MST Participates in the National Day of Struggle 2

8/22/2019 MST Participates in the National Day of Struggle 2

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MST PARTICIPATES IN THE NATIONALDAY OF STRUGGLE II

On Thursday, July 11, 2013, Brazil erupted inmobilizations, strikes, work stoppages,

occupations and road blockades in a NationalDay of Struggle

Brazils Landless

Workers Movement

is a mass social

movement formed

by rural workers

and by all those

who want to fight

for land reform an dagainst injustice

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inequality in rural

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MST Participates in the National Day of Struggle II

On Thursday, July 11, 2013, Brazil erupted in mobilizations, strikes, work stoppages,occupations and road blockades in a National Day of Struggle. Called for by CUT(Central Workers Union), an assortment of labor unions and a vast array of social

movements, including the MST, the National Day of Struggle put forth specificdemands for the working class and social movements, including a call for agrarianreform. The MST participated and helped lead this mobilization throughout thecountry.

National Day of Struggle: Track mobilizations across the country

FromBrasil do Fato

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

ALAGOAS

Unified mobilization block disposal plants in Alagoas

Unions and movements struggling for land, blocked access to the Port of Macei, themain outlet for production of the sugarcane industry in Alagoas

by Railton Teixeira, Macei, Alagoas

Earlier on Thursday (11), hundreds of workers organized in peasant movements, trade

unions and students blocked the entrance to the Port of Macei (AL) in theneighborhood of the Jaragua. Protesters continue the Unified National Day ofStruggle, which conducts a day of strikes and demonstrations across the countryaround an agenda of structural reforms.

The trade unions and movements of students and peasants are together demandingrights and social reforms to advance Brazil, among which the reduction of workinghours to 40 hours per week without loss of pay and rejection of PL 4330, whichloosens labor rights through outsourcing. The agenda of the free [transit] pass and

public transport, urban reform and agrarian reform were also prominent.

For Deborah Nunes, from the national coordination of the Movement of LandlessRural Workers (MST), unified mobilization is a new direction to those who fight for


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social change in Brazil. "We support the implementation of agrarian reform and otherstructural reforms, an agenda already deep throughout Brazilian society, but not yetrealized," she explained.

Among other points that unify the various organizations of the working class in Brazil

today is the application of 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the educationsector and 10% to the health sector. In 2013, the public debt service still consumesmore than 40% of the budget, preventing investment in strategic areas for socialdevelopment, such as land policy and education.

Peasants block major highways of Alagoas

The blockades started in the first hours and should extend throughout the day in orderto get the message that "the stuggle has never stopped"

byRailton Teixeira, Macei, Alagoas

Earlier on Thursday (July 11), peasant social movements blocked some major roadsof Alagoas in adherence to the guidance of Via Campesina in the municipalities toorganize this National Day of Struggle. The blockades started in the first hours andshould extend throughout the day in order to get the message that "the struggle hasnever stopped."

Roads were blocked in the municipalities of Murici, Unio dos Palmares, Flexeiras,Novo Lino, Atalaia and Joaquim Gomes (forest area). Porto Calvo and Maragogi(coastal), Arapiraca, Girau Ponciano (uncultivated), Delmiro Gouveia, Olho Dguado Casado e Olho Dgua das Flores (serto [semi-arid region of the Northeast]), andsome cities in the low and mid So Francisco.

The mobilization has membership of the Liberation Movement of the Landless(MLST), Movement of Landless Rural Workers (MST), Movement Land, Labor andFreedom (MTL) and the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT).

According to Josival Oliveira, national leader of the MLST, rural workers were neversilenced and always hold their demonstrations. According to him, the ways to protesttoday follow the same methodology adopted by peasant social movements.

Also according to Josival Oliveira, land reform still remains the main banner ofstruggle that mobilizes the activities of peasant social movements. In addition thereare numerous other issues related to education, health, security, infrastructure and

public policy which are the main challenges encountered in the peasant struggle."That's why our staff will be in our home towns blocking highways, so in this way wecan show society that at no time do we remain silent in the face of the oppressivesystem which kills rural workers and burns their homes" emphasized Oliveira.

