Ocupação Anchieta Avança!

Abstract

The metro region of São Paulo, Brazil is home to over 21 million people, making it the eleventh most populous metro region in the world. High land costs and a lack of affordable housing leaves few options for low-income families, resulting in the illegal occupation of open land available in the periphery of the city. This land is often protected by environmental laws, thus putting both the occupation and the ecological balance at risk. Environmental advocates leverage Brazil's strict laws protecting the environment and employ narratives of environmental degradation to take legal action and evict occupants. On the other side, public defenders, human rights groups, and social movements fight for the residents' right to adequate housing. These seemingly opposing values are often played out at the expense of vulnerable communities who are often left homeless and resort to occupying other lands, continuing the cycle of conflict.