Alternative Nobel'

Suzuki wins 'alternative Nobel'

Last Updated: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 | 11:05 AM ET

CBC News (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Environmentalist David Suzuki has been recognized by the Right Livelihood Foundation for his work to raise awareness about climate change. (Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)

Environmentalist David Suzuki has received a prestigious award known as the "alternative Nobel" for his work to raise awareness about climate change.

Suzuki, 73, received the Right Livelihood Award, along with three other activists.

The awards were established in 1980 by Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull to recognize work that he felt was ignored by the Nobel Prizes.

The awards, which were announced in Stockholm on Tuesday, will be presented in a ceremony at the Swedish parliament on Dec. 4, six days before the Nobel Prizes are handed out.

Suzuki is known for his television and radio series and books about nature and the environment. He's also been harshly critical of governments for their lack of action on climate change.

The prize citation describes Suzuki as "one of the most brilliant scientists and communicators about science of his generation," adding he has shown a "lifetime advocacy for the socially responsible use of science."

He was selected for "his massive contribution to raising awareness about the perils of climate change and building public policies to address it," the citation said. Suzuki, who was born in Vancouver in 1936, was sent with his family to a Japanese internment camp during the Second World War, before moving east to London, Ont., to finish school. He later returned to Vancouver to teach genetics at UBC in 1963, a position he held until his retirement in 2001.

He first joined the CBC in 1970 to launch an award-winning broadcasting career that eventually made him a household name across Canada and around the world as an outspoken proponent for protecting the environment.

Suzuki's honorary award does not include a $77,000 cash prize that the three other winners will receive from the Right Livelihood Foundation.

Protecting rain forests, health, peace

Congolese activist Rene Ngongo, 48, was honoured for his work to protect rain forests. Ngongo founded the OCEAN environment group in 1994, which exposed the impact of deforestation and monitored the plunder of minerals by warring factions during Congo's 1996-2002 civil wars. He also has worked for Greenpeace in Congo.

New Zealand peace activist Alyn Ware, 47, was recognized "for his effective and creative advocacy and initiatives over two decades to further peace education and rid the world of nuclear weapons," according to the citation.

Australian Dr. Catherine Hamlin, 85, was honoured for her work to improve women's health. Hamlin moved to Ethiopia in 1959 to work as an obstetrician and gynecologist and founded a hospital where women can seek free treatment for obstetric fistulas.

"The 2009 Right Livelihood 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," the foundation said in a press release.

Congo Forest Protector Shares Alternative Nobel - NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/13/world/AP-AF-Sweden-Alt...

October 13, 2009 Congo Forest Protector Shares Alternative Nobel

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 8:52 p.m. ET

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- Rene Ngongo, honored with the ''alternative Nobel'' this week, grew up in a Congo where he could marvel at the wealth of animals and trees.

''Those are memories my children won't have,'' the father of four told The Associated Press, expressing fears that his work to save the forests may have started too late.

Ngongo won the Right Livelihood Award on Tuesday ''for his courage in confronting the forces that are destroying the Congo's rainforests and building political support for their conservation and sustainable use.''

A New Zealander, an Australian and a Canadian also won for working to rid the world of nuclear weapons, improving women's health in Africa and raising awareness of climate change. The awards were founded by Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull in 1980 to recognize deeds he felt were being ignored by the Nobel Prizes.

Ngongo said by telephone from Kinshasa, Congo, that his award comes at a ''great time,'' as negotiators prepare to meet in Copenhagen in December to draft a global climate pact.

He founded an environmental group in 1994 that exposed the impact of deforestation and monitored the plunder of minerals by warring factions during Congo's 1996-2002 civil wars. He also has been a political consultant for Greenpeace since the international group opened an office in Congo last year.

Ngongo said his award, to be presented in December, ''is a clear message that the campaign ... is starting to be heard around the world'' and shows increasing awareness that the disappearance and degradation of forests contribute to climate change.

The 48-year-old Ngongo said school vacations he spent in eastern Congo's Virunga National Park inspired him to study biology. The forests provided food and shelter and were the setting for traditional religions.

''The forests aren't just trees,'' he said. ''They are a way of life.''

Greenpeace International Executive Director Gerd Leipold praised activists like Ngongo.

''While we hope President Obama turns his Nobel Peace Prize into real action for climate protection at this December's United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen, it is people like Rene Ngongo who have already started the heavy lifting,'' Leipold said in a statement.

Alyn Ware, a peace activist from New Zealand, was recognized for ''initiatives over two decades to further peace education and to rid the world of nuclear weapons.''

''I'm very happy and I think it's a tribute to the wonderful people that I'm working with on a number of projects for peace and disarmament,'' Ware told the New Zealand Press Association from his base in New

1 of 2 19.10.09 22:36 Congo Forest Protector Shares Alternative Nobel - NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/13/world/AP-AF-Sweden-Alt...

