Right Livelihood News

The Right Livelihood College Bonn in cooperation with the Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences is hosting a Economic-Philosophical Fall Academy on "The Economies of the Commons. Reshaping Economic Education".

Next to the failing privatized economy and state controlled economy one can see a third alternative: the economies of the commons. "The Academy defines these economies (tentatively) as places of being-together, in which people consciously shape their economic activities freely and in cooperation." This idea will be explored in lectures, workshops and discussion between lecturers and students from September 15 to 23, 2012.

Students of economics or with a special interest in the topic may apply until June 30, 2012. Please see the Alanus University's website for detailed information about the programme, costs and the application procedure.

David Suzuki (Canada, RLA 2009) stepped off the board of directors of the David Suzuki Foundation.

“I want to speak freely without fear that my words will be deemed too political, and harm the organization of which I am so proud.”, David Suzuki  wrote in an open letter of April 13, 2012.David Suzuki says that threats to the David Suzuki Foundation’s charitable status were made in an attempt to silence it."I am keenly aware that some governments, industries and special interest groups are working hard to silence us. They use threats to the Foundation’s charitable status in attempts to mute its powerful voice on issues that matter deeply to you and many other Canadians."This bullying demonstrates how important it is to speak out."In many countries, the charity status is important for NGOs, also because it may allow them to receive tax exemptions, which, for example, can make giving to an organisation more attractive for potential donors. David Suzuki's decision to resign from the organisation he co-founded and loves in order to be able to openly address important - and by such often political - issues is a sign and, maybe, a warning. Especially in a difficult political climate, such a system can be used to silence opposition.

22 Right Livelihood Award Laureates and 5 board and jury members followed an appeal by Nnimmo Bassey and signed a petition to Norway’s Council on Ethics, which screens all investments by the Norwegian Government Pension Fund, asking them to divest all its holdings in Shell.

Oil spills in Nigeria seriously harm the environment and health of the people. Despite reports on the ongoing disastrous impact of oil production, Shell, the largest petroleum producer in the Niger delta, has not taken responsibility or changed their practices.

You can read the petition here.

Jeju Island Naval base construction site, Korea. Anti-nuclear protestors cut through the fence and entered the construction site on Friday, March 9. The activists, among them Angie Zelter from Trident Ploughshares (RLA 2001), were arrested and held at Jeju police station for two days.
The protests against the US backed Naval base on the Korean island have now entered politics: Opposition parties made a common pledge to halt the construction and the Korean Bishops' Congress will include the Naval base as a major discussion point.

Angie Zelter's report from Sunday, March 11.

Right Livelihood Award Recipients call on German Government to stop backing nuclear power in Brazil

In March 2011, a global alliance of some 50 Right Livelihood Award Recipients and members of the World Future Council demanded a global nuclear phase out. The initiative inspired Right Livelihood Award Laureate Chico Whitaker to help build up a movement in Brazil aiming at the shutdown of Brazilian nuclear power plant Angra.

While having been hailed widely for its nuclear phase-out and for admitting the uncontrollable risks of nuclear energy, the German Government considers a 1.3 billion export credit guarantee for companies involved in the construction of Angra 3.

This German ambiguity has spurred bewilderment among many of our Laureates who, together with members of the World Future Council, signed an appeal to the German Government.

For German citizens, a campaign led by Urgewald offers the chance to demand the Government to stop its double standard policy.