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Brazil's Warrior Women

Women’s movement for access to Babassu oil

Location

Brazil

Released

September 2014

Duration

7:33

Tags
  • Activism
  • Brazil
  • educational packs
  • Ethical Consumption
  • Sustainable Agriculture
  • Women's Rights

The humble babassu palm provides a livelihood for communities of women across North Eastern Brazil. Bread, charcoal, oil and soap are produced from the nut and husk; the surplus is sold on. But production has not always been so peaceful. Babassu: Brazil’s Warrior Women tells the story of the hard battle to maintain these communities’ way of life. In the face of intimidation and threats from farmers for years, Babassu women have negotiated their own terms; creating a grassroots movement and establishing the ‘Free Babassu Law’ in seven states. The law gives landless coconut gatherers rights to collect from palm groves. These inspiring women are now able to plan for the long-term, diversifying their business and securing their future. They fight for their families, their forests and the Amazon as a whole.

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Producers

  • Profile

    Formed in 2006, by Paul Redman (director & camera) and Tim Lewis (producer & sound), Handcrafted Films have worked in many diff...y.

  • Profile

    Paul Redman is an award winning documentary filmmaker whose work has involved directing, filming and editing a variety of films on a ra...

  • Profile

    Working as a producer, sound recordist, video editor, photographer and writer, Tim Lewis produces documentary films for a wide range of...

  • Profile

    Joel Redman is an award winning photographer who has exhibited and worked internationally. His work has appeared in The Guardian, The T...

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