World News for Students of English

30-04-2024 07:00

Brazil is witnessing a surge in land protests that mark the 40th anniversary of its agrarian reform movement.

The Landless Workers Movement has organized 30 land occupations across 13 states. They demand enforcement of their rights under Brazil’s constitution, which mandates the redistribution of unproductive land to people in need. The government promised to settle 73,000 families with a 100-million-dollar investment; however, activists argue it is insufficient. The farm lobby has a big influence in Congress. It opposes squatters and pushes for laws to expel them without going to court.

Some people believe Brazil can accommodate both the rich and poor. Advocates draw from their own experience of transitioning from a camp to a sustainable livelihood. The protests often turn violent, especially in remote regions of the Amazon rainforest. At least 1,690 violent clashes over land took place in Brazil last year, according to a recent report.

Difficult words: mandate (to give someone authority to act in a certain way), lobby (a group of people who seek influence on politicians on a particular issue), squatter (a person who illegally occupies an inhabited building or unused land).

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