Stockholm — 350.org founder Bill McKibben will be one of five recipients of this year’s Right Livelihood Awards, when they’re presented at the Swedish Parliament in early December, a Stockholm foundation announced today.
The prize, often called the “Alternative Nobel,” will be shared with human rights activists Asma Jahangir (Pakistan) and Basil Fernando / Asian Human Rights Commission (Hong Kong, China), and whistleblower Edward Snowden and Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, who will receive a joint Honorary Award.
“This is a great honor but clearly it belongs mostly to the people who make up 350.org–it’s them, but above all the hundreds of thousands of volunteers in 191 countries, who have built the first global grassroots movement to deal with the largest crisis civilization has ever faced,” said McKibben.
The award, which has previously gone to individuals such as Wangari Maathai, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Vandana Shiva, comes with an award of 500,000 SEK, that McKibben said would fund the work of 350.org and its partner organizations. McKibben said some money would be sent immediately to the Pacific Island activists who will blockade Australian coal ports in their traditional canoes next month.
“This recognition of our efforts comes at a perfect moment after the remarkable success of the People’s Climate March and as we start the strongest push yet against the fossil fuel industry and the politicians it has purchased,” said McKibben.