THE GOODS : ECONOTES : For All Their Labor, They Get a Green Thumbs-Up
Twenty-four men and women who have made measurable strides toward saving the Earth are meeting this weekend at Berkeley to compare notes. They are among the 30 winners to date of the international Goldman Environmental Prize, which recognizes individual grass-roots achievement. Founded five years ago by California philanthropists Richard and Rhoda Goldman, the prize of $60,000 and a bronze trophy is given annually to an activist from each of the world’s six inhabited continental regions.
“Grass-roots activists demonstrate better than anybody that ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things,” Richard Goldman says.
The prize holders, who are nominated by an international network of environmental groups, lead movements to protect rivers and rain forests, restore watersheds, fight toxic-waste dumping, encourage sustainable development and protect endangered species. Winners from the United States include Samuel LaBudde of San Francisco, whose surreptitious videos of dolphin slaughter on tuna boats led to “dolphin-safe” tuna; Lois Gibbs of Falls Church, Va., whose battle against waste dumps at Love Canal grew into a national movement, and JoAnn Tall of Pine Ridge, S.D., who fought nuclear testing on Lakota lands.
Although the prize recipients will be saluted during the first Goldman reunion, they will not rest on their laurels. The working program includes panels and seminars on ways to best address such environmental problems as rapid population growth, unprecedented deforestation and mass species extinction as well as funding strategies.
Calendar
Malibu’s Earth Trust Foundation has set Nov. 11-13 for its conference on “eco-psychology,” a new field exploring the human relationship to the natural world. (For instance, how does a polluted environment affect psychological health?) Nine psychologists, ecologists and other experts will lead the sessions, which include an opening presentation in Santa Monica and a two-day session in Malibu. Information: 310-456-3534. . . .
The City of Los Angeles’ Hazmobile continues touring the city for pickup of hazardous household wastes such as paint, motor oil and pesticides. Currently parked in Granada Hills, the Hazmobile will visit Elysian Park on Nov. 3-5 and Nov. 10-12; it will be in Reseda on Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3. Call the hot line at (800) 988-6942 to make an appointment for the drive-through collection.
Ecofact
According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board: It takes 1,050 recycled plastic milk jugs to make a six-foot park bench.