The 73 year old Canadian environmental activist was awarded an honorary Right Livelihood Award for "... for his lifetime advocacy of the socially responsible use of science ..."
Calling David Suzuki "brilliant" the Right Livelihood Foundation acknowledged
Suzuki's "... massive contribution to raising awareness about the perils of climate change and building public support for policies to address it." The honorary award has no cash component.
Trained as a zoologist,
David Suzuki, as most Canadians are aware, was so concerned about the state of the environment, he has spent the past 40 years devoting himself to promoting conservation and preservation, as well as sharing knowledge with people. He
started the David Suzuki Foundation in 1990, and it opened in 1991. The Suzuki Foundation
works to change the economic system to recognize resource limits, to help Canadians connect with nature and to foster environmentally friendly communities, as well as protecting and preserving the Canada's natural resources and systems.
Recently the Suzuki Foundation, along with three other environmental groups, won a
case against the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), for the government's failure to protect endangered species. This case was focused on a rare British Columbia fish called the Nooksack Dace minnow, but is seen as a landmark case that will allow citizens and non-profit organizations to take legal action to protect species and the environment when the government fails to uphold the law.
David Suzuki is a noted author, as well as a public speaker. He has also been known to be
open about his views on government action (or inaction) to protect the environment. However, Canadians might best know Suzuki as the host of
The Nature of Things.
Other Canadian recipients of the Right Livelihood Award include
Maude Barlow and co-recipient Tony Clarke (2005) for their social justice and trade work as well as their attempt to protect water;
Percy and Louise Schmeiser in 2007 for their epic fight against
Monsanto and their attempt to protect biodiversity and farmer's rights;
Rosalie Bertell in 1986 for raising the alarm about the destruction of the biosphere and the human gene pool by low level radiation; and
Pat Mooney (1985) for his work to protect the world's genetic plant heritage.
The Right Livelihood award was
launched in 1980
"to honour and support those "offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today". It has become widely known as the 'Alternative Nobel Prize' and there are now 137 Laureates from 58 countries. Presented annually in Stockholm at a ceremony in the Swedish Parliament, the Right Livelihood Award is usually shared by four Recipients. One of them may receive an Honorary Award, given to a person or group whose work the Jury wishes to recognise but who is not primarily in need of monetary support. The others share the prize money, which, in 2009, will be EUR 150,000. The prize money is for ongoing successful work, never for personal use."
The other recipients honoured with the award this year are René Ngongo (Democratic Republic of Congo); Alyn Ware (New Zealand); and Catherine Hamlin (Ethiopia).
This year's ceremony will be held on December 4 at 6 pm in the Swedish Parliament.