He also pointed out that the federal government's intention is to stifle public policiesin the countryside, thus taking the welfare programs, offered to city workers, from thefarmers. In addition, they are blocking the resources allocated for agrarian reform

settlements. "Thereby causing, in this way, the arbitrariness and atrocities perpetratedby the large estates. There are no guarantees in the law, plantation owners assume the


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right to send their gunmen to intimidate workers and thus enforce the militarization ofthe sugar plant," Oliveira concluded.

BAHIA

Buses circulated normally in Salvador, but many banks are closed in the city. The BR-324, the main highway between the capital and the interior was blocked, as well asVia Parafuso, which gives access to the Polo Petrochemical Plant of Camaari. Agroup of demonstrators protested near Feira de Santana. The protesters are focusing

on Avenida Sete, in the center, where there will be actions at 11 AM.

CEAR

People affected by the dams join the trade unions in Fortaleza

The MAB (Movement of People Affected the Dams) and other organizations are inthe streets fighting against privatization, for the end of the auction of oil fields andagainst the hydroelectric plants

The unions and social movements held demonstrations across the country onThursday (July 11) and in Fortaleza there is a happening of working class unity in theFerreira Square, in the city center.

Besides the people affected by the dams and the landless, the mobilization is alsoattended by metallurgical, chemical, commercial and rural, workers in the foodindustry, construction workers, seamstresses, sanitation and maintenance employees,

bakers, couriers, household workers, among others.

The Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) and other organizations are in thestreets fighting against privatization, the end of the auction of oil and hydroelectric

plants, for lower rates on electricity, land reform and the rights of people affected bydams and for a plebiscite for political reform, among other issues.


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Besides these, the agendas of workers demand the end of the security factor [used tocalculate social security benefits, introduced during the presidency of FernandoHenrique Cardoso, 10% of GDP to health, 10% of GDP to education, reduction ofworking hours to 40 hours; valuation of pensions [to increase based on inflation andother factors]; quality public transportation, changes in the auctions of oil leases;

rejection of PL 4330 [legislation on outsourcing], political reform, urban reform anddemocratization of the media.

DISTRITO FEDERAL

In the Federal District, MST occupies national INCRA office and blockadeshighways

The movement will also attend the Unified March of the Working Class, which willtake place at the esplanade of the Ministries

Pagina do MST

On Thursday (July 11), the Movement of Landless Rural Workers (MST) occupiedthe national headquarters of the National Institute of Colonization and AgrarianReform (INCRA), in Braslia (DF). The purpose of mobilization is to requireresumption of land reform by the national government.

According to Maria Lucimar da Silva, leader of the MST in the Federal District, landreform is completely paralyzed and INCRA has not fulfilled its role.

"The government has to reduce bureaucracy and throw out the policy of paper. Thedialogue only is not enough, we want to see the results in practice, with the settlementof 150,000 families in encampments, with the implementation of new credit that

benefits the settlers and settlements. And especially that INCRA work for thedevelopment of agrarian reform and not cut it short," he says.

Integrating with the agenda of the national mobilization, BR 020 (km 103) wasblockaded from 6 o'clock in the morning. 400 people from the MST, Popular PeasantMovement (MCP) and Associations of Flores de Gois participated in the action. Theregion has about 30 settlements and farmers are responsible for supplying the food

production for the local population. BR 188, the perimeter of Una - Minas Gerais, isalso blocked.

The actions are part of the day of mobilizations of labor unions, politicalorganizations and movements of the working class to take to the streets of the countryon July 11.

In Brasilia, the movement also attended the Unified March of the Working Class,which took place at the Esplanade of the Ministries.


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ESPIRITO SANTO

At the bus station of Vitria, the buses were stopped, as well as passenger trains of theVitria a Minas Railway (EFVM). Taxi drivers also joined the movement. Hospitalsonly dealt with urgent and emergency cases. A group of protesters is concentrated at

the Federal University of Esprito Santo, and will then march up to the Legislature,which has been busy the last 2 days. In the Old Town, the Military Police blocked the

passage of vehicles at the Third Bridge, where a group of protesters gathered. Theymarched to Vitria.

