Product Description

In 1966, Sister Dorothy Stang went to Brazil as a missionary, and in 1982 she moved to a small town in the Amazon to work with an organization to protect poor farmers and their land from loggers and land-developers who stop at nothing—including murder—in pursuit of profits. After testifying at a government panel investigating illegal incursions into protected areas, Sister Dorothy was denounced as a “terrorist” by powerful companies and began receiving death threats. Refusing to be intimidated, she continued her work—until two gunmen shot her six times on a rural Amazon road.

THE GREATEST GIFT is the first biography of this extraordinary woman and her mission. Written by a mainstream journalist who has spent many years in Brazil, it exposes the entrenched collusion between government officials and commercial interests and celebrates the profound courage of Sister Dorothy and others fighting to protect the Amazon jungles and the people eking out a life there.

Inspired by deep religious conviction, Dorothy Stang gave of herself generously. A book that will resonate with readers of Sister Helen Prejean’s Dead Man Walking, THE GREATEST GIFT presents not only the story of Sister Dorothy’s tragic death, but the powerful and beautiful lessons of her life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #151746 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-05
• Released on: 2008-02-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780385522182
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Very few religious believers are called upon to give their lives for their faith, but those individuals are often remarkably inspiring. Contemporary martyr Sister Dorothy Stang (1940–2005) was no exception. She lived a rich and full life and laid down that life for her friends. Her story is captured beautifully by British journalist Le Breton, author of Voices of the Amazon. Eighteen years after entering a convent for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Dorothy was granted her desire to serve the poor as a missionary in Brazil. Her somewhat naïve imagination about missionary life was quickly transformed by the harsh realities of the dire poverty she witnessed. During the almost 40 years she served in Brazil, Sr. Dorothy fell in love with the people and the country, and courageously aided in the struggle of poor farmers for land rights against logging and development companies. The story is heartbreaking and Le Breton's prose is gripping throughout, as she weaves in several personal narratives from Dorothy's family and close friends. These lend a gentle warmth to an account that is at times harrowing and cruel. This story deserves to be read. (Feb 5)
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From Booklist
Environmental activist and social justice advocate Sister Dorothy Stang made numerous enemies during her 40 years in Brazil. Refusing to be confined to a traditional missionary role, she moved to Anupe, a small village at the edge of the Amazon rain forest, and began a relentless crusade against large-scale ranchers, ruthless land developers, and logging interests. Her twofold goal of protecting the rain forest while fostering the independence of the subsistence farmers was both a political and an economic threat to government and big business. Although she received frequent death threats, she vocally continued her dual campaign until she was ruthlessly assassinated. An inspirational chronicle of a woman who refused to buckle under pressure and continued to fight the good fight against tremendous odds. --Margaret Flanagan

Review
“Dorothy Stang, born and raised in Ohio… was revered for her dedication to the ideal of family farmers who extract their sustenance in harmony with the forest. From her base in the frontier town of Anapu, she worked unceasingly to transform settlers along the Trans-Amazon Highway into environmentally conscious, cohesive, and combative communities, able to resist violent cliques of ranchers and speculators who would lay claim to the same land. Stang saw human rights and environmental conservation in the Amazon as inextricably intertwined. Though poor settlers themselves damage the forest, Stang believed they could learn to manage their land sustainably as a matter of self-preservation. “The death of the forest is the end of our lives,” she told her followers.”
--National Geographic



From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews

An Interesting Bit of History
The story of Sister Dorothy Stang takes us to a time and place unfamiliar to most of us. The description of life in the Amazon forest in the late 20th century is a stark reminder that there is still much injustice in the world. We owe so much to those, like Sister Dorothy, who take it upon themselves to try to make life better for the oppressed. A heroically beautiful but sad story.

marvelous
just finished this book. it is very well written. i benefited tremendously from reading this important story. Dorothy's life was very inspirational and will help you to help others and fight for right.

Words from a prophet
A great book from a prophet of our times. Substainable agriculture started in the Amazon with unique invention of Terra Pretta thousands of years ago. Truly a person inspired by God.