Although Brazil is the size of Europe and is under-populated, there are 20 million landless peasants. The privileged have exploited the workforce, producing monstrous family and economic land estates. The Landless Movement made up of peasants and landless families, campaigns tirelessly for agrarian reform and for the end of rural violence. Since 1984, more that 22 million acres have been expropriated by the government, owner's compensated, and 131,000 families settled. These small farming communities now have high productivity, new organic crops and incomes higher than the minimum wage.
Many people lack adequate employment, health services and education.
Hundreds of children per day die from malnutrition-related diseases. Poor people have united to demand proper housing, clean water and other basic services through popular organizations and movements. Thousands of children survive on the streets, with approximately one child a day being murdered by death squads. Street children were massacred, while sleeping on the steps of the Canderlaria Church in Rio in 1994. The campaign continues for the police officers involved to be brought to justice.