"2011 Goldman Environmental Prize Honors Six Grassroots Heroes"

"SAN FRANCISCO -- The Goldman Environmental Foundation today announced the six recipients of the 2011 Goldman Environmental Prize - a group of grassroots leaders who are taking on tough challenges to protect the environment and their communities, often at great personal risk.

The 2011 Goldman Prize recipients come from El Salvador, Germany, Indonesia, Russia, the United States and Zimbabwe and their work is as diverse as their homelands.

One awardee dodges assassination attempts in his struggle against a huge gold mine that threatens El Salvador's precious fresh water. Another is fighting for environmental justice in a forgotten African-American community in Texas.

A third is saving endangered rhinos in Zimbabwe, while another is working for clean drinking water in Indonesia.

A fifth awardee is protecting Russia's Far East from the impacts of oil and gas development, while in Germany a recipient was recognized for creating her country's first cooperatively-owned renewable power company."

Environment News Service had the story April 11, 2011.