Greta Thunberg Wins Sweden’s ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’ For Her Activism
Global icon and climate activist Greta Thunberg is one of four winners for Sweden’s Right Livelihood Award. She has also been nominated for the actual Nobel Peace Prize, winners to be announced.
After her recent appearance and emotional speech in front of the U.N. General Assembly, 16-year-old Greta Thunberg has been railed with global criticism and support. Today, she is recognized as one of Sweden’s heroes.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg become one of four winners of the 2019 Right Livelihood Award, also known as Sweden’s alternative Nobel Prize, for her unfaltering work to curb global warning and insight environmental change. The Right Livelihood Foundation said Thunberg was recognized “for inspiring and amplifying political demands for urgent climate action reflecting scientific facts.”
The foundation continued: “Thunberg continues to tirelessly convey her message: acknowledge the facts, realise the urgency of the climate crisis and act accordingly. She speaks at high-level conferences, meets world leaders, and gives guidance to a growing global movement.”
Other global organizations are rushing to recognize this activist, too. Just over one year ago, Thunberg began her #FridaysForFuture movement in Sweden by leaving school to stand outside government buildings and call for policy change. In March of 2019, she was nominated for the actual Nobel Peace Prize after inspiring hundreds of thousands of people to demonstrate for environmental policy action around the world.
After receiving her award for the Right Livelihood Award, she shared the following statement: “I’m deeply grateful for being one of the recipients of this great honour. But of course, whenever I receive an award, it is not me who is the winner. I am part of a global movement of school children, youth and adults of all ages who have decided to act in defence of our living planet. I share this award with them. The Right Livelihood Award is a huge recognition for Fridays For Future and the climate strike movement. Thank you so very much!”
The award was also presented to Sahrawi activist Aminatou Haidar, for her nonviolent protests for Western Sahara’s independence and human rights; China’s Guo Jianmei , for her work for women’s rights in China; and to Brazil’s Davi Kopenawa and the Hutukara Yanomami Association, which represents a Brazilian indigenous tribe fighting to protect the Amazon forest and its people.
Each of the four recipients will receive 1 million kronor ($103,000). To read more, go to the Huffpost’s article on the topic.