GOIAS

Thousands of Goianese peasants participate in national strike

The fight is part of the national strike for reforms and economic and social change,

articulated between popular movements, trade unions and the working class

About three thousand family farmers from the Popular Peasant Movement mobilizedon Thursday July 11, demonstrations at Goiania, Catalan, Flores de Gois and Itapaciwith public events and road closures. The fight is part of the national strike forreforms and economic and social change, articulated between popular movements,trade unions and the working class. In Gois, the National Day of Struggle countedmore than 60,000 demonstrators. Throughout Brazil, thousands of workers, peopleliving in rural areas, by the water and forests participated in demonstrations. InGoinia, the people gathered at 10 am at the Plaza of the Bandeirante and thehighways were closed in BR020 at the intersection of Flores in Gois, in BR 153 inthe intersection of Itapaci and BR 050 in Catalo at the intersection of mining roads.

The common agenda of demands, entitled Letter to the Workers of Brazil, covers tenitems: national sovereignty over land, agrarian reform, structural policies for youthand women, agro-ecological food production, people's rights, banning pesticides andGMOs, deforestation control, cancellation of privatization of natural resources, ruralschools and end the tax break to large exporters. The document is signed by theorganizations: ABEEF, OPEN, JOINS, ANA, APIB, CIMI, CONAQ, CONTAGENEBIO, FEAB, FETRAF, MAB, MAM, MCP, MMC, MPA, MPP, MST, PJR,SINPAF and Via Campesina.

In the countryside, there is a huge social debt and inequalities are increasing. About8,300 large landowners, alone, own 83 million acres, while 4.3 million families ofworkers of peasant and family farming have 70 million hectares. However, peasantfarming is responsible for producing 70% of food that goes to the table of theBrazilian people.

In Gois, the situation is even more serious, due to its location in the center ofagribusiness. The structure of the land in the state, which has one of the highestconcentrations in Brazil, has been built by the forces that oppose democratization ofland. Gois has 88,400 family farms that occupy 8,228,000 acres, with an average of8.9 acres per farm. Family farmers are responsible for the production of staple foods

that supply most products to the people of Gois. Given this situation, the MCP alsoexpresses its dissatisfaction and will go to the streets once again to support its peasant


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agenda. Social struggles are legitimate and they can only improve the livingconditions of the people.

Those affected by the Serra da Mesa hydroelectric dam protest in northernGois

The approximately 250 protesters demand a decrease in the price of electricity,improvements in health and education and a policy of rights for those affected bydams.

On Thursday (July 11), people affected by the Serra da Mesa dam, in Gois, returnedto the streets of the city center in Uruau in order to demand from municipal, state andfederal public authorities better living conditions for the population. Thedemonstrations reinforce protests throughout Brazil staged by Labor Unions and

Social Movements in the countryside and the city.

The approximately 250 protesters, organized in the Movement of People Affected byDams (MAB), demanded decreases in the price of electricity, improvements in healthand education and a policy to direct affected by dams.

According to Agenor Costa e Silva, coordinator of the MAB in Gois, "dams in theregion have left serious negative consequences for families, many of them have notyet received compensation and families living by the river had to come and live in thecity to survive." He further states that those affected want a rights policy not just on

paper so that the needs of the families can be met.

"The report of the National Council of Defense of Human Rights (CDDPH)recognizes that in the region there are serious human rights violations and thennothing was accomplished by the companies responsible for the works, much less bythe Brazilian government. The creation of the policy is the least the government cando, "said the coordinator.

MARANHAO

MST closes BR 222 in the region of Itapecuru in Maranho

With more than 300 people, the protest is against the invasion of peasant andquilombo territory by agri-businessess

Pagina do MST

As part of the demonstrations of the National Day of Struggle, on Thursday (July 11),organized by trade union centrals and social movements in Brazil, the Movement ofLandless Rural Workers (MST) in Maranho, along with teacher organizations,students, rural labor unions, quilombo and local communities, occupied BR 222, at

the entrance of the city of Vargem Grande.


