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Human rights in Belarus, Nicaragua and Iran, the fight against racism in the United States: The Right Livelihood Foundation is putting commitment to democracy at the center of this year’s “Alternative Nobel Laureates”.
By Carsten Schmiester, ARD-Studio Stockholm
The Right Livelihood Foundation Award is intended for people who, in the opinion of a jury, are doing “the right thing” in their lives. Like the previous year, it will be delivered to four human rights activists and conservationists.
For example, the Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotudeh for her, for what the reasoning, “fearless commitment with high personal risk to promote political freedoms and human rights in Iran.”
According to the foundation, she was sentenced to a total of 38 years in prison and 148 lashes in her home country in March last year and is in prison.
Commitment to indigenous peoples
Another winner of the award is Lottie Cunningham Wren, who is committed to indigenous peoples and the protection of the environment in Nicaragua.
Human rights activists in Belarus
Belarusian activist Ales Byalyazki and the Viasna human rights center that he founded were also honored for their “determined struggle for the realization of democracy and human rights in Belarus.”
Bryan Stevenson Video Message
American civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson receives the “Alternative Nobel Prize” for his fight against racism in the American criminal justice system.
Stevenson thanked him for the award in a video message. “It means a lot to me that this is an international award. It connects us with all the other people in the world who fight against inequality, oppression and the abuse of power,” Stevenson said. “Our efforts are recognized and we are invited to join the global community of human rights activists.”
“Long-term change processes”
The award has existed since 1980. The Foundation confidently calls it the “Alternative Nobel Prize”, as it is also known, on its website. However, it has nothing to do with actual Nobel prizes.
With the “Alternative Nobel Prize” the foundation supports people committed to a peaceful, just and sustainable world. It must promote urgent and long-term processes of social change. Or, like this year, work against the impending processes of change, says the director of the Ole von Uexküll Foundation: “The award winners come from different countries, but they are united in their work for equality and democracy. They take a stand very positive against injustice and authoritarian government strengthening civil society in their countries. “
“Democracy is at risk around the world”
Due to world-famous award winner Greta Thunberg, last year’s awards ceremony was more dominated by the impending climate catastrophe. This year the foundation is about something different, so von Uexküll: “By selecting the award winners we want to show that democracy is in danger around the world. We call on all those who work for democracy to unite and mutually support each other to reverse this dangerous development. “
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The story of the “Alternative Nobel Prize”
Many women, some German and Greta Thunberg, winners of the “Right Livelihood Award”
The prize is endowed with one million crowns each, which is equivalent to about 95,000 euros. It is tradition and the winners are expected to use the money not for themselves but for their work and projects. Due to the corona pandemic, there is no grand gala in Stockholm this year, just a smaller-scale virtual awards ceremony on December 3.
