more news:

write your own news:

all news by category:

You are here: Frontpage > News > Environmental Award Celebrates the Achievements of Grassroots Activism

... more Environmental news >>>

07-Jun-2004

Environmental Award Celebrates the Achievements of Grassroots Activism

by: Jess Orlik

Worldwide: On Monday, 19 April 2004 seven activists from around the world were awarded the Goldman Environmental prize in recognition of their struggle to hold governments and multinational corporations accountable for damage inflicted on people and the environment.

The activists, from 7 geographical areas; Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island nations, North America and South and Central America, were selected by an international jury from nominations submitted by environmental organisations and individuals.

The European activist is Manana Kochladze from Tbilisi, Georgia. She is leading a campaign against the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline which will cut through the Borjomi mountain gorge, stretching 1090 miles and transporting 1 million barrels of crude oil a day from Azerbaijan through Georgia to Turkey. British Petroleum (BP) is the leading force behind an international consortium, which includes US based Unocal, constructing the pipeline, which would be the largest in the world. The pipeline will tap into oil reserves in former Soviet States, bypassing Iran and Russia and effectively liberating the US from dependency on the Persian Gulf as its main source of oil.

The pipeline poses a huge economic and environmental threat. The Borjomi Mountains are home to Georgia’s natural spring water, bottled there since the 19th Century. It is the countries single largest export and constitutes the greatest source of employment in an economically depressed region. The area is also known for it’s landslides, seismic activity and separatist rebellions, increasing the chance of oil spill or sabotage.

Activists have secured a number of victories in the course of their campaign including fair compensation for villages whose land will be affected by the development and a monitoring process to hold BP and the Georgian government accountable for any social or environmental violations. Construction has unfortunately begun, but Kochladze is continuing with a legal battle to force BP to abandon the project in light of the devastating environmental and social impact it will have on the region.

Source: Goldman Environmental Prize