In 1996, Brazil was my initial venture abroad. During my time in the Pantanal, I had the remarkable opportunity to observe firsthand, on behalf of Amnesty International, the efforts of the Sem Terra movement as they sought to establish their presence at the Campomento Giacometti. The members of the movement dedicated themselves to occupying a parcel of land for a year with the aspiration of establishing a sustainable cooperative agricultural community for the long term.