Inspirational Winners
from Algeria, Brazil and Jordan to the Philippines,
Sweden and the United States Lauded for
"Extraordinary" Leadership in
Environment and Sustainable Development
Singapore, 19 April 2007 - Hollywood star
and environmental campaigner, Daryl Hannah
was among the high and the humble in Singapore
last night to honour the 2007 Champions
of the Earth.
Ms Hannah, famous for films like 'Splash'
and her support for renewable energies,
received the trophy on behalf of Al Gore-the
former US Vice President and climate change
campaigner was awarded the regional North
America Champions prize.
The awards, presented at a gala ceremony
in Singapore recognize individuals whose
extraordinary action and personal commitment
to the environment are deemed outstanding
and exceptional by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP).
The other winners are His Excellency Mr.
Cherif Rahmani of Algeria; Elisea 'Bebet'
Gillera Gozun of the Philippines; Viveka
Bohn of Sweden; Her Excellency Ms. Marina
Silva of Brazil; His Royal Highness Prince
Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan and Jacques Rogge
and the International Olympic Committee.
The seven trophies, made by the Kenyan
artist Kiko from recycled metal, were presented
to the winners and their representatives
by Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General
and UNEP Executive Director. He was assisted
by Ms Shn Juay Shi Yan, the current Miss
Earth Singapore.
Mr Steiner said: "If we are to shape
a new partnership between human-kind and
the natural environment upon which all life
ultimately depends then we need leaders,
we need champions-champions in public life,
champions in business and champions in our
communities".
'The seven winners honoured this evening
are from different corners of the planet
and drawn from different backgrounds and
experiences. But they share a common sense
of purpose and of values. Namely to reject
the status quo, to persist when others may
have failed and faltered and to deliberately
seize the opportunities to promote more
intelligent ways of managing development
that balances the economic, social and environmental
realities of the 21st century ," he
said.
The gala event was hosted by UNEP; Ms Hil
Hernanez Escobar of Chile, the international
Miss Earth 2006; the Singapore Ministry
of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR)
and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) with
the support of various sponsors and partners
including Asia Pacific Resources International
Holdings (APRIL).
Mr Rahmani was honoured for advancing environmental
law and for addressing the issues of deserts
and desertification.
"Dotted with wisdom and grandeur,
deserts embody solitude-a solitude upon
which silence sows the seeds of culture.
It is indeed the solitude and silence of
the desert that fostered the cultures that
make up much of our universal heritage,"
he said.
"But today the Earth is subject to
abuse in multiple and ever expanding ways-and
that abuse even reaches the deserts. I hope
I have contributed in my own modest way
to building a society in harmony with nature-'this
visible part of God's garden'," said
Mr Rahmani.
Elisea Bebet Gillera Gozun was honoured
for pushing forward the environmental agenda
by winning trust across all sectors of society.
"Air quality in most of our urban
areas now exceed health guidelines. 15 of
our rivers are considered biologically dead
during the dry months. Solid waste continues
to accumulate and 30 per cent of our people
live below the poverty line," she said.
"Societies resemble ecosystems. I
thus believe that localized, community-based,
multi-sect oral action is the response needed
to save and rehabilitate the environment,"
said Ms Gozun.
Viveka Bohn was honoured for playing her
leadership in global efforts to ensure chemical
safety, especially through the successful
Strategic Approach to International Chemicals
Management process.
In a statement read by Maria, her daughter,
Mrs Bohn said:" I am deeply honoured
and truly grateful for this award. It is
an appreciation of my contribution to green
multilateral diplomacy".
She defined three lessons for successful
green diplomacy:" Do your homework!;
Do your housework and above all Never Give
Up!".
Her Excellency Ms. Marina Silva was honoured
for her tireless fight to protect the Amazon
rainforest while balancing the needs of
people. Official deforestation rates have
been cut by around 50 per cent in the past
three years.
In her video statement she said: "It
is the thought of one day being able to
substitute predatory development models
for sustainable ones; deforestation for
conservation and competition for solidarity
that I join in along this path with UNEP
and my awarded colleagues".
His Royal Highness Prince Hassan Bin Talal
was honoured for his belief in transboundary
collaboration to protect the environment
In a video statement he recalled working
with farmers in the region following the
six-day war: "I remember spending a
night in 1977 with an old boy and when he
saw electricity and clean water he said
to me 'this is the night of destiny'. Thus
it is the need of human dignity that motivates
me. We, as Arabs or as Muslims, are no different
to anyone else. Given a chance we can excel".
Mr Gore, whose trophy was collected by
Ms Hannah, said in a statement:" Let
me thank UNEP for their years of global
leadership. My continuing efforts to communicate
to audiences about the climate crisis have
prevented me from joining you here today-but
do not think it lessens the honour that
I feel upon accepting the Champions of the
Earth award".
"I have every confidence that when
the nations of the world come together to
the common good, we will regain our moral
authority to tackle the climate crisis and
the environmental threats we face today,"
he added.
Jacques Rogge and the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) were honoured for introducing
stringent environmental requirements for
cities bidding to host Olympic Games.
The trophy was received senior IOC official
Pal Schmitt and Ser Miang Ng.
In a video statement Mr Rogge, the IOC
President, said: "The IOC started to
be environmentally-conscious at the Olympic
Games in Lillehammer in 1994. They were
called the Green Games. And this is something
not only for the 14 days of the games but
will leave a legacy for the future of a
city and a region".
"We have the mentality of athletes:
we are ambitious people. So for the environment
and sustainability we want to use the IOC
motto of 'higher, stronger, faster!,"
he added.
Notes to Editors
The full achievements of the 2007 Champions
of the Earth and their citations can be
found at http://www.unep.org/champions/
The event was hosted in conjunction with
the Business for the Environment (B4E) Summit
details of which can also be found at the
same web site.
Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson