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With more than 300 people, the protest is against the invasion of peasant andquilombo territories by agribusiness companies, for better infrastructure in thesettlements and schools, and for youth policies.

MATO GROSSO DO SUL

About 12,000 people gathered in the square Rdio in Campo Grande (MS), toparticipate in a unified act in the morning, according to the Military Police. Militantsfrom the Federation of Education Workers of Mato Grosso do Sul (Fetems), from theFederation of Agricultural Workers of Mato Grosso do Sul (Fetagri) and from theUnion of Workers in Construction and Furniture Campo Grande (Sintracom), plusagents of the Company Independent Policing Transit Capital (Ciptran), MunicipalTransit Agency (Agetran) and farmers linked to the MST participated.

MINAS GERAIS

MST participates in mobilization in Triangulo Mineiro

The mobilization started at 2 PM, with a concentration in Tubal Vilela Square, in thecity center. Then protesters walked along Avenida Joo Naves to the town hall.

Pagina do MST

On Thursday (July 11), about 100 families of the Movement of Landless RuralWorkers (MST) participate in unified acts with trade union central and socialmovements, along with other social movements, trade unions and left parties inUberlndia, in Triangulo Mineiro (MG)

The mobilization started at 2 PM, with a concentration in Tubal Vilela Square, in thecity center. Then the protesters walked along Avenida Joo Naves to city hall, wherethey handed a list of demands to the mayor Gilmar Machado (PT).

In Uberlndia, protests demanded fare reduction and improved public transport, 10%of the national budget for public health, no privatization of university hospitals,reduction of working hours to 40 hours without loss of pay, shelving PL 4330 thatimplements the outsourcing of labor and ends with the guarantee of workers' rights,suspension of auctions of oil, against changing the Mineral Code and for the

realization of the land reform program, among other demands.

The mobilization is part of the Unified National Labor Unions and SocialMovements, performing demonstrations and strikes throughout the country onThursday, to claim a political platform with the reduction of working hours,investment of 10% of GDP in health and education, free and quality public transport,media democratization and land reform, with the settlement of 150,000 familiescamped in the country.


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PAR

Residents of Novo Brasil demand improvements in municipal health

Among the guidelines is the change in municipal management, health care

improvements, implementation of a public hospital, proper functioning of healthcenters and implementation where none exist.

Around 300 residents of the municipality of Novo Brasil in Par protested in front ofthe city hall to demand improvements in the health of the city. The protesters met atthe airfield of the city and went on a march around town.

Among the guidelines is the change in municipal management, health careimprovements, implementation of a public hospital, proper functioning of healthcenters (where they exist) and implementation where they dont exist, inneighborhoods and rural communities, and ensuring water quality and sufficient

quantity for all the families of the rural villages and seats of the municipality.

"It's a shame a city like Novo Brasil, in the face of all the impacts caused by the BeloMonte dam, not having a public hospital, because health is a right of the people andnot a commodity," said Claret Fernandes, activist of the Movement of PeopleAffected by Dams (MAB) and the parish priest of the town.

After sharing several testimonials about how these health problems affect people'slives, including deaths from medical errors, the protesters decided to forward thecomplaints to the Par Society for the Defense of Human Rights. In addition, theMayor is committed to schedule a public hearing to submit solutions.

The actions were organized by the Commission for Justice and Peace (CJP), MAB,Acampamento Novo Horizonte, Levante Popular Youth and Youth Ministry. At theend of the activity, the protesters pasted posters on the door of the city hall and wrotemessages of protest on the ground.

PARAN

Social movements occupy 21 toll plazas in Paran

Reducing the toll, land reform, public policies for peasant agriculture and popularplebiscite are the main points of demand.

MST Paran

From 9 o'clock this Thursday (July 11), members of social movements, organizationsand unions organized around a common political platform, freed the passage ofvehicles at 21 tolls in Paran, under national day of strike and working class struggle.

The mobilization aims for the immediate reduction of tolls collected today by thedealers who administer the tolls, whose price is one of the highest in the country.

