Latin America's Shift to the Left: An Update from Brazil

Latin America's Shift to the Left: An Update from Brazil

INTERNATIONAL GUEST SPEAKER
Andreia Borges Ferreira,
OF BRAZIL’S LANDLESS WORKERS MOVEMENT (MST)

Saturday, March 11th
4:00 – 6:00pm
La Peña Cultural Center
3105 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, Ca 95705

$5-20 Donations Requested
No One Turned Away for Lack of Funds

Andreia Borges Ferreira, of Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement (MST), comes to La Peña representing the MST’s Education Sector, responsible for the political education of MST members throughout the country.

The MST is the largest social movement in Latin America, with an estimated 2 million members organized in 23 of Brazil’s 27 states. Since 1985, the MST has peacefully occupied unused lands where they have established cooperative farms, constructed houses, schools for children and adults and clinics, promoted gender equality, indigenous cultures and a healthy and sustainable environment. Since their founding, the MST has won land for over 300,000 landless families.

With Leftist leaders sweeping Latin America’s elections, the MST continues to play a vital role n securing respect for human rights in the Brazilian context. The 2002 election of Brazil’s first ever working class President, Luiz Ignacio ‘Lula’ da Silva, marked a milestone in Latin America’s electoral shift to the left. This year, 11 Presidential elections are to take place across the continent, including a re-election attempt by Lula in Brazil. The MST offers us a unique perspective into the role played by the social movements ­- resisting rightwing backlash amidst a Latin American shift to the Left.

Event Sponsored By:
Friends of the MST, FOODFirst/Institute for Food & Development Policy, Global Exchange