Jane Bagley Lehman Awards for Excellence in Public Advocacy Give $30,000 to Activists SAN FRANCISCO, July 21
SAN FRANCISCO, July 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tides Foundation has
awarded a total of $30,000 to the 2007/2008 recipients of the JBL Awards for
Excellence in Public Advocacy. This year's JBL Awards recognize three
individuals who have advocated and organized against the reemergence of
nuclear power as a "solution" to climate change. The JBL Awards honor policy
activists and advocates by recognizing work that demonstrates innovative
approaches to social change and a deep commitment to the public interest. The
award recipients are being honored with $10,000 each on July 21st at Tides'
Momentum 2008 Leadership Conference at the W Hotel in San Francisco.
"As the nation and the world struggle to reduce green house gas emissions
in an effort to slow climate change, and to find alternatives to fossil fuel
energy sources, nuclear power is back on the table as a viable energy option,"
said Drummond Pike, CEO and founder, Tides. "However, nuclear power remains a
dangerous and flawed solution. From the mining of uranium to storage of spent
fuel, it creates an unacceptable chain of destruction and risk. Glenn Caroll,
Paul Gunter, and Arjun Makhijani are working to halt nuclear energy production
and to call attention to its abuses and dangers; and we are so pleased to
honor them with the JBL Award."
This year marks the 18th anniversary of the JBL Awards, which are named
after Jane Bagley Lehman, one of the founders of Tides Foundation and the
Chair of the Board until her death in 1988. An unconventional philanthropist,
her insatiable curiosity was matched by a willingness to take risks. Jane was
most intrigued by the approaches and strategies of advocates and organizers
and their willingness to challenge traditional assumptions. She also cared
deeply that the results of these efforts be translated into the broader area
of public policy.
The 2007/2008 JBL Award Winners:
GLENN CAROLL -- Through a unique mix of art and activism, Glenn Caroll has
fought to stop nuclear proliferation for over two decades. After the nuclear
meltdown at Chernobyl, Glenn joined 'Georgians Against Nuclear Energy', (now
Nuclear Watch South) where she has contributed graphics and illustrations to
educate the public about nuclear issues, testified at public hearings and led
legal interventions at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission since 1988. Glenn's
multi-faceted approach to the nuclear problem reached critical mass when she
presented a painting exhibit on nuclear energy and environmental issues at
Georgia Tech and undertook a legal intervention opposing the reactor on its
downtown Atlanta campus. After raising the issue during the 1996 Olympics, a
clear victory was obtained when Georgia Tech elected to permanently shut the
reactor in 1997. Glenn has also served on the Board of the Campaign for a
Prosperous Georgia, and as President of the Georgia Environmental Council.
PAUL GUNTER -- An activist and energy policy analyst, Paul Gunter has been
an ardent critic of atomic power development for over thirty years. He is a
lead spokesman on nuclear reactor hazards and security issues, and a prominent
regulatory watchdog over the nuclear power industry. In 1976, he co-founded
the antinuclear Clamshell Alliance, which opposed the construction of the
Seabrook atomic power plant on the New Hampshire seacoast through non-violent
direct action, and marked the country's first opposition movement to nuclear
power. Before joining the 'Beyond Nuclear' program at the Nuclear Policy
Institute, Paul served for 16 years as director of the Reactor Watchdog
Project with Nuclear Information and Resource.
ARJUN MAKHIJANI -- A recognized authority on energy and nuclear issues,
Arjun Makhijani is the principal author of the first study of energy
efficiency potential of the U.S. economy, and of the book: Carbon-Free and
Nuclear-Free: A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy (2007), the first study to show
that it is technically and economically feasible to phase out fossil fuels and
nuclear power, and a rallying point for groups advocating against a resurgence
of nuclear power. Arjun was named a Ploughshares Hero in 2006 for his work in
nuclear armament, and last year, he was elected a Fellow of the American
Physical society. He has testified before Congress, consulted for numerous
organizations, and appeared on local and national media, including 60 minutes,
All Things Considered, and CBS and ABC Evening News. Arjun is currently the
President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research.
About Tides
Tides actively promotes change toward broadly shared economic opportunity,
robust democratic processes and the opportunity to live in a healthy and
sustainable environment where human rights are preserved and protected. Tides
is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 and provides an array of services
that amplify the efforts of forward-thinking philanthropists, foundations,
activists and organizations to make the world a better place. Tides
Foundation, Tides Center and Tides Shared Spaces have collaborated with over
15,000 individuals and organizations that have touched millions of lives
across the country and around the globe. With offices in San Francisco and New
York City, Tides provides fiscal sponsorship for over 200 groups across the
country, operates and supports green nonprofit centers and has granted more
than $600 million since 2000 alone. For more information, visit www.tides.org.
Copyright (C) 2008, Tides, Tides Foundation, Tides Center, Tides Shared
Spaces. Other names used in this press release may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
SOURCE Tides
