The struggle for a healthy planet may sometimes feel like a series of defeats, but this year’s Goldman environmental prize celebrates six remarkable success stories, five of them driven by women. From an anti-nuclear court ruling against former South African president Jacob Zuma and Russian leader Vladimir Putin to a campaign that nudged the Vietnamese government from coal to renewable energy, the winners – unveiled on Earth Day, April 22nd– are all grassroots activists who have taken on powerful vested interests.
In Latin America, the winner is Francia Márquez, an Afro-Colombian community leader who led a 10-day, 350-mile march of 80 women from the Amazon to Bogotá that prompted the government to send troops to remove illegal miners who were polluting rivers with cyanide and mercury.
In South Africa, The winners include South African anti-nuclear activists Makoma Lekalakala and Liz McDaid, they led a five-year court battle against South Africa’s plans to build nuclear power plants with Russia. South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma had reached an agreement with Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin in 2014. It was worth an estimated ($76bn) £54bn. The US and South Korea had signed co-deals, in 2009 and 2010 respectively, to be involved with the project. But last year a high court ruled the plan was unlawful and unconstitutional, agreeing with Ms. Lekalakala and Ms. McDaid’s claims that it had been arranged without proper consultation with parliament.
In the Philippines, Manny Calonzo spearheaded an advocacy campaign that persuaded the Philippine government to enact a national ban on the production, use, and sale of lead paint. He then led the development of a third-party certification program to ensure that paint manufacturers meet this standard. As of 2017, 85% of the paint market in the Philippines has been certified as lead safe.
In Europe, a tireless defender of the oceans and marine life, Claire Nouvian led a focused, data-driven advocacy campaign against the destructive fishing practice of deep-
LeeAnne Walters led a citizens’ movement that tested the tap water in Flint, Michigan, and exposed the Flint water crisis. The results showed that one in six homes had lead levels in water that exceeded the EPA’s safety threshold. Walters’ persistence compelled the local, state, and federal governments to take action and ensure that residents of Flint have access to clean water.
Asia
Khanh Nguy Thi used scientific research and engaged Vietnamese state agencies to advocate for sustainable long-term energy projections in Vietnam. Highlighting the cost and environmental impacts of coal power, she partnered with state officials to reduce coal dependency and move toward a greener energy future.
The increasingly prominent role of women in environmental activism has been recognized by this year’s prizes. Since 1990, six awards – one for each habitable continent – have been announced by the Goldman prize foundation, which was set up by a member of the Levi Strauss family who made a fortune in the insurance business. This is the first time that five of the six are women.