Goldman Prize Names World's Most Amazing Grassroots Environmental Leaders

SAN FRANCISCO, California, April 20, 2009 (ENS) -- The 2009 Goldman Environmental Prize winners are grassroots environmental leaders from around the world who have fought mining companies, logging development, mounting piles of solid waste, toxic dumping and government indifference to tribal rights.

Now in its 20th year, the Goldman Environmental Prize is awarded annually to environmentalists from each of the world's six inhabited continental regions. It is the largest award of its kind with an individual cash prize of $150,000 for the prize winner from each region. Multiple winners share the regional prize.

"This group of Goldman Prize recipients are as impressive as ever, taking on seemingly insurmountable struggles and achieving success," said Goldman Prize founder Richard Goldman. "In this, our 20th year, we are pleased to bring attention to their courageous work."

The winners will receive their awards at an invitation-only ceremony this afternoon at the San Francisco Opera House. They will also be honored at a smaller ceremony on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.

The 2009 Goldman Environmental Prize winners are:

North America: Maria Gunnoe, Bob White, West Virginia, USA: In Appalachia, where the coal industry wields enormous power over government and public opinion, lifelong resident Maria Gunnoe fights against mountaintop removal mining and valley fill mining operations in the face of death threats.

Maria Gunnoe (All photos courtesy Goldman Environmental Prize)

In 2000, a mountaintop removal mine began on the ridge above Gunnoe's home. Today, her house sits directly below a 10-story valley fill with two toxic ponds of mine waste. Since the mine was blasted out, Gunnoe's property has flooded seven times. In a 2004 flood, much of Gunnoe's home was destroyed and her yard was covered in toxic coal sludge. The coal company told her the damage was an "act of God." Her well and ground water have been contaminated by mine waste, forcing her family to use bottled water for cooking and drinking.

Working with the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Gunnoe created neighborhood groups to monitor coal companies for illegal behavior and report toxic spills. She organized meetings and provided community training on how to read mining permits, write letters to the editor, interface with the media, and protest using nonviolent methods.

In March 2007, OVEC and partner groups won a lawsuit against the Army Corps of Engineers that repealed mountaintop removal valley fill permits in southern West Virginia granted without adequate environmental consideration, and banned issuance of new permits. In defiance of the court, the Corps granted permits to Jupiter Holdings to construct two new valley fills at its Boone County mine above Gunnoe's community. OVEC challenged the permits in federal court. After intimidation by coal workers, Gunnoe was the sole resident to testify. In October 2007, the court ruled in favor of Gunnoe and OVEC and ordered Jupiter to halt the construction of any new valley fills at its Boone County mine.

The Worldwatch Institute was one of several organizations to nominate Gunnoe for the award. "Maria Gunnoe has given a human face to this critical issue," said Worldwatch President Christopher Flavin. "She has overcome incredible obstacles to raise awareness about a destructive and dangerous practice that is threatening many Appalachian communities while feeding our fossil fuel addiction."

"Replacing coal-fired power plants with renewable energy technologies is vital not only to our planet's climate, but also to the communities that are put at risk everyday by these unsafe mining practices," said Flavin. "Maria Gunnoe's determination has brought us one step closer to achieving this goal."