Dubbed as the Alternate Nobel Prize, The Right Livelihood Award recipients were announced on October 10 in Stockholm, Sweden.
The awards aim to promote scientific research, education, public understanding, and practical activities that contribute to a global ecological balance; are aimed at eliminating material and spiritual poverty and contribute to lasting peace and justice in the world.
Describing their choice of winners this year on their Web site, the Right Livelihood foundation calls the 2009 Right Livelihood Awards, “Wake-up calls to secure our common future,” adding that “the 2009 award recipients demonstrate concretely what has to be done in order to tackle climate change, rid the world of nuclear weapons, and provide crucial medical treatment to the poor and marginalized.”
Receiving an honorary award was Canadian David Suzuki described as one of the most brilliant scientists of his generation. He is being recognized “for his lifetime advocacy of the socially responsible use of science, and for his massive contribution to raising awareness about the perils of climate change and building public support for policies to address it.”
Other awards went to: Rene Ngongo from the Democratic Republic of Congo for “his courage in confronting the forces that are destroying the Congo’s rain forests and building political support for their conservation and sustainable use”; Alyn Ware from New Zealand for his effective and creative advocacy and initiatives over two decades to further peace education and to rid the world of nuclear weapons” and Catherine Hamlin of Ethiopia for “her 50 years dedicated to treating obstetric fistula patients, thereby restoring the health, hope and dignity of thousands of Africa’s poorest women.”
The awards ceremony takes place in Sweden this December.
Photo courtesy of johnwmacdonald via flickr.
