Forum Honors 15 'Environmental Heroes'

Forum Honors 15 'Environmental Heroes'

Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa)
NEWS
7 June 2007

By Endale Assefa
Addis Ababa

Forum for Environment (EfE), an endogenous NGO working on Environment, on Tuesday honored fifteen Ethiopian environmental heroes in recognition of their active participation in the preservation and protection of the natural environment.

The Green Award Ceremony that was marked for the second time this year honored individuals, youth associations, business sector, NGOs and the civil society.

The winners who ranked first to third from their respective categories, and a writer in the individual category received their awards from FDRE President Girma W.Giorgis-himself a winner of last year's Environmental Hero Award- at a ceremony held at the National Palace The Konso Community of the SNNPRS, the Institute for Sustainable Development, and the Hope youth Association from Addis, Merkeni Kelifa from Benishangul Gumuz and Yilma Getachew (deceases) were winners of the first rank from the individual categories nominated for the award.

The Konso Community won the award for their famous terracing activity which proved a valuable method of conserving soil erosion, while Hope Youth Association were selected for their boundless effort to raise awareness of people concerning waste disposal.

The Forum also recognized the Association's contribution to the Environment by planting indigenous trees and distributing seeds to residents of the capital.

In the individual Category, the late Yilma Getachew won the prize for his invaluable contribution to the environmental protection in the books and countless articles he wrote his wife received the award on behalf of her lat husband.

From business sector category Harar Brewery, winner of the 2006 award, also won this year's award, ranking second, for establishing a green house which helped preserve indigenous and precious species on the verge of extinction.

The much anticipated award for best environmental journalist didn't take place as planed, however.

Asked for his comments on the matter, Nigussu Aklilu, coordinator of the forum said, the association of environmental journalists which was supposed nominate a candidate failed to agree on the nominee for the award.

In his speech after handing out medals and certificates to winners at the ceremony which coincided with the Environment day marked globally on June 5, President Girma noted evidences and studies are indicative of the fact that the future holds worst than it was in the past, as far as environmental degradation was concerned.

"Environmental degradation is deteriorating this world from time to time," The President underscored.

"The issue of environmental degradation is becoming a global concern due to its worldwide impact mainly resulting from global warming and its subsequent impact-melting of the ice in the world's coolest zones." President Girma also pointed out that the devastating floods last summer which claimed the lives of hundreds and displaced tens of thousands of others, was pure indication of the impact of environmental degradation.

This year's environment day is being celebrated with a motto: let's protect causes of environmental change.