The Right Livelihood Award
- Chico Whitaker
What will the future of the World Social Forum look like?
There has been an ongoing discussion between activists whether the forum has failed with its open space policy and should rather become more like a political agent in terms of promoting concrete actions and resolutions.
For Chico Whitaker (Brazil, RLA 2006), the WSF has always been a forum to unite people. "The Forum will not change the world", he told IPS, "it is up to society to do that". He represents those activists who do not want the WSF to dictate "perfectly finished models, or a single strategy".
According to Whitaker, the forum has proven its impact without being a direct player by contributing to the demise of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), as well as by helping strengthening indigenous consciousness in Latin America.
The Right Livelihood Awards were founded to honour and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing our world today.
Proposals for the 2010 Right Livelihood Awards can be handed in until March 1.
If you would like to propose a candidate please see our proposal guidelines for details.
Anyone can suggest anyone (individuals or organisations), except themselves, close relatives or their own organisations, to be a candidate.
- David Suzuki
Picture: Al Harvey
David Suzuki (Honorary Award, Canada) "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".
Three recipients receive cash awards of EUR 50,000 each:
- René Ngongo
René Ngongo (Democratic Republic of Congo) is honoured "for his courage in confronting the forces that are destroying the Congo's rainforests and building political support for their conservation and sustainable use".
- Alyn Ware
Alyn Ware (New Zealand) is recognised "for his effective and creative advocacy and initiatives over two decades to further peace education and to rid the world of nuclear weapons".
- Catherine Hamlin
Catherine Hamlin (Ethiopia) is awarded "for her fifty years dedicated to treating obstetric fistula patients, thereby restoring the health, hope and dignity of thousands of Africa's poorest women".
Watch videos of the 2009 Award Ceremony, which took place at the Swedish Parliament on December 4, 2009.
This player is provided by the generous support of Ideas for Change
