Press Release Dec 8th, 2008
'Alternative Nobel' Laureates stress the role of independent media and women as driving forces for peaceThe Recipients of the 2008 Right Livelihood Awards (often referred to as the 'Alternative Nobel Prizes') spoke at a press conference in Stockholm on Monday, December 8th, 9:30 CET.
The speeches they will give during the Ceremony in the evening the same day stress the role of media as a sanctuary of dissent and the need for protection of women in conflict regions, and the forces for peace they can become when empowered.
Krishnammal Jagannathan (India): "I have been blessed to be in the company of Mahathma Gandhi, Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Shri Jeyaprakash Narayan and Shri. Shankar Rao Dev, to name some of the people who molded my thinking in the right path, inspiring me to lead a life dedicated toward the uplift of the landless poor, particularly women. They were the role models, living a life of renunciation and voluntary poverty, consuming less and less from the Mother Earth, much before the climate change and the perils of consumption were ever discussed or known to humanity."
Amy Goodman (USA): "As we confront critical issues of the day, from global warming, global warring, and a global economic meltdown, we need a media that holds those in power accountable. Our job as journalists is to carry our pens, microphones and cameras, giving a voice to those who have been forgotten, forsaken, and beaten down by the powerful. The media can be a major force for peace, by providing a forum for people to speak for themselves. Media can build bridges between communities, rather than advocate the bombing of bridges. The media should be a sanctuary of dissent."
Asha Hagi (Somalia): "This award comes at a very precarious time for this nation, as each day for the past two years the situation has continued to deteriorate. (...) This award demonstrates the positive side of Somalia: that humanity still exists in the desperation that Somalis face. There is courage within the fear. (...) This award leaves a legacy that offers a different direction for my nation, and for the children of Somalia."
Monika Hauser (Germany): "Sexualized violence, everywhere and always, is the exertion of power over the immediate victim. In war, the destructive potential of sexualized violence is multiplied and can culminate at any moment in triumphant displays of power over the other side. (...) The non-recognition of rape as a form of torture and grave human rights violation constitutes a continuation of the violent act."
For the full speeches, please go to www.rightlivelihood.org/press_room.html
The four Laureates share a prize money of SEK 2 million.
91 candidates from 44 countries were proposed for the Right Livelihood Awards this year, whereof 44 from developed and 47 from ”developing” countries.
More information on the 2008 Laureates can be found at:
www.rightlivelihood.org
The Right Livelihood Awards will be presented in the Swedish Parliament today at 6 pm.
Please note that the Swedish Parliament requires special press accreditation. Journalists who do not have this accreditation need to contact the Right Livelihood Award Foundation latest by 13.00 CET (phone +46 8 70 20 340).
Please note that we ask film teams to arrive at the Parliament building by 5 pm.
The programme for the Ceremony looks as follows:
- Opening words by Liselott Hagberg, Deputy Speaker of Parliament
- Sven Bergström, M.P., Head of the Society for the Right Livelihood Award in Parliament, SÄRLA, welcome
- Jakob von Uexküll, Founder and Chair of the Right Livelihood Award Foundation, speech & presentation of the 2008 Awards
- 18.45 (rough estimate): Break, photos of the Recipients can be taken at this time
- Laureates' speeches. Each Laureate will be introduced by a board member of the Support Group for the Right Livelihood Award in Parliament (SÄRLA). Monika Hauser will present her speech first, followed by Asha Hagi, Amy Goodman and Krishnammal Jagannathan.
For streaming and broadcast-standard video supporting this press release, please visit www.thenewsmarket.com/rightlivelihood. Videos with interviews and shots from the press conference will be uploaded shortly after the press conference, video from the first part of the Award Ceremony will be uploaded between 20.00 and 21.000 CET that day. If you are a first-time user, please take a moment to register. In case you have any questions, please email journalisthelp @ thenewsmarket.com.
During the Award Ceremony, a live signal from the Parliament is expected to be offered via the Eurovision network.
We were informed that attending Amy Goodman's broadcast of her show Democracy Now! from Stockholm will not be possible for journalists due to facility constraints.
We apologise for the misinformation!
Right Livelihood Award Foundation
PO Box 15072, 104 65 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +46-8-702 03 40
Fax: +46-8-702 03 38
E-mail: press @ rightlivelihood.org, info @ rightlivelihood.org
