Home Acceptance speech – Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment

Acceptance speech – Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment

Thank you.

And first of all, I would really like to thank every jury member of the Right Livelihood Award, for choosing LIFE and for recognizing LIFE’s work and furthering environmental democracy and the rule of law.

We would like to thank everyone who has been a part of LIFE’s journey over the last 20 years – two decades.

First of all, definitely to the local communities. They are the first line of defense, they are the victims, and they are the fighters. They repose faith in us, to take on their battle, to the courts. We remain grateful to them.

Next and very important, I think it’s a rare breed, but we are grateful to the visionary judges of the courts who have given new meaning and substance to environmental jurisprudence. We are thankful to some bold forest officers in India who are defending India’s forests against all odds. They are very, very important people. And, I think very important as the international supporters, national supporters who have allowed us to continue with this work and our mission.

And finally, I think for every team member – past and present – of LIFE, who have helped LIFE evolve as an institution, to defend environmental democracy in the world’s largest democracy.

Thank you.