The Aristotle Onassis Public Benefit Foundation announced on Friday that Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) was awarded its inaugural “Prize for the Protection of the Environment.” Along with the honor of winning this prize, the organization will receive €250,000 ($351,675) to continue its work in this region.
FoEME has been putting in considerable work and investment in the communities of Jordan, Israel and Palestine to help them with a serious water crisis.
Here’s more information on why FoEME won and more information on the award itself:
“Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME)” is an environmental organization of the Middle East that brings together Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian representatives. For a long time, FoEME has been active towards maintaining the River Jordan as a vital natural resource for all people living within the borders of Israel, Palestine and Jordan. The core aim of FoEME is to consider water as a fundamental natural resource for the development of the region. FoEME has produced impressive results in protecting the water cycle in the region at a time when water scarcity is increasingly intense. FoEME’s project is realized with the active participation of the region’s populations. Thus, the organization contributes to the understanding between peoples in this sensitive area.
Senator of Urban Development and the Environment of the City of Hamburg Anja Hajduk, Chairperson of the International Prize Committee, stated: “The members of the Prize Committee decided unanimously to award FoEME, with great respect for the actions of this significant and pioneering environmental organization. FoEME uniquely combines environmental protection with the effort for a peaceful coexistence in the area.”
Regarding the choice of FoEME as the laureate of the Onassis Prize 2010 for the Protection of the Environment, Anthony Papadimitriou, the President of the Onassis Foundation, stressed: “The Committee’s decision for 2010 has a dual significance for us. We are thrilled with the choice of the particular organization, which besides its outstanding work towards a sustainable environment involves actively people of different nationalities and thus advances peaceful living and harmonious cooperation towards a common goal.”
The prize will reward on a biannual basis persons or organizations for “outstanding contributions towards protecting and improving the environment, including sustainable use of energy”. It will reward persons or entities excluding politicians and political parties. The prize is accompanied by €250,000 – one of the more sizable monetary awards to recognize services to the environment.
The Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, which pays tribute to the late son of the ship owner Aristotle Onassis, and the City of Hamburg launched the Onassis International Prize for the Protection of the Environment. . Anthony Papadimitriou stressed, when presenting the Prize: “The Onassis Foundation and the City of Hamburg share a bond which goes back to the early 1950s, when Aristotle Onassis was expanding his shipping activities in Hamburg shipyards. It was an important reason that made us consider Hamburg as suitable venue for the awarding of the Aristotle Onassis Prize for the Protection of the Environment. What rapidly convinced us were the major efforts being made by Hamburg to link together urban development, climate and environmental protection. Our prize is genuinely at home here”.
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