Raw-Farming: Documentary on Brazilian womens organic farming movement

dublin | miscellaneous | event notice Tuesday January 04, 2005 16:54 by Rachel - LASC rachel at lasc dot ie 5 Merrion Row, Dublin 2 01 676 0435

A Latin America Solidarity Centre Thursday Night Talk and Film Screening

Miren-Maialen Samper presents a talk/video screening on the extraordinary work of the 'nut breakers' in the Brazil Amazon.

This documentary film, made by May Waddington, shows the extraordinary work of the 'nut breakers' in the Brazil Amazon. Women from indigenous communities, derive a simple livelihood from collecting and processing babassu nuts, supporting 400,000 households in the region. They call themselves the quebradeiras de coco or 'nut breakers'. Until about twenty years ago, vast sections of forests were burned and cleared for cattle grazing by landowners. The local people were forced, often violently, from the land that had given them access to areas where the babassu palms grew. As fertile land was lost to logging, many families lost their farms and men struggled to find work. The collection and processing of babassu nuts by women in the communities became their main source of income. Undeterred by the threats and violence, the babassu nut breakers formed an association of rural working women, known as AMTR, and successfully lobbied local and federal officials to stop the clearing of the palm forests. The association protects their right to gather, harvest and sell the nuts. With the help of a local cooperative called COPALJ, they are now legally entitled go wherever they like and collect babassu fruit. Babassu is the main cash crop in the region, providing most of the family income.

The lively, musically rich film is 30 minutes long, and has English subtitles. The viewing will be followed by a presentation/discussion led by activist Miren-Maialen Samper, who has lived in Brazil.

This talk will take place at 7:30 pm at LASC. 5, Merrion Row, Dublin 2. Enquiries 01 676 0435. Free admission.