Threats against peasants

Nature

Threats against peasants encompass a range of challenges that undermine their livelihoods and rights. These threats include land dispossession, often driven by industrial agriculture, urban expansion, and resource extraction. Peasants also face violence from state and non-state actors, including eviction and harassment. Economic pressures, such as fluctuating market prices and lack of access to credit, further exacerbate their vulnerability. Additionally, climate change poses significant risks to agricultural productivity. Collectively, these factors contribute to social instability, food insecurity, and the erosion of rural communities, highlighting the urgent need for protective measures and policies that support peasant rights and sustainable practices.

Incidence

According to Global Witness, at least 1,733 land and environmental defenders—many of them peasants—were killed worldwide between 2012 and 2021, with the highest numbers reported in Latin America, particularly Colombia, Brazil, and the Philippines. Peasant communities frequently face threats, violence, and intimidation from state and non-state actors due to land disputes, agribusiness expansion, and resource extraction projects.
In April 2018, in the municipality of Pau D’Arco, Pará, Brazil, ten landless peasants were killed by police during a land eviction operation. The incident, known as the Pau D’Arco massacre, highlighted ongoing threats and violence against peasant communities in Brazil.

Claim

Threats against peasants are a critical issue that demands urgent attention. These vulnerable communities face violence, land grabs, and exploitation, undermining their rights and livelihoods. Such threats not only perpetuate poverty but also destabilize entire regions, leading to social unrest and environmental degradation. Protecting peasants is essential for ensuring food security, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting sustainable development. We must stand against these injustices and advocate for the rights and dignity of those who feed our world.

Counter-claim

While threats against peasants may seem concerning, they are often exaggerated and overshadowed by more pressing global issues. The focus should be on economic development, education, and technological advancement that uplift entire communities. Peasants, like any group, face challenges, but prioritizing their plight distracts from addressing systemic problems like poverty, climate change, and inequality that affect millions. We must channel our energy into solutions that benefit society as a whole, rather than fixating on isolated grievances.