Workers also demand from the government the implementation of land reform, for thecountry. Workers also demand from the government the implementation of land


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reform, for the immediate settlement of thousands of families in encampments, since;in the state of Paran alone there are about six thousand families in encampments.

Protesters also demand public policy support, incentives and credit for producingcheap, healthy food without poisons, with the strengthening of the peasantry and the

adoption of structural programs for youth and rural women. In addition, they alsosupport all popular demands and necessity for political reform and demand theimmediate convocation of a popular plebiscite.

The toll plazas were opened at: Campo Mouro, Corblia, Cascavel, Santa Terezinhado Itaipu, Cu Azul, Nova Laranjeiras, Candi, Guarapuava, Presidente CasteloBranco, Floresta, Mandaguari, Arapongas, Jataizinho, Sertaneja, Cambar, Mau daSerra , Imba, Irati, Lapa, So Luiz do Purun e Litoral.

PERNAMBUCO

In Recife, the protests of the National Day of Struggle concentrated in the industrialport of Suape where some federal roads were occupied by protesters. The BR-232 islocked at 143 km in front of an MST settlement. Other routes, such as the BR-116,BR-428, BR-194 and BR-101, are also occupied in some sections.

RIO DE JANEIRO

Protests block highways in the state of Rio de Janeiro

In addition to the national guidelines, the protesters in Maca ask for a reduction ofspending by the city hall and the city council and for basic sanitation throughout themunicipality.

Vitor Abdala,Agncia Brasil

Protesters blocked in the early morning of Thursday (July 11) a bridge connecting thetowns of River Oysters and Maca, north of Rio de Janeiro. The protest wascoordinated by the Union of Oil Workers of North Fluminense (Sindipetro-NF) and
http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/


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the Movement of Landless Rural Workers (MST), and had the participation of othersocial movements.

About 5 am, they closed the highway connecting the two cities and set fire to tires inthe front of the Parque dos Tubos in Imboassica in Maca. In addition to the national

guidelines, the protesters asked Maca to reduce the spending of the city and the citycouncil for basic sanitation throughout the county.

In the metropolitan area, protesters occupied lanes of BR-463, in the municipality ofItagua. They set fire to tires and sticks in front of the headquarters of NuclebrasHeavy Equipment (Nuclep), the state owned company that manufactures submarinehulls and equipment for oil rigs and nuclear plants. According to the Federal HighwayPolice, the protest was fast and the lanes are already open.

According to a spokesperson for the Nuclep, the Itagua factory is closed todaybecause their employees have joined the national strike and participated in

demonstrations outside the state.

RIO GRANDE DO SUL

Protesters blockade bus exits and the highway in Erechim (RS)

The protesters, who continue the occupation throughout the day, demand 100%

quality public transport with free passes for students and low-income workers.

In the early hours of Thursday (July 11), around 150 people occupied the front of thecompany Gaurama, responsible for public transportation in the city of Erechim forover 60 years, preventing the buses from leaving.

The protest was organized by the Bloc of Popular Struggles, a coalition that bringstogether students from the Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul (UFFS), SeoSindical dos Docentes da UFFS (SINDUFFS), Associao dos Docentes da UFFS(ADUFFS), Central nica dos Trabalhadores (CUT), Sindicato dos Comercirios,Sindicato da Alimentao, Sindicato dos Metalrgicos, Kizomba, Marcha Mundial


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das Mulheres, Levante Popular da Juventude, A.D.R., Movimento dos Atingidos porBarragens (MAB), Contraste Movimento LGBT.

Movements of Via Campesina, Fetraf and urban movements also blocked thismorning BR 153, in two sections that give access to Erechim. The nearly 800

militants claim the immediate release of the Program for Promotion, Enhancementand Sustainability of peasant agriculture, in addition to supporting the demand for thereduction of working hours to 40 hours.

SO PAULO

More than 15,000 metalurical workers demand a government economic policyfor workers.

Among the factories that had stopped their production are General Motors, Embraer,Avibras and TI Automotive.

