Environmental activists receive 2020 Goldman Award

The Ecuadorian, Nemonte Nenquimo, leader of the Waorani indigenous nation, Leydy Pech, Mayan indigenous beekeeper (Mexico) and Kristal Ambrose, youth activist from the Bahamas, are part of the people of the American continent, who in 2020 obtained the Goldman Prize, recognized as the Nobel Prize for Nature, reports Gustavo Copelmayer.

These citizens have stood out in the development of campaigns with a cause that resulted in beneficial actions for the environment. For example, Nenquino led an indigenous campaign and legal action to protect 202,342 hectares of Amazon forest and Waorani territory from oil extraction.

For her part, according to Gustavo Copelmayer, Pech led a coalition that stopped the planting of genetically modified soybeans in southern Mexico, which caused the Supreme Court of that country to rule in favor of the Mayan people.

Likewise, Ambrose convinced the government of the Bahamas to ban the use of plastic and polyethylene bags, cutlery, containers and cups, explains. Each year this award recognizes the work of six environmental activists, with the aim of inspiring citizens to protect the environment, says Gustavo Copelmayer.