Resources: Media Releases

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
September 30, 2005

Blue Planet Project Founder Awarded Alternative Nobel Prize

Ottawa - Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the Council of Canadians and a founder of the Blue Planet Project was today annonced as a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, known worldwide as the "alternative Nobel Prize".

Ms. Barlow is hounoured to share this award with her Blue Gold co-author and fellow Canadian activist Tony Clarke, as well renowned activists from Mexico, Malaysia and Botswana and with the global water justice movement.

Anil Naidoo, Director of the Blue Planet Project, said of Ms. Barlow's honour "Maude has worked tirelessly for water justice and this award is very well deserved." Mr. Naidoo went on to add that he believes the whole movement will benefit from the increased exposure resulting from two 'water warriors', Ms. Barlow and Mr. Clarke, receiving this award.

The Blue Planet Project is an organization committed to supporting grassroots struggles in the fight for water justice and respect for the right to water. The Project works collaboratively with many international activists and organizations and is affiliated with international networks incliuding Friends of the Earth International, Red VIDA (the Americas Network on the Right to Water) and the People's Health Movement.

Previous Right Livelihood awards have been presented to such prominent international figures as former prime minister of New Zealand and nuclear disarmament advocate, David Lange, Indian feminist ecologist Vandana Shiva and world-renowned Filipino environmentalist and journalist, Walden Bello. Earlier this year Ms. Barlow was also awarded a Cultural Freedom Fellowship by the Lannan Foundation and two honourary doctorates from Canadian universities.

Founded in 1980, the Right Livelihood Award is presented annually in the Swedish Parliament. According to founder Jacob von Uexkull, the award was introduced “to honour and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today.”

Barlow, Clarke and the other recipients will receive the award at a ceremony held in the Swedish Parliament on December 9, 2005.

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