Roleplaying Through International Relations

This morning felt like a complete headache. Some mornings I wake up easily and well-rested, but most of the time, I’m half-asleep as the day starts. That’s why I always keep a Red Bull in my bag. Today, we were doing a workshop called "Roleplaying," where we were given a simulation, took on roles, acted them out, and observed a democratic process in action.

The workshop started around 10 a.m., and we had no idea what to expect. It was connected to "PBI," or Peace Brigades International, and focused on roleplaying. First, we were asked to position ourselves along a scale, from not knowing to expert level, based on how much we knew about human rights. Most of us hovered somewhere in the middle.

We were handed cards and cardboard and asked to choose from seven roles: small farmers, PBI members, doctors, fund managers, UN officials, and members of the Brazilian and German governments. We then simulated a real-world case. I chose the role of a small farmer along with 9 others.

Our scenario was based on large soybean farms in the Cerrado biome, a vast tropical savanna in Brazil, and one of the planet’s best carbon sinks (it carbon traps). These mega plantations have been taking water away from small local farmers. While they claim that exploiting the Cerrado has helped boost Brazil’s economy, the government largely turns a blind eye. Meanwhile, fund managers continue to invest in these corporations, and the Brazilian government receives financial support in return.

In our simulation, the group of small farmers traveled to Germany with the help of a human rights organization called FIAN, aiming to raise awareness of the situation. I appreciated that we weren’t just simulating a random scenario but working with something concrete and rooted in reality. If you want to read more about the scenario, check it out here.

After being assigned our roles, we got started. First, we were given a sheet full of background information. It explained that our group of about nine people represented the small farmers. We were suffering because large corporations, specifically mega soybean plantations, had been built around our community. They were taking our water, cutting down our trees, shrinking the habitat for animals, and even causing the deaths of people in our region. With the help of Peace Brigades International (PBI), we had demanded to be represented in the government. PBI supported us in creating a forum where representatives from the Brazilian and German governments, doctors, fund managers, and UN officials could hear our story.

Our first “task” was to introduce ourselves in a simulated talk show, and to speak directly to the other roles. The introductions had to be brief but emotionally powerful, to win support for our cause. Everyone delivered their quick statements, and we moved on to the next part of the exercise. This reminded me of speech and debate, in how you take on a position, then defend and communicate it persuasively.

Task two was to interrupt an investors’ conference held by the fund managers and the Brazilian government. In the simulation, they were auctioning off our land and discussing the Cerrado region, without including our voices. We were given cardboard, markers, and a few pre-written slogans to help us stage a protest. The goal was to simulate a real-world demonstration and make our presence known.

This was by far my favorite part. I’ve been to real protests before, and even though this one was simulated, it still felt like we were truly getting involved. It pushed us to step into our roles and channel the rage that real Cerrado farmers must feel. We quickly organized chants, with our main one being: “No more deals that make us die.”

You can see us imitating a protest in the videos below. It may look chaotic or even over-dramatic, but I believe that raw energy is exactly what fuels real change.

Interrupting the Investor Meeting

Our third task was to meet with different groups to bargain, negotiate deals that could still benefit the Brazilian economy, represent the small farmers, and restore water rights to the community. It was safe to say we had a lot on our plates. We began by approaching the UN delegates. They explained that their power was limited. They could only listen to our concerns and help delegate responsibilities, but not directly intervene.

Next, we met with the Brazilian government. We demanded representation and called on them to shut down all mega-plantations harming our community. After that, we approached the fund manager. We negotiated firmly and eventually threatened with a lawsuit. Once we made it clear that we had secured financial backing from the Brazilian government, he was quick to back down. We also had a brief but important conversation with the doctors, who weren’t necessarily aware that their pension funds were being used to support government actions in Brazil. In the end, after negotiating with each group, we secured an agreement: they would return our land, shut down the plantations, and ensure public representation in the government.

This all seemed easy compared to reality. In real life, negotiations do not happen like this and there’s often no cooperation between minority groups and corporate or governmental power. Sadly, nothing is as simple as a simulation, and not something that can be solved in five hours. In reality, these kinds of struggles can take decades, or may never be resolved at all.

There were a few main takeaways that emerged throughout the exercise. First, the importance of negotiations, not just on a business level, but also on an emotional one. In official settings, emotion is often discouraged or seen as a weakness. But in this case, I realized that being loud, messy, and emotional was the only way to be heard. It’s basic human empathy that moves people at a fundamental level. I also learned not to underestimate any group. As a community or an organization, we need to respect, protect, and seek to remedy injustices, no matter the issue.

Interestingly, some groups were absorbed by their expected roles, including the farmers and fund managers. The fund managers, for instance, were solely focused on profit. It was only when we spoke the language of finances that we were able to make progress. It reminded me how rarely human rights are considered in business conversations.

Another thing I noticed is that it was surprisingly easy to bring people to your side when you shared a common enemy. That sense of unity helped keep everyone’s interests aligned.

Overall, it was fascinating to see how different groups reacted and how teenagers handled the pressure of escalating situations. I enjoyed this activity more than most because of how discussion-based and interactive it was. It pushed us to step into real-world roles and gave us a better understanding of how political, economic, and social justice systems operate.

Tomorrow, we’re waking up bright and early to visit Hamburg’s famous fish market. As camp begins to wind down and my return home gets closer, the days feel slower, and the focus is shifting more toward spending time together. I’m looking forward to making the most of these next few days.

Look out for tomorrow’s blog!