DaSilva talks about the history of the formation of the MST, about the Workers' Party, also formed 20 years ago and now in power, about President Lula's support for the MST, but w/ hands tied in terms of real land distribution changes in Brazil
Sue Supriano's Steppin' Out of Babylon is a radio interview series covering a broad range of important issues in today's world: peace and war, human and civil rights, communication, the media, the environment, food security, racism, globalization, immigration and matters of the spirit.
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Ramao daSilva is a leader of the National Coordination Committee of the MST (Landless Workers' Movement of Brazil). In Brazil, 3% of the population owns two-thirds of the arable land resulting in a huge population of landless peasants and hungry people. Clara Long, who works with the US-based, Friends of the MST, translates the interview. DaSilva describes how the MST is democratically organized by being divided into collectives of families which are then part of a larger collective, etc.. The farmers farm organically with an objective of every person having at least one good meal a day. This year is the 20th anniversary of the founding of the MST, the largest grassroots organization of rural workers in the Americas-- perhaps in the world. DaSilva talks about the history of the formation of the MST, how the Workers' Party which was also formed 20 years ago, is now in power in Brazil, how President Lula supports the MST though his hands are presently tied in terms of real action with regard to land distribution changes in Brazil and how this is due to the neoliberal policies in place in Brazil as well as in much of the world. Recorded September 2004, 28'50", <WWW.MSTBRAZIL.ORG>