20:40 | San Francisco (US), Apr. 18.
Peruvian farmer Maxima Acuña received on Monday the 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize in U.S. for leading a legal battle against a mining corporation, in order to prevent her lands in northern Cajamara region from being evacuated.
"A subsistence farmer in Peru’s northern highlands, Maxima Acuña stood up for her right to peacefully live off her own land, a property sought by Newmont and Buenaventura Mining to develop the Conga gold and copper mine," the prize's official webpage indicates.
Subsequently, Acuña along with other five awarded environmental activists will tour San Francisco and Washington D.C. during 10 days. They will participate in conferences and meetings with renowned political-environmental leaders.
The said prize not only reinforces environmentalists' voice of protest, but also provides them an international recognition, a worldwide visibility for their fights and a financial support of US$175,000.
Considered as the Green Nobel, the Goldman Environmental Prize honors grassroots activists for significant achievements in protecting the environment worldwide.
Likewise, it recognizes individuals for their "sustained and significant" efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at personal risk.
Other winners were Leng Ouch (Cambodia), Zuzana Caputova (Slovakia), Destiny Watford (U.S.), Luis Jorge Rivera (Puerto Rico) and Edward Loure (Tanzania).
(END) MDV/CCR/HMC/MVB
Published: 4/18/2016