Mobilisation... from a very young age
For the landless farmers, awareness starts very often from a cultural approach; a means of expression for the million of Brazilians who may not have had a chance to attend school. The project consists of spreading ideas and values through culture, especially through “ mistica ” (engaging cultural performances). This is also a means of cultivating a common socio-political engagement, as well as reinforcing identity and a sense of belonging to a group project.
‘What’s magical is that everyone gets involved. Imagine a room packed full of people where everyone can participate and ask questions. We listen and respect each other... Actors and mediators are different at each debate and mistica . Real representation… and real discussion’, a member of FdH reports. It is no accident that participative democracy was born at the end of the 1980s in this country, in Porto Alegre.
Out of the thousands of participants at the congress, there were about 180 foreigners (mainly from Latin America), representing between 60 and 80 organisations. During this week, the 1500 children present also had their own area in the middle of the acampamento . At a very young age, they gain an awareness of rural problems. Politics come later. In different tents, they were offered activities, lessons, games, as well as a nursery for younger children.
The government neighbourhoods invaded
On 14 June, a red wave swept down the Brasilia’s main street, marching for fifteen kilometres to Three Powers Plaza and the presendential palace. Landless farmers paraded in front of numerous ministries that line the capital’s main thoroughfare. Today, the movement advocates numerous alternatives and has gone far beyond the question of land reform. Its vision focuses on fundamental values like human rights, democracy, and respect for man and nature. This week of discussion, coupled with all the preliminary work carried out by each state, led to a charter that enumerates MST’s engagements. It denounces the latifundia and agro-industry multinationals, and at the same time questions all governmental projets in rural matters. Identity, unity, autonomy, force and perseverance are just some of the words used to describe this Brazilian movement, in a country where 1% of the population still owns 46% of arable land. ‘The congress offers us the possibility to reaffirm the necessity of strengthening alliances on the basis of humanism,’ noted Jaime Amorim, of MST.
