Although Mundubat's institutional presence in Brazil dates back to 1998, it wasn't until 2007 that an institutional and project co-ordination representative office opened in order to liaise in greater depth with the national organizations whom we work with (ANCA, CEPATEC, ANAB and SOF) and get to know one another.

 

Furthermore, these local alliances with social organizations aligned with defending peasant family farming and Food Sovereignty (and hence with the prerequisites for the Agrarian Reform which the country needs), are helping to foster greater knowledge of the organizational and political process of the Landless Rural Workers' Movement (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra – MST) in Brazil.  Within this framework Mundubat was invited to participate in the MST's Fifth National Congress held in Brasilia between 11th and 15th June 2007, with the slogan "Agrarian Reform: for Social Justice and Sovereignty of the People".  We're also opening up a joint channel for discussion and sharing of ideas with the Movement for Persons Affected by Barrages (Movimento de Afectados por Barragens – MAB), in connection with the proposed Power Grid for the country and with the necessary participation by civic society in the consultation process.  Both movements form part of the Peasant Movement of Brazil (which itself is part of La Vía Campesina International Peasant Movement).

 

Finally, a relationship has been started up for sharing views and getting to know one another with World Women's March in Brazil (Marcha Mundial das Mulheres) and, more specifically, with the feminist organization which currently holds the position of Secretariat of the March in Brazil, Sempreviva Feminist Organization (Sempreviva Organização Feminista – SOF).  SOF is an organization with a recognized track record and prestige in the country and one which co-operates to a great extent with other social organizations and movements.

 

All that we have mentioned comes down to a greater commitment on the part of Mundubat to Food Sovereignty, which is the fruit of what it has learned through its relationship with MST and La Vía Campesina International, and the result of the evolving Strategy for organizing Participative Endogenous Development (PED) – Food Sovereignty constitutes an approach of Mundubat's for the next few years.  Food Sovereignty is a right – the right of peoples to define their Agricultural and Food Policy.