To Inherit the Earth: The Landless Movement and the Struggle for a New Brazil [Paperback]

Angus Lindsay Wright (Author), Wendy Wolford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

In the country with the widest income gap between rich and poor and where millions of children fend for themselves on city streets, one of the world’s most successful grassroots social movements has arisen. To Inherit the Earth tells the dramatic story of Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement, or MST -- millions of desperately poor, landless, jobless men and women who, through their own nonviolent efforts, have secured rights to over 20 million acres of farmland. Not only are the MST fighting for their own rights, they are transforming their society into a more just one--and their approach may offer the best solution yet to Brazil’s environmental problems in the Amazon and elsewhere. Authors Wright and Wolford put the movement in its historical, political, and environmental context, trace its growth, and address the issues the MST faces going forward. And throughout, they share dozens of personal stories of people in the movement—stories filled with tremendous courage, personal sacrifice, faith, humor, drama, and determination.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Food First Books (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0935028900
• ISBN-13: 978-0935028904
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #851,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Got me thinking, August 31, 2004

By 

Paul (Kent, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Inherit the Earth: The Landless Movement and the Struggle for a New Brazil (Paperback)

I have not done much research on the MST, but this book does a great job of highlighting their struggle. The authors are clearly pro-MST and pro-Land Reform, but don't shy away from pointing out the difficulties the MST and their supporters face. I think this book is a must read for those who want to understand the issues surrounding the rural poor who are simply asking for life's basics (a place to call home, food, education). They seem to have been demonized by Brazil's conservatives and large land owners as violent land grabbers. This book gives an "on the ground" account that shows this to be false. I was also impressed by their treatment of the debate between the large agri-business model that the U.S. clearly supports versus the small landholder that actually cares about the land they work. More books like this are needed.

2 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too partial. . ., November 30, 2004

By 

Kristy Oliver - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Inherit the Earth: The Landless Movement and the Struggle for a New Brazil (Paperback)

The authors of this book are so pro-MST that the last page in the book includes information about where you can send money if you wish to contribute to the movement. It may be true that some land reform is necessary in Brasil, but not in the way the many of the people involved in the MST go about it. Yes, some of the landholders who own large farms and ranches resort to violence to protect their property, but the squatters also aren't afraid of killing people to get what they want. There has got to be a better book out there that tells both sides of the story. This one is too biased.