Half of Brazilian March for Land Reform Completed
The red banners of the Brazilian Landless workers´Movement (MST) fluttered in the wind again on Sunday on the Goiania-Brasilia road, as thousands of men, women and children completed half of their 180-mile journey in the ´National March for Land Reform´.

As in previous days, the marchers left their camping site early morning, this time in Abadiania, and in the afternoon they were expected to study issues related to land reform and engage in cultural activities at night.

Land reform represents a critical issue for Brazil´s development of social equality, food security and a vital civil society.

The rally is the continuation of a battle started early April, when the struggle for land reform had reached its highest _expression in the seizure of 30 farms in Pernambuco state and other actions in different Brazilian regions.

The march began in Goiânia on May 2 and participants and the plan is to converge in Brasilia on May 16.

MST is a main sponsor of the protests. According to leader Joao Pedro Stedile, these actions are not against the government but in favor of a land reform and a change in the country´s economic policy.

We also plan to protest before two main power centers: the US Embassy and the country´s Ministry of Finance, as well as release a set of 16 demands including urging the government to fulfill its land reform commitments and some proposals to change economic policy, added Stedile.