The Right Livelihood Award, established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, is an award that is presented annually, usually on 9 December, to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today".[citation needed] An international jury, invited by the five regular Right Livelihood Award board members, decides the awards in such fields as environmental protection, human rights, sustainable development, health, education, and peace.[citation needed] The prize money is shared among the winners, usually numbering four, and is SEK2 million (US$310,000).[citation needed]
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Ceremony
The ceremonial event has taken place in the Stockholm building where the Swedish Parliament convenes, usually during the first week of December. A group of Swedish Parliamentarians from different parties hosts the ceremony. The prize is sometimes called the Alternative Nobel Prize,[1][2] and differs significantly from the Nobel Prizes in
- having an open nomination process (anyone can nominate anyone else);
- not being limited to specific categories (many more people are eligible);
- making individual or shared awards amounting to about 5% of the Nobel ones; and
- neither being a fulfillment of Alfred Nobel's bequest nor being affiliated with the Nobel Prize committees.
History
Before establishing the award in 1980, von Uexkull had unsuccessfully tried to interest the Nobel Foundation in a new prize to be awarded together with the Nobel Prizes. However, as a result of the debate that followed the establishment of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (first awarded in 1969), the Nobel Foundation had decided not to associate the Nobel Prize with any additional awards, so Jakob von Uexkull's proposal was rejected.[3]
The award states that, in the 21st century, the "greatest benefit to mankind" may be found in different fields than in the traditional sciences or in strict categories: the vast majority of award winners work for grassroots non-governmental organisations in their countries. The foundation understands its awards as a complement to the Nobel Prizes.[4]
Since 1980, the foundation has presented, as of 2007, awards to 119 individuals and organisations. Its purpose is both to bestow prizes and publicize the work of its recipients' local solutions to problems that also exist worldwide.[citation needed]
Laureates
See also
- Right livelihood
- Schock Prize
- Polar Music Prize
- Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
- List of prizes, medals, and awards
References
- ^ NewsAhead (2006-12-08). "Alternative Nobel Prize" awarded in Sweden. NewsAhead World News Forecast, 8 December 2006. Retrieved on 2007-10-24 from http://www.newsahead.com/PREVIEW/alternative_Nobel_award_Dec_06.htm[dead link].
- ^ Liptak, Bela G. (1988-02-14). Austria Fouling Hungary's Environment. Letter to the Editor dated 14 February 1988. The New York Times, 9 March 1988. Retrieved on 2007-10-24 from http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEFDF1238F93AA35750C0A96E948260.
- ^ TT-DN (2003-10-02). Alternativt Nobelpris delas på fem. Dagens Nyheter, "Publicerat 2003-10-02 10:08". Retrieved from http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?a=188389. (Swedish)
- ^ Right Livelihood Foundation (2007-10-02). "2007 Right Livelihood Awards highlight solutions to global challenges". Right Livelihood Foundation. http://www.rightlivelihood.org/2007_10_02.html. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
Bibliography
- Pathiravitana, S. (2007-11-08). A Great Son of Lanka. Sri Lanka Daily News, 8 November 2007. A history of the award. Retrieved on 2008-06-03 from http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/11/08/fea01.asp.
External links
- Right Livelihood Award - Official site
- Complete list of recipients with descriptions
- Jakob von Uexkull - Founder
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