Goldman Environmental Prize winners 2010

Last night, the Goldman Environmental Prize announced the 2010 winners during an evening celebration. Six activists from across the globe were honored, and each has an incredible story. From battling CAFOs in rural Michigan to battling shark finning in Costa Rica, from protecting elephants from farmers in Cambodia to restoring seed diversity among farmers in Cuba, from changing the definition of conservation in Swaziland to changing the route of a freeway in Poland.

This year's winners are:Thuli Brilliance Makama, SwazilandThuli Makama, Swaziland's only public interest environmental attorney, won a landmark case to include environmental NGO representation in conservation decisions and continues to challenge the forced evictions and violence perpetrated against poverty-stricken communities living on the edges of conservation areas.

Tuy Sereivathana , Cambodia Tuy Sereivathana worked to mitigate human elephant conflict in Cambodia by introducing innovative low-cost solutions, empowering local communities to cooperatively participate in endangered Asian elephant conservation.

Małgorzata Górska, Poland Małgorzata Górska led the fight to protect Poland's Rospuda Valley, one of Europe's last true wilderness areas, from a controversial highway project that would have destroyed the region's sensitive ecosystems.

Humberto Ríos Labrada, CubaA scientist and biodiversity researcher, Humberto Ríos Labrada promoted sustainable agriculture by working with farmers to increase crop diversity and develop low-input agricultural systems that greatly reduce the need for pesticide and fertilizer, encouraging Cuba's shift from agricultural chemical dependence.

Lynn Henning, USA Family farmer in rural Michigan, Lynn Henning exposed the egregious polluting practices of CAFOs -concentrated animal feeding operations- gaining the attention of the federal EPA and prompting state regulators to issue hundreds of citations for water quality violations.

Randall Arauz, Costa RicaDrawing international attention to the inhumane and environmentally catastrophic shark finning industry, Randall Arauz led the campaign to halt the practice in Costa Rica, making his country the new international model for shark protection.

Their passion and committment is so very inspiring! Thank you to all of you. ~ Dana