Since the beginning of the pandemic, the social movements of the countryside have been organizing on two fronts. On the one hand, the economic and sanitary crisis reaches the field, hindering the flow of agricultural production and spreading the disease in areas without medical help. At the same time, the movements provide solidarity in the cities. In this section we present initiatives on both fronts: guiding projects to help rural area residents against pandemic impacts and field-city solidarity projects, in which rural organizations organize the donation of food from family agriculture to urban entities. This type of initiative occurs in Brazil apart: below are only a few examples.
INITIATIVES TO DEFEND FAMILY FARMING AND THE RESIDENT OF THE CAMP
Emergency plan for popular agrarian reform
The MST launched a campaign in defense of the Emergency Plan for popular land reform. It includes the necessary protection and production measures to ensure decent living conditions for the population of the camp. In addition, it defends how the pandemic is related to the progress of the environmental crisis, from the unsustainable exploitation of natural goods. Therefore, they advocate actions around environmental preservation, reaffirming the importance of agrarian reform is to ensure the supply with healthy food, at an affordable price.
SOLIDARITY INITIATIVES CAMPO CITY
Solidarity Hands
The Solidarity Hands action is a collaboration between volunteers, associations and social movements in combating the effect of the pandemic, especially from the distribution of food in the most vulnerable regions of cities in Pernambuco. It is a solidarity initiative between the countryside and the city that, together with the Periferia Viva campaign, have already distributed more than 50 tons of food produced by the popular agrarian reform. The project also involves the education of Popular Health Agents, with the support of Fiocruz. See primer here..
Food distribution in Curitiba
MST camps, family farmers and the oil tanker steamers began a joint action to donate food and gas to families in Curitiba and Araucarias. 400 loads of cooking gas and 15 tons of food produced in different camps throughout the state of Paraná and by family producers were given. On July 30, 2020, Mídia Sem Terra (on Facebook) released the distribution of these items and another 1100 loaves produced by the agrarian reform.
MST Distributes Food in Aracaju
There are many urban communities in Brazil that have received support from the movements of the countryside in the fight against hunger during the pandemic. In Aracajú, for example, more than 40 entities received food are food produced by the Agrarian Reform, Small Farmers’ Movement (MPA) and Popular Peasant Movement (MCP).This type of initiative is a way to drain agricultural production impacted by the crisis and at the same time provide solidarity with residents of urban peripheries. Check the news here.
CPT does45 tons of food
The Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) celebrated its 45 years by donating 45 tons of food. These were produced by peasant communities of Alagoas, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte. The donations were intended for families in vulnerable situations, hospitals, prisons, support homes for immigrants, children and people in homeless and hungry situations.
Oil tankers and farmers prepare food and gas donation in Curitiba and Araucaria
The union between oil tankers and farmers will result in an action of solidarity to families in vulnerable situations on the outskirts of Curitiba and Araucaria, this Saturday (1). The goal is to distribute 400 loads of cooking gas, acquired through a campaign with the oil tankers of the Presidente Getúlio Vargas refinery (Repar), and 15 tons of fresh food, given by farmers and peasants from the agrarian reform of five municipalities, and by family producers of São José dos Pinhais. Read more here
Fight How To Care
The Homeless Movement of the Center (MSTC) and the Landless Movement of São Paulo (MST/SP) joined together to produce healthy warm sits for the homeless and vulnerable population of the state capital. Information here and report here.
ECIS + Popular Peasant Movement
“The ECEC joined the Popular Peasant Movement (MCP), through the Dual Participation Methodology, supporting the project “Peasant food at the table of the urban population in a situation of vulnerability” to contribute to the access to healthy food of families in the city of Goiânia impacted by the spread of the pandemic. In addition to supplying the hunger of the most vulnerable urban population of the capital of Goiás, the initiative aimed to ensure a minimum income for peasant families, in the flow of their products.” Find information here.
MST and MPA donations reach 3,300 tons
In addition to the actions that have been disseminated daily on the television of large corporations, the movements of the field have given a great example of solidarity. Since the beginning of the pandemic so far, the MST and MPA have donated more than 3.3 tons of food, contributing to combat the greatest fear of the Brazilian peripheries during this period: hunger. In addition to donations, the movements have a central role that reinforces solidarity, agroecology, the importance of social movements and the role of the people in the actions carried out. Read more here.