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 Global Green Press Release
Mikhail Gorbachev Gives Keynote Address
at Global Green USA's Green Cross millennium Awards
3.18.2002
Former Soviet Leader Honors Woody Harrelson,
CA State Treasurer Phil Angelides, Others
Last night, at the 6th Annual Green Cross
Millennium Awards, Mikhail S. Gorbachev, founder and president
of Green Cross International—whose U.S. affiliate is Global
Green USA—saluted the environmental leaders to receive this
year's Millennium Award for their leadership and achievements
in the environmental arena. Global Green USA believes the world
needs environmental leaders and heroes who are willing to help
show the way toward a sustainable future.
This year's Millennium Award-winners are
Woody Harrelson, Oscar-nominated actor, recipient of the Entertainment
Industry Environmental Leadership Award; Homero Aridjis and Betty
Ferber, cofounders of the Grupo de los Cien, recipients of the
International Environmental Leadership Award; Philip Angelides,
California State Treasurer, recipient of the Local Environmental
Leadership Award; Jonathan Lash, President of the World Resources
Institute, recipient of the Individual Environmental Achievement
Award; Carly S. Fiorina, Chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard
Company, recipient of the Corporate Environmental Leadership
Award.
Actor Woody Harrelson received the award
for being one of Hollywood's foremost outspoken advocates for
environmental causes. A longtime supporter in the fight to save
Headwaters Forests—America's last stand of unprotected old
growth redwoods. In 1997, he climbed the Golden Gate Bridge with
seven other activists and hung a banner to bring attention to
the clear cutting practices of the logging industry. He continues
to work on animal rights issues, sustainability, and promoting
healthy alternatives to the current cycle of consumer-led environmental
degradation. "We need to support the companies that support
the earth," stated Harrelson.
Recipients of the International Environmental
Leadership Award, Homero Aridjis and Betty Ferber are co-founders
of the Groupo de los Cien, The Group of 100, based in Mexico
City. The group banded together to raise awareness about the
severity of environmental problems facing Mexico and to prod
their government into action. According to Ferber, "Defending
the environment is work for Sisyphus." They have addressed
the problems of air pollution in the Valley of Mexico; deforestation;
protection of endangered species; toxic waste disposal; greening
of urban areas; water pollution; energy conservation; the fate
of tropical forests throughout Latin America; and the defense
of freedom of speech for the discussion of environmental issues.
California State Treasurer Phil Angelides
receives the Local Environmental Leadership Award, for under
his leadership, innovative investment policies and programs have
been advanced to bolster California's long-term economic strength.
Angelides' nationally acclaimed Smart Investments initiative
has directed over $7 billion in state infrastructure and community
development funding to support environmentally responsible growth
patterns, a key element of which is investment in California's
economically struggling communities. "California has the
opportunity and responsibility to set new models for sustainable
development. We need to grow in ways that are sustainable so
we can have true economic progress in the 21st Century,"
said Angelides.
Recipient of the Individual Environmental
Leadership Award, Jonathan Lash is president of the World Resources
Institute (WRI), an environmental think tank that finds practical
ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives. WRI seeks
to improve the quality of human lives and opportunity by working
to reverse the rapid degradation of ecosystems, halt human-caused
climate change, and catalyze changes that expand prosperity while
reducing the use of materials and the generation of wastes. "The
problems of the 21st Century are slower and bigger and less reversible.
What we fail to do today is what our children will have no choice
about… We may be the last generation in history to have
the opportunity to save our future," said Lash.
Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina received
the Corporate Environmental Leadership Award for her strong commitment
to social and environmental responsibility. Through initiatives
such as World e-Inclusion, product recycling programs and the
reduction of energy use in HP's products and operations, HP is
gaining momentum in its aspiration to be an industry leader in
addressing the challenges of social, economic and environmental
sustainability during the 21st century. "We're deeply honored
to be receiving this recognition," Carly Fiorina said. "It's
a further demonstration of our enduring company values and our
long-term commitment to these important programs."
The event also featured a live auction
sponsored by Siemens Solar, who donated a 1Kw solar electric
grid-tied system, including installation by Graham Owen of GO
Solar Company. This system is valued at $13,000. The winning
bidder of this exceptional lot was Woody Harrelson himself!
Since 1996, the Green Cross Millennium
Awards have celebrated the environmental leadership of extraordinary
individuals and organizations who, through their commitment to
the Earth, recognize the interconnection between humankind and
nature and show us the way to a sustainable future.
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Letter of Appreciation
from Global Green
