Celebrate
the Helpers
On
Earth Day, our team took a much-needed break
from work and enjoyed a picnic lunch at a local
park in Berkeley, California. The working-day
pause — on a day we celebrate this rich,
beautiful, diverse planet we call home — had me
reflecting on how the work of keeping Earth
healthy and whole is a never-ending struggle,
one where progress is mostly slow, and setbacks
frequent. All the more reason then, to also
celebrate those who keep at this work, pushing
tirelessly against powerful, money-fueled
headwinds to protect the lands and people they
love.
The
Goldman
Environmental Prize does just that. Every
year, it recognizes and fetes brave activists
from around the world who have dedicated their
lives to this cause, often at great personal
cost. During these challenging times — when so
many of our hard-fought climate, conservation,
and social justice wins are under threat — it
felt extra special that this year’s seven
environmental heroes were celebrated in a packed
Opera House in San Francisco on the evening
before Earth Day.
This
year’s recipients include:
•
Batmunk Luvsandash, an
electrical engineer from
Mongolia who harnessed his
nomadic herding upbringing and local knowledge
to establish a 66,000-acre protected area for
vital desert habitats.
•
Carlos Mallo Molina, a civil
engineer from the Canary
Islands who helped save a 170,000-acre
marine protected area in his country.
•
Laurene Allen, a social worker
from the United States who
rallied to protect thousands of families
affected by PFAS-contaminated drinking
water.
•
Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari, a
veteran Indigenous activist from
Peru who took on a landmark
case to protect a river that serves as the
lifeblood of the country’s tropical
rainforests.
•
Semia Gharbi, a scientist and
educator from Tunisia who
uncovered a corrupt waste trafficking scheme
resulting in the return of 6,000 tons of
household waste that had been illegally imported
into the country.
•
Besjana Guri and Olsi
Nika, activists from
Albania who used their
complementary talents to safeguard one of the
last remaining wild rivers in the region.
Each
of these winners’ stories offer so much hope and
inspiration. They remind us, as Rue Mapp,
founder of Outdoor Afro,
said in her welcome address at the ceremony: “No
matter how big the fire there are helpers
carrying people out of the burning buildings.
That is the saving grace of humanity even in
moments like this… Doing makes the difference.
Actions breed more action. Helping creates more
helpers.”
Thoughts
to hold on to as we move through the coming
months. | 
