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And who are the trusted? And where is the harmony? Sweet harmony. Nick Lowe If you're looking for heroes in these troubled times, you could do worse than to read up on the recipients of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise. 
There you'll learn about Maria Eliza Manteca Oñate of Ecuador, a former nurse who, after learning the principles of permaculture, recruited local farmers to set up pesticide-free "model farms" as well as a cloudforest preserve near her native village in the Andes. You'll also read about Laurent Pordie, a young ethnobotanist striving to reinvigorate the traditional medicinal practices in the Ladakh region of Tibet - practices sadly forsaken in the wake of modern influences. Yet another laureate is Mohammed Bah Abba of Nigeria, who devised an ingenious and elegantly simple "pot-in-pot" earthenware system to keep water cool and preserve food in places without refrigeration. The Rolex Award, which is presented every two years, was founded in 1976 to "provide visionary men and women worldwide with the financial support and recognition needed to carry out innovative projects" aimed at improving "our planet and the human condition." A lofty goal, to be sure. And Rolex isn't alone. In Sweden, for example, the Right Livelihood Award is devoted to very nearly the same ends. Widely known as the "Alternative Nobel," the prize has gone to such visionaries as Vandana Shiva, the Indian activist who has fought to make human and local concerns central to the globalization debate, and Bill Mollison, father of the aforementioned permaculture -- a kind of applied philosophy that patterns human land use after natural ecosystems in order to make them sustainable and non-polluting. Yet another honor, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement calls itself "the premier award for environmental science, energy and medicine conferring great benefit upon mankind." Tyler medals, awarded annually since 1974, have gone to such noted figures as primatologist Jane Goodall and biologists Jared Diamond and E.O. Wilson, the latter being perhaps best known for championing the notion of biodiversity. Finally, there is the esteemed Goldman Environmental Prize whose motto, "normal people, extraordinary commitment," underscores its dedication to grassroots efforts around the world. Like the Rolex Award, the Goldman Prize tends to sing the praises of the hitherto unsung - people like Lois Gibbs, the housewife who founded the Love Canal Homeowners Association to fight for environmental justice against local, state and federal governments. Her efforts ultimately led to the formation of the EPA's "Superfund" program. The Goldman Prize goes to six recipients annually - one from each of the continents and an island nation. It carries a $125,000 stipend to help recipients in their work. In fact, all of the awards mentioned here involve cash prizes. Undoubtedly, it's money well spent. As Rolex explains, the funding is often vital to the ongoing work of the honorees, while noting that many of them find the global recognition the reward engenders even more beneficial, as it tends to validate their work at home and abroad. Perhaps there is something even more intrinsic in this honoring of heroes - a simple accumulation of good works that can't help but gain momentum with each new turn. Perhaps, as Dr. Jonas Salk said upon receiving the Congressional Medal for Distinguished Civil Achievement in 1958, "the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more." Still looking for inspiration? The Sierra Club, too, recognizes environmental heroes. Its highest honor, the John Muir Award, has been bestowed upon such legends as photographer Ansel Adams, undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau, and writer Wallace Stegner. Other honors include the Francis P. Farquhar Mountaineering Award, the David Brower Award for environmental journalism, and the Chico Mendes Award for international grassroots environmental efforts. Up to Top |
