João Pedro Stedile (born December 25 , 1953 in Lagoa Vermelha) is a Brazilian economist and social activist . He holds a degree in economics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul and a postgraduate degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico . He works in the cause of Agrarian Reform , Agroecology and popular causes. A descendant of immigrant peasants from the province of Trento , from a young age he worked in the organization of rural workers in Rio Grande do Sul. Still under the Military Dictatorship , he worked in unions in rural areas, advised the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) and helped the mobilization of landless workers in the struggle for Agrarian Reform. In 1984, he participated in the founding of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), where he works to this day. He is currently a member of the national coordination collective of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) and contributes to several international articulations of social movements, such as Via Campesina , the International Assembly of Peoples (AIP) and ALBA Movimentos. He also participates in the Meeting of Popular Movements with Pope Francis .