Paul Walker, International Program Director for Global Green, the US branch of Green Cross, was today honored as one of the three recipients for 2013 of the Right Livelihood Award, sometimes referred to as the ‘Alternative Nobel Peace Prize’.
GSI and PNND commend Mr. Walker for this well-deserved recognition. “Mr Walker has engaged government leaders, officials, disarmament experts, legislators, UN officials, media, think tanks and citizens’ groups around the world to strengthen the global prohibition of nuclear weapons and help lead to their elimination,’ said GSI President Jonathan Granoff. “Walker’s leadership has helped to build near universal ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and to safely and verifiably eliminate thousands of tons of chemical weapons from six declared national arsenals.”
“Walker demonstrates that a verified and legally binding disarmament approach to deal with weapons of mass destruction is a much better alternative than the threat or use of force,” said PNND Global Coordinator Alyn Ware, a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award in 2009. “This is aptly demonstrated in the approach currently being taken with respect to Syria’s chemical weapons.”
“Walker has also used his experience in the Chemical Weapons Convention to offer advice for nuclear disarmament – a field in which he also has some experience,’ said Mr Ware. “The Model Nuclear Weapons Convention which we drafted and which has been circulated by the UN Secretary-General as a starting point for multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations, is modelled very much on the Chemical Weapons Convention. Mr Walker was a very valuable consultant for this.”
Other recipients for the 2013 Right Livelihood Award are:
· RAJI SOURANI (Palestine) who receives the Award “for his unwavering dedication to the rule of law and human rights under exceptionally difficult circumstances”.
· DENIS MUKWEGE (Democratic Republic of Congo) “for his courageous work healing women survivors of war-time sexual violence and speaking up about its root causes”.
· HANS R. HERREN/BIOVISION FOUNDATION (Switzerland) “for his expertise and pioneering work in promoting a safe, secure and sustainable global food supply”.
Jonathan Granoff is the President of the Global Security Institute, a representative to United Nations of the World Summits of Nobel Peace Laureates, a former Adjunct Professor of International Law at Widener University School of Law, and Senior Advisor to the Committee on National Security American Bar Association International Law Section.
