In Brazil, for instance, the mobilizations were many and varied. Approximately 700 peasant women occupied this morning Ana Paula field, owned by Votorantim Celulose y Papel (VCP), in Rio Grande do Sul state.

In order to denouce the damages caused by the eucalyptus expansion in terms of desertization and threats to biodiversity, the women started the measure in the company´s field.

These women state that many fields near VCP´s are experiencing lack of water for people and animals. In addition, they denounced irregularities surrounding a loan worth millions provided by the National Economic and Social Development Bank to VCP, which made possible for the company to acquire Aracruz Celulosa.

Via Campesina had already occupied fields to the south of the country, under the slogan “Land to produce food. No to green deserts”.

In the framework of the International Women´s Day the agribusiness practices were denounced at a national level. According to figures by Vía Campesina, in December last year the sector left 134 thousand Brazilian people without jobs, as a consequence of the international financial crisis.

This is as old as the capitalist system: the benefits of the profits are meant for a few, and the consequences of the crisis are to be paid by all, especially the workers. Despite these dark circumstances –which somehow confirm some forecasts from the social movements, Via Campesina´s demands are strong.

Approximately 800 members of the movement occupied a field owned by the Agriculture Ministry in Brasilia, the capital city of the country. There, the women denounced the public policies aimd at benefiting the big landowners and the financial capital, stated the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) in their website.

In Espirito Santo state, 1300 women from la Via Campesina occupied Portocel, Aracruz Celulosa´s port; in Sao Paulo approximately 600 peasant women from the MST took the same measure in a field owned by Cosan group, a symbol of the sugar and alcohol industry. In addition, in Parana, about one thousand demonstrators protested in Porecatu city.