This article is a bit sensational: it doesn't mention these plots are being sold via any craigslist type of service, not just facebook.
I have seen another listing service push back a little against such postings, but given the ample space between the law and illegality, it is hard for them to identify semi-legitimate postings from illegitimate ones.
That space exists, because the transfer of property came with excessive taxes, procedures and costs the poor could not or didn't want to afford. So children inherited the property but not formally. Then they would sell their rights to the property rights. And so on. The "cartórios" (registration offices) register these contracts instead. The property itself slides into informality. In the end the government itself is to blame.
The state of Rondônia is highlighted in the article. Makes sense, as it has been almost fully and industrially deforested in the last 20 years. Open up Google Earth and slide it back in time. You'll see deforestation leaving scars on an enormous scale, with obvious corruption of the state government.
> given the ample space between the law and illegality, it is hard for them to identify semi-legitimate postings from illegitimate ones.
Would it be so wrong for such a company to take a moral stance and just say no to sale of any land part of the Amazon forest regardless of local legality?
What I'd really like is for the businesses we work at to get serious about their commitment to the environment (instead of doing token commitments). In particular they could invest or participate in a fund or estate, on our behalf, which would take the forest out of its current status of unclaimed territory. Facebook alone could likely buy a significant chunk of the Amazon.
Instead we'd want it to only point the finger, also on our behalf? I'm sure Facebook would actually love to be required to police and to eventually govern us. It will misconstrue that we wanted it to.
Let's work with each other, not against each other. A cry for more control and repression won't bring a smile to anyone's face.
Background on the Amazon plots: perverse capitalistic incentives drive this "real estate development". Which are typically white-washed by the current president.
I have seen another listing service push back a little against such postings, but given the ample space between the law and illegality, it is hard for them to identify semi-legitimate postings from illegitimate ones.
That space exists, because the transfer of property came with excessive taxes, procedures and costs the poor could not or didn't want to afford. So children inherited the property but not formally. Then they would sell their rights to the property rights. And so on. The "cartórios" (registration offices) register these contracts instead. The property itself slides into informality. In the end the government itself is to blame.