Tárzia Maria de Medeiros

Near sixty organizations the trade union CUT, the landless organisation MST, the World March of women and the political parties of the PT, PSOL and the PSTU came together to organise a demonstration against Bush’s visit to Brazil, timed to take place around the time of International Women’s Day.

10,000 protestors took to the streets of Sao Paulo and there were smaller actions elsewhere, including the burning of an effigy of Bush in Brasilia.

The feminist movement will try to ensure that he subjects of the fight of women have visibility in the anti-imperialist activities, while protesting against military intervention in Iraq and Haiti, and against the military bases in Latin America.

Nevertheless, there is a danger that some “Flags” of the fight of the feminist movements have little visibility during the general protest. The legalization of the abortion, whose campaign was approved unanimously at the national conference of women (organized by the government in 2004) has still not become law.

The “law Maria da Penha” against violence against women, which was won by the feminist movement and that obtained the important changes or the punishment of the aggressors of women has not been put into practice. On the contrary, the money needed to create the necessary infrastructure for the operation of this law was cleared of the budget anticipated for 2007.

The coordination of March 8 was divided on the question of whether to support or to attack Lula.

The organizations which keep closer relations with the government tried to save Lula and to centre the protests against Bush.

But the organizations and the parties of the left protested against both presidents.

The shipment of the Brazilian troops to Haiti is one of the subjects of the protest by these sectors.

The the Lula government’s neoliberal reforms and privatisations are also a dividing line.

“Labour reform”, as is pointed out in a pamphlet by one trade union group is a form of violence towards women, removing rights from pregnant workers and those who have children, so deepening the exploitation of women and their double work.

As Bush continues his travels through Latin America, protests will follow him where ever he goes.