Sindimetal / SJC

More than 15,000 metallurgical workers from 20 plants participated in demonstrationsfor the National Day of Demonstrations, Strikes and Shutdowns in So Jos dosCampos, Jacarei and Cacapava, in So Paulo, on Thursday (July 11). Among thefactories that have stopped their production are General Motors, Embraer, Avibras

and TI Automotive. There was an occupation of the Presidente Dutra highway in threespots in the region.


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At GM, the metalworkers went on strike for 24 hours and stopped the Via Dutra, km142, So Jos dos Campos, by 2:15 AM. There were also shutdowns of highwayaccess to Embraer and Cacapava. At Embraer, the production was delayed by threehours. The demonstrations also caused delays in other factories and sectors and theAerospace Technical Center (CTA).

With lines of marches, workers from all factories demanded from the Dilmagovernment an economic policy in favor of workers, with measures such as thereduction of the working day, the end of the security factor, the adoption of thenational metalworkers' collective contract, the end of outsourcing and other demands,such as an end to corruption and the confiscation of property of corrupt andcorrupting.

Avibras

The metallurgical workers from Avibras (unit IV) stopped 100% of production and

will only return to work tomorrow. In addition to the demands of their class, they arealso fighting against the delay in payment of wages, which have not paid to theworkers since May 30. The Avibras factory has 1,200 employees and producesmilitary equipment. It currently has a contract with the Brazilian Navy.

Cacapava

In the city of Cacapava, two companies stopped: Grana, a provider of Embraer, andBlue Tech, a supplier of LG formed mainly by women. Metallurgical workers fromtwo plants teamed up and stopped the Via Dutra for two hours, between 127 and 132km.

Workers of the Grana continue to rally in Cacapava Forum, where they will demandthe release of payment of labor rights, as FGTS severance payment. The company hasa debt accumulated labor in U.S. $ 3.5 million.

Jacare

In Jacarei, workers of five factories attended the National Day of Strikes. In four ofthem (Parker Hannifin, Emerson, Schrader and DMT), the downtime is 24 hours. InWirex Cable, the production was stopped for 2 hours.

"The National Day of Mobilizations, Strikes and Shutdowns already entered thehistory of workers' struggles in the country, and the metalworkers of our region had avery important role. After the victorious protests led by youth, came the time forworkers to demand of President Dilma an economic policy that favors the country'sworkers. It's time the government meets our demands and takes action in favor of theworking class," says the president of the Metalworkers Union of So Jos dosCampos, Macap Antonio Ferreira de Barros.

The demonstrations are being called by all the unions in the country, with a unifiedagenda, which includes: reduction of working hours; end of the pension factor and

increase of pensions; against PL 4330 promoting outsourcing, reduction of the price


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and improvement in the quality of public transport, more investment in public healthand education, land reform, and the end of auction of oil reserves.

TOCANTINSIn Tocantins, people affected by the dam block the Estreito hydroelectric plant

The demonstration demands the immediate resettlement of over 800 families whohave been camped since the inauguration of the dam, which occurred on the 17th ofOctober last year

This morning (July 11), approximately 900 people affected blocked the entrance ofthe Estreito Power Plant in the state of Tocantins. The protest is organized by theMovement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) and the Movement of Landless RuralWorkers (MST).

The demonstration demands the immediate resettlement of over 800 families who setup a camp since the inauguration of the plant, which took place on October 17 lastyear.

Moreover, those affected require water supply, both for families camped and forfamilies settled, and a program of economic compensation for the fishermen, becauseof the dramatic decrease in fish due to the dam.

"We will not accept that a work that generates profit for private companies will letmore than 800 affected families without land, without water and without power. The

Brazilian state can no longer be omitted and hope for the immediate adoption of anational policy of rights for those affected by dams," said the national coordinator ofthe MAB, Cirineu da Rocha.

The Esterito Hydroelectric Plant, built by Energy Consortium (Ceste), formed byGDF Suez, Vale, Alcoa and Camargo Corra, is located on the Tocantins River, the

border between the states of Maranho and Tocantins, with total capacity of 1,087MW, enough to meet the needs of a city with 4 million inhabitants.

MST Participates in the National Day of Struggle 2

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