Building Squatters

Residents of an abandoned building sit in front of the closed Sao Paulo, Brazil, housing secretary Feb. 1, 2006. The protest was an attempt to negotiate a judicial order to vacate a 22 floor abandoned building commonly referred to as the Prestes Maia occupation, after the avenue it is on in central Sao Paulo. The squatters are part of the Brazil's sem teto or 'roofless' movement - an urban coalition that is gathering steam in cities across the country. The movement is the urban equivalent to the better-known MST, Brazil's Movimento dos Sem Terra or Landless Movement which has spearheaded the campaign for land reform since the 1980s. (Australfoto/Douglas Engle)

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Residents of an abandoned building sit in front of the closed Sao Paulo, Brazil, housing secretary Feb. 1, 2006. The protest was an attempt to negotiate a judicial order to vacate a 22 floor abandoned building commonly referred to as the Prestes Maia occupation, after the avenue it is on in central Sao Paulo. The squatters are part of the Brazil's sem teto or 'roofless' movement - an urban coalition that is gathering steam in cities across the country. The movement is the urban equivalent to the better-known MST, Brazil's Movimento dos Sem Terra or Landless Movement which has spearheaded the campaign for land reform since the 1980s. (Australfoto/Douglas Engle)

brazil sao paulo urban crime police social engle brasil