York. ''I think they've given it to me because I'm working with a number of projects that are advancing peace education in schools and the community, and working on the practical ways to achieve the elimination of nuclear weapons.''

Australian-born Catherine Hamlin, 85, also won the award for ''restoring the health, hope and dignity of thousands of Africa's poorest women.''

Hamlin moved to Ethiopia from Australia in 1959 to work as an obstetrician and gynecologist. She and her late husband founded a hospital where women can seek free treatment for obstetric fistulas -- holes that can develop between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum during long and difficult births. They are common in developing countries where prenatal care is limited. Women with fistulas often have stillborn babies.

''I am very excited, it's very good for the work. I don't want it for myself but I want it to make the world aware of this need for these women,'' Hamlin told the AP in Sydney, where she arrived Wednesday to visit family.

''All over the developing world these women are suffering, and it's really a terrible thing that it's the 21st century and people are not worried about it. Every year 500,000 women are dying in childbirth, or they are injured having obstructed labors. So this is really what I am trying to tell the world, that we should be pouring money into this work. It's a preventable injury.''

Ngongo, Ware and Hamlin each will receive euro50,000 (US$74,000), the Right Livelihood Foundation said.

The honorary part of the award --without prize money -- went to Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki, 73, for raising awareness of climate change.

The awards will be presented in a ceremony at the Swedish Parliament on Dec. 4, six days before the Nobel Prizes are handed out.

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AP Writers Louise Nordstrom and Karl Ritter in Stockholm and Rohan Sullivan in Sydney contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

http://www.rightlivelihood.org

2 of 2 19.10.09 22:36 BBC NEWS | Europe | Activists win 'alternative Nobel' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8305276.stm

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E-mail this to a friend Printable version Activists win 'alternative Nobel' Africa Americas Asia-Pacific SEE ALSO Europe First woman wins economics Nobel Middle East 12 Oct 09 | Business South Asia Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize 09 Oct 09 | Europe UK Mueller wins Nobel literary prize Business 08 Oct 09 | Arts & Culture Health Nobel Prize for chemistry of life Science & Environment 07 Oct 09 | Science & Environment Technology Nobel honours 'masters of light' Entertainment 06 Oct 09 | Science & Environment Also in the news Indians win 'alternative Nobel' ------02 Oct 08 | South Asia Video and Audio Somali wins 'alternative Nobel' ------01 Oct 08 | Africa Programmes Have Your Say RELATED INTERNET LINKS In Pictures 2009 Right Livelihood Awards Country Profiles Greenpeace Special Reports Hamlin Fistula Relief and Aid Fund Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation Related BBC sites and Disarmament (PNND) Sport David Suzuki Foundation Weather The BBC is not responsible for the content of external On This Day The awards ceremony will take place in the Swedish parliament in December internet sites Editors' Blog BBC World Service TOP EUROPE STORIES A Swedish award widely described as the "alternative Nobel Languages prize" has gone to activists from the Democratic Republic of Karadzic immunity appeal rejected Congo, Australia and New Zealand. Don't pressure Iran, says Russia Russian court rejects Stalin case Rene Ngongo, of Greenpeace, was one of the recipients of the annual "Right Livelihood Award" for his efforts to protect the Congolese rain | News feeds forest. MOST POPULAR STORIES NOW Catherine Hamlin, an Australian doctor who lives in Ethiopia, was honoured for her medical research benefiting women. SHARED READ WATCHED/LISTENED

New Zealander Alyn Ware was recognised for efforts on nuclear Senate panel passes health bill disarmament. What happened to global warming? Each will also receive 50,000 euros ($74,000) from the Right Don't pressure Iran, says Russia Livelihood Award Foundation. 'Naked' scanner in airport trial The foundation was set up by Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob Gately 'died of natural causes' von Uexkull in 1980 "to honour and support those offering practical Sarkozy defends son's top-job bid and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today". Finger points to new da Vinci art Adopted 'nobles' at war over vast fortune An honorary award, which does not Data losses in Snow Leopard bug include any prize money, was given The recipients demonstrate concretely what has to be done in Russian court rejects Stalin case to the Canadian environmentalist order to tackle climate change, rid and television presenter David the world of nuclear weapons, Most popular now, in detail Suzuki for raising awareness of and provide crucial medical climate change. treatment to the poor and marginalised

"Despite the scientific warnings Right Livelihood Award Foundation about the imminent threat and disastrous impacts of climate change and despite our knowledge about solutions, the global response to this crisis is still painfully slow and largely inadequate," the Right Livelihood Award Jury said.

"At the same time, the threat from nuclear weapons has by no means diminished, and the treatable diseases of poverty shame our common humanity," it added.

"The 2009 Right Livelihood 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 marginalised."

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