Right Livelihood Laureates in the United States have long been working to strengthen democracy and climate action in their country and beyond. Here are their reactions to Donald Trump winning a second term in office.
Paul Walker said:
“I’m somewhat in shock and saddened by the surprising victory of Donald Trump last night.
This Trump sweep over Harris is a jolt to our democratic system, electing a convicted felon to another four years in the White House. The Biden economy and immigration seem to have been primary forces, and Kamala Harris couldn’t shake this perception.
Policies will change, no doubt, with more military spending and confrontational demands, including nuclear threats, but policies on Ukraine and Gaza remain uncertain.
And sadly, women have now lost two attempts at the White House.”
2013 Laureate Paul Walker is one of the most effective advocates for the abolition of chemical weapons.
Bill McKibben said:
“A sad day for the idea of human solidarity. I imagine the results of the election will be read in the geological record millennia hence.
Our best bet now is to work hard for the cheapest form of power on earth: solar energy.”
2014 Laureate Bill McKibben is one of the world’s leading environmentalists, who received the Right Livelihood Award for mobilising support for climate action.
Frances Moore-Lappé said:
“Trump embodies anger. Many Americans feel very angry about their situation. They’re struggling and they have absorbed the idea that we live in a free-market economy in which anyone who tries can succeed. If they’re not doing well, it’s understandable that they feel shame. And often shame leads to blame. Shame is too painful otherwise. Many Americans don’t understand that our country is one of the most economically unequal in the world. Not seeing the structural causes of such inequality, they blame themselves.
In addition, a deep, structural problem is that we allow money to influence election outcomes. Disinformation is also widespread in our society. Fox News, for example, is watched by a large percentage of Americans and therefore Trump can lie without penalty.
Finally, the issue is sexism. I think many American men cannot imagine a female president.”
1987 Laureate Frances Moore-Lappé is an American researcher and author, who received the Right Livelihood Award for for revealing the political and economic causes of world hunger.
