Goldman Environmental Prize Honors Leaders From Peru and Puerto Rico
A Peruvian farmer and grandmother and a Puerto Rican environmental scientist are two of the six honorees of the annual Goldman Environmental Prize.
The Goldman Environmental Prize honors environmental activists from around the world for their efforts to protect their environment. This year's recipients are Máxima Acuña from Peru and Luis Jorge Rivera Herrera from Puerto Rico, as well as Destiny Watford from South Baltimore, Edward Loure from Tanzania, Leng Ouch from Cambodia, and Zuzana Caputova from Slovakia.
"When the prize was started, Richard and Rhoda Goldman were really struck by the fact that environmental activism wasn't being recognized and that there wasn't enough attention on this issue, specially on a global level," said David Gordon, Goldman Environmental Prize's Executive Director.
There are two fundamental criteria that the recipients must meet: Recent significant environmental achievement and that the achievement was accomplished through grassroots activism. Gordon told NBC News that the prize will continue to elevate and recognize the "unsung heroes" that inspire others to take action.
