Dorothy Stang

An American-born nun murdered in Brazil for defending Amazon rainforest communities against illegal logging and land grabs.

Sister Dorothy Stang (1931–2005) spent 40 years advocating for sustainable land use in Brazil's Pará state. She helped establish the PDS Esperança project, a model of eco-friendly farming that protected 130,000 acres of rainforest. Her murder by hired gunmen in 2005 exposed the violent clash between environmentalists and agribusiness.

Stang's ‘God’s Earth is for Everyone’ philosophy inspired global movements like Amazon Watch. Posthumously awarded Brazil's Order of Merit, her case led to strengthened environmental laws and the arrest of corrupt officials. The documentary 《They Killed Sister Dorothy》 chronicles her enduring impact on forest conservation.