON OFFICE ON LATIN AMERICA
ANNOUNCE WEEK OF EVENTS ON RURAL VIOLENCE IN BRAZIL

For further information contact:
Emily Goldman, Senior Program Officer, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial: (202) 463-7575 ext. 235; goldman@...

Pages