Every year GREEN BUILDING PAGES TOP TEN EARTH DAY AWARDS recognizes personal, corporate, community and governmental actions and efforts that make our world a better place.
IN 2014 WITH THE LAUNCH OF OUR SISTER WEBSITE, GREEN PRODUCT PAGES, we have the pleasure of recognizing the TOP TEN EARTH DAY AWARDS x 2 - once for the building industry, and once for the general global community - giving us the opportunity to offer a greater perspective on the growing depth, breadth and inspiration within the sustainability movement.
You will begin to understand as you click on Paul Hawken's image, that these award recipients represent a small fraction of the sustainability movement and leadership that is emerging globally in all sectors.
There are some notable trends among the diverse 20+ recipients of this year's two TOP TEN award lists, spanning across disciplines and the globe. Many of this years' recipients have been prolific, writing books, making movies or videos and many have been honored as TED presenters. You can see and hear their passion by clicking on many of their images.
INTERGENERATIONAL CONTINUITY: There are several pairs of 'then' and 'now' leaders who have passed or received the sustainability leadership torch over generations, creating a continuity.
Chief Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Onondaga Council of Chiefs, Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy, beautifully articulates the long intergenerational history and wisdom of First Nation peoples that is shared globally.
Rachel Carson, who first raised the alarm regarding the detrimental effects of the chemicals in 1962, is followed by Arlene Blum, who today continues to address the issues of harmful chemicals prevalent in baby toys, furniture and many of our consumer goods.
Jane Jacobs, against common thought, first articulated the social and environmental advantages of compact cities in 1961. Today, Rob Bennett continues to push that envelope with his EcoDistrict campaign to create sustainable city neighborhoods and communities.
While Severn Cullis-Suzuki is the only one of her family receiving a TOP TEN Award this year as an advocate who began her leadership career at age 12 delivering her passionate speech at the 1992 UN Earth Day Summit, her father, David Suzuki, also a famous environmental activist and leader, clearly deserves enormous credit for creating and passing the torch to the next generation of leaders.
UNITED, URGENT MESSAGE: Ed Mazria, Rachel Carson, Arlene Blum, Lester Brown, Al Gore, and others express a constancy and urgency in their messages and their work focused on issues of sustainability and climate change. Anote Tong, President of Kiribati, a group of small islands in the Pacific whose existence is very much in peril, speaks uniquely from the front lines of climate change.
JOY, BEAUTY, REASONS FOR HOPE: Janine Beynus, Shigeru Ban and others have given us many visions and expressions of beauty and joy. And Paul Hawken has provided us with the most wonderful, explicit, lengthy and unusual list of reasons for hope that will likely make you cry (with joy).
INSPIRED, LONG VISIONS: Chief Oren Lyons, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Wangari Maatha, Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Majora Carter, Susan Maxman, Jane Jacobs, Rob Bennett, David Gottfried, Jane Henley, Van Jones, and each of the others have inspired us with their diverse stories of leadership, vision, continuity and community, along with a whole host of 'firsts'.
The 2014 TOP TEN EARTH DAY AWARDS recognizes these diverse leaders from around the world who have all made enormous contributions toward creating a more sustainable future and building industry.
Take a moment to click on the image of each award recipient to view links and videos to truly appreciate their contributions toward creating our collective sustainable future.
