On April 6, we welcomed 200 Conservatory Members and guests for a special preview of Wicked Plants. Author Amy Stewart was in attendance, autographing copies of her best-selling books, and answering questions about the deviant plants profiled in the exhibit.  

Author Amy Stewart and Conservatory Director Brent Dennis

2011 Goldman Environmental Prize

Without the generosity and leadership of Richard and Rhoda Goldman, the Conservatory would not be restored to its current state. On April 11, the

Goldman Environmental Prize 

celebrated its 22nd year, with a ceremony in the Opera House, followed by a reception for the award winners, hosted by the Goldman family in City Hall.

The awards stand, along with the Conservatory, as a testament to the legacy and vision of the Goldmans.

The evening had an air of celebration, with undertones of anger and struggle. John Goldman spoke of his father's commitment to the environment, and of the political mayhem being wrought against the environmental policy progress of the past twenty years. He acknowledged that in a progressive city such as ours, he was preaching to the choir, and urged the attendees to be environmental evangelists to their families and friends in other areas. Each recipient spoke after a film of their work was shown, and then received the Ouroboros, an award symbolizing nature's power of renewal. Each had advice for the audience, much aimed at the young environmentalists invited by the Goldmans.

Francisco Pineda is a sustainable farmer, a father, and a global hero.He lives in El Salvador, where the country's rapidly depleting supply of water is 90% contaminated. His efforts to stop the contamination of the Rio Lempa, which serves 4 million people, endanger his life; three of his colleagues were assassinated due to their aid. He implored the audience to use their democratic voice, and to pay attention to their countries' free trade agreements.   

Dmitry Lisitsyn has saved the whales in Russia, amongst other species of flora and fauna. His devotion to nature has materialized into wildlife refuges, cancellations of oil pipelines, and the creation of sustainable partnerships and responsible state agencies. He urged consumers to make sustainable choices, noting the quick step of looking for the Marine Stewardship Council certification when purchasing fish for meals.  

The crowd cringed and uttered group gasps of shock when film clips of the horrible rhino poaching in Zimbabwe were shown. Award recipient Raoul du Toit, who coordinated efforts that stabilized the black rhino population in the region, acknowledges poaching cannot be stopped, but has a goal to reduce. To educate youth, and halt ideas of poaching, he has created an incentive program where schools receive aid when new rhinos are born.This innovative incentive program could translate globally! How can we apply this to programs in America? What sustainable behaviors can we reward, and eventually normalize?

The European Ouroboros went to Ursula Sladek, whose persistence against nuclear energy has made her co-op owned sustainably-produced energy company a model for how grassroots solutions can rise against climate change and energy security. She reaffirmed the belief that the US has the resources, and could be the clean energy leader. From Ursula we learn: take matters into your own hands.  

Prigi Arisandi's acceptance speech reminded the audience that it is our human responsibility to teach the next generation to live in harmony with nature. His prize acknowledged the tremendous educational and political work he has done surrounding the Surabya River in is home town that has been spoiled by industry. The program notes that 96% of Surabaya's drinking water comes from the river, but that its concentration of mercury is 100 times the World Health Organization's tolerable limit. Film clips showed industry waste dumped into the river, and massive amounts of debris on its banks, while children brush their teeth and bathe in the filthy water.  

Hilton Kelley, North American prize winner for his work with 'fence communities' that share backyards with polluting industries, reiterated that it just takes one person to spark the idea. Funding, resources and the other necessary materials find their way to you, if you share your vision for change.

The ceremony very much echoed the words of Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." To the six environmentalists awarded the prize, and to the Goldman Family, whose stewardship of the prize has inspired individuals around the globe, thank you for showing that Mead's statement remains as true today as ever.