The Right Livelihood Award
- Davi Kopenawa Yanomami © Fiona Watson/Survival
The rising gold price has brought over 1,000 gold miners illegally to the Brazilian indigenous territory of the Yanomami. Yanomami spokesman Davi Kopenawa appeals for support, as the miners are transmitting deadly diseases, destroying land and polluting the rivers with mercury, thus poisoning drinking water and food.
During the 1980s, the Yanomami territory was invaded by up to 40,000 gold miners. As a result, about twenty percent of the Yanomami died in just seven years. The Brazilian congress is currently debating a bill which might permit large-scale mining in indigenous territories.
Join Survival International (UK, RLA 1989) in supporting the Yanomami, write to the Brazilian Government!
For further information please see
Survial International’s homepage
- 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
