Gret

Alain Ruellan, a friend to GRET, has passed away. He spectacularly embodied the cross between professional and activist, placing these two crucibles of qualities at the service of his commitment to rigorous development cooperation. During the hope-filled 1980s, we were very close and when, as director of ORSTOM/IRD, he suggested that GRET join them in their new premises on Rue La Fayette to form a “development center,” we appreciated this sign of confidence and moved in to take up this wonderful challenge. Of course, his interest in Brazil and in peasants worldwide was also a source of complicity, and his extensive knowledge of the country was of great value to us more than once. To ward off our grief at his death, GRET will keep the memory of his qualities alive and stay faithful to the convictions he helped forge and implement.