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- rn
- I spent most of the past four years hanging out with street hawkers, smugglers, and sub-rosa import/export firms to write Stealth of Nations, a book that chronicles the global growth of System D--the parallel economic arena that today accounts for half the jobs on the planet. Prior to that, I lived in squatter communities across four continents to write Shadow Cities, a book that attempts to humanize these vibrant, energetic, and horribly misunderstood communities. My articles on cities, politics, and economic issues have appeared in many publications, including Harper's, Scientific American, Forbes, Fortune, The Nation, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Metropolis, and City Limits. Before becoming a reporter, I worked as a community organizer and studied philosophy. I live in New York City and do most of my writing on manual typewriters.
2 comments:
The MST (Landless Workers Movement) has stated that it had nothing to do with this action.
http://www.mstbrazil.org/?q=june7pressrelease
I found it fascinating that the BBC article described the MLST as a "radical offshoot" of the MST. I've traveled to Brazil and met with the MST, and they're some pretty radical folks.
Don't get me wrong. Considering how messed up land distribution is down most of Latin America, you kind of have to be radical if you believe in social justice. I support the MST's work and was impressed by what I learned about them.
I just find the splintering that occurs often among leftist movements to be interesting. I'm never quite sure if it's a sign of intellectual vitality or indicative of the ineffectualness of left-wing social movements.
Anyway, perhaps it's good tha the MLST are now considered the radicals. Maybe it'll help push land reform in Brazil forward by giving the MST more clout.
The left eats its own, as the saying goes.
Despite the splintering, this much is true: for squatters, rural or urban, left-leaning or right, Lula has been a big disappointment.
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