Inspiring Grassroots Change
This year,
the Goldman Prize winners were:
Makama is Swaziland's only public interest
environmental attorney, and won a landmark case to include environmental NGO
representation in the Swaziland Environmental Authority, reinforcing the right
to public participation in environmental decision making.
Sereivathana, known as "Uncle Elephant,"
introduced innovative solutions to mitigate human-elephant conflict in
Cambodia, empowering local communities to cooperatively participate in elephant
conservation.
Gorska's leadership in the fight to stop a
controversial highway project led to a significant legal precedent for
environmental protection in the European Union and protected one of Europe's
last true wilderness areas.
Scientist and biodiversity researcher Labrada
worked with farmers to increase crop diversity and develop low-input
agricultural systems, encouraging Cuba's shift away from agricultural chemical
dependence.
Family farmer Henning exposed the polluting
practices of livestock factory farms in rural Michigan, gaining the attention
of the federal EPA and prompting state regulators to issue hundreds of
citations for water quality violations.
Drawing international attention to the
environmentally-catastrophic and inhumane shark finning industry, Arauz led the
campaign to halt the practice in Costa Rica, aiding his country in becoming the
international model for shark protection.
The Goldman
Prize winners provide inspiring reminders that even seemingly small efforts can
truly make a lasting impact on a local, national, and international scale.
Seacology is a firm believer that a little can go a long way toward making a
difference. Our projects are low-budget, but designed with a win-win strategy
that achieves maximum impact, addressing both environmental and humanitarian
needs. To read more about Seacology's grassroots projects, click here.
