Positive News  -   2006 RIGHT LIVELIHOOD AWARDS HONOUR PIONEERS FOR JUSTICE, TRUTH AND  PEACE-BUILDING        

The 2006 Right Livelihood Honorary Award goes to Chico Whitaker 
Ferreira (Brazil), "for a lifetime's dedicated work for social 
justice that has strengthened democracy in Brazil and helped give 
birth to the World Social Forum, showing that 'another world is 
possible'".

The 2006 Right Livelihood Award of SEK 2 million is shared between 
three recipients:

Daniel Ellsberg (USA), whose 'whistleblowing' helped end the Vietnam 
War, is awarded "for putting peace and truth first, at considerable 
personal risk, and dedicating his life to inspiring others to follow 
his example."

Ruth Manorama (India) is the sub-continent's most effective organiser 
of and advocate for Dalit women, belonging to the "scheduled castes" 
sometimes also called "untouchables". The Jury honours Manorama, a 
Dalit herself, "for her commitment over decades to achieving equality 
for Dalit women, building effective and committed women's 
organisations and working for their rights at national and 
international levels."

The Festival Internacional de Poesia de Medell'n (Colombia) is a 
unique poetry festival, which has helped build peace in one of the 
most violent cities in the world. The jury recognises the Festival 
"for showing how creativity, beauty, free expression and community 
can flourish amongst and overcome even deeply entrenched fear and 
violence."

Jakob von Uexkull: "The 2006 Right Livelihood Awards call on us all 
to speak up and act now for truth, non-violence and justice. The 
recipients demonstrate how individual courage, even in the face of 
powerful interests and repression, can bring about remarkable changes."

Founded in 1980 the Right Livelihood Awards are presented annually in 
the Swedish Parliament and are often referred to as "Alternative 
Nobel Prizes". They were introduced "to honour and support those 
offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent 
challenges facing us today".

Jakob von Uexkull, a Swedish-German professional philatelist, sold 
his business to provide the original funding. Since then, the Award 
has been supported by individual donors. The prize money is currently 
SEK 2 million (USD 275,000/EUR 220,000).

A press conference with the Recipients will be held in Stockholm on 
Wednesday, December 6th at 9:30 am. The award presentation ceremony 
in the Swedish Parliament will be held on December 8th.

Attention German press: Fernando Rend'n of the International Poetry 
Festival of Medell'n will speak at a concert for the Right Livelihood 
Award in the Berlin Philharmonic Hall on November 19 at 15.00. 
Interviews during his stay in Berlin can be booked in advance.

The following TV footage is available at ITN Source (www.itnsource.com):
-archive footage about the World Social Forum
-archive footage of Daniel Ellsberg
-archive footage about the Indian caste system
-archive footage about Medell'n and the violence in Colombia

Further information and photos of the new recipients can be 
downloaded from
www.rightlivelihood.org

For more information and interviews with Jakob von Uexkull (from 2 pm 
on September 28) please contact:
Ole von Uexkull, Executive Director
Right Livelihood Award Foundation
Tel: +46-8-702 03 37
Fax: +46-8-702 03 38
E-mail: press @ rightlivelihood.org

IJHC - WHR Observations

It is wonderful to see this wonderful initiative to acknowledge excellence in societal healing.