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E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE |
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2004 Blue Planet Prize: Announcement of Prize Winners |
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TOKYO, JAPAN, Jun. 24 -/E-Wire/--
Dr. Susan Solomon (U.S.A.) For pioneering work in identifying the mechanism that produces the Antarctic ozone hole and momentous contributions towards the protection of the ozone layer.
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Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland (Norway) For putting forward globally the innovative concept of sustainable development, an idea that aims to balance environmental conservation with economic growth.
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This year marks the 13th awarding of the Blue Planet Prize, the international environmental award sponsored by the Asahi Glass Foundation, chaired by Hiromichi Seya. Two Blue Planet Prizes are awarded to individuals or organizations each year that make outstanding achievements in scientific research and its application, and in so doing help to solve global environmental problems. The Board of Directors and Councilors selected the following recipients for this year.
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1) Dr. Susan Solomon (U.S.A.) Senior Scientist, Aeronomy Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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The stratospheric ozone depletion gained a high degree of international attention beginning in the 1970s, but the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole in the mid 80s revealed a much larger and more immediate effect, suddenly thrusting ozone depletion into the global spotlight as a major environmental problem. Dr. Solomon was the leading scientist in identifying the mechanism that created the ozone hole. She and her colleagues put forth a new theory involving heterogeneous chemical reactions of chlorine compounds on surfaces, and she also led observations in Antarctica that succeeded in providing the first direct evidence of that chemistry. This research played a leading role in identifying the process by which the extremely low temperatures of Antarctica couple with increased atmospheric chlorine due to human use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to deplete ozone at unprecedented rates. Dr. Solomon's findings provided one of the scientific cornerstones for the amendments of the Montreal Protocol, leading to a ban on CFCs beginning in 1990, and contributed significantly to the protection of the global ozone layer.
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2) Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland (Norway) Chairman WCED (World Commission of Environment and Development) Former Prime Minister of Norway Director-General Emeritus, WHO
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Dr. Brundtland was appointed in 1984 by the United Nations Secretary General to chair the World Commission on Environment and Development, an organization charged with the task of developing a global plan for environmental conservation as the first Prime Minister to have previously fulfilled the post of an Environment Minister. After three years of energetic activities, holding meetings throughout the world, the Commission published its report, "Our Common Future," in 1987. Putting forward the concept of sustainable development as its primary theme, the report provided recommendations concerning the elimination of poverty and the realization of global responsibility, which became a driving force behind the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Further, as the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Brundtland has strived towards the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, as well as developing bold plans to respond to global infectious diseases thought to be caused by environmental changes including SARS and HIV.
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Both recipients will be awarded a certificate of merit, a commemorative trophy and a supplementary award of 50 million yen. The awards ceremony will be held on November 10, 2004 (Wednesday), at the Tokyo Kaikan (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo). The commemorative lectures by the prize recipients will be held at the United Nations University (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo) the next day, on November 11 (Thursday).
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* This press release may also be viewed on the Internet from June 30, 2004 at www.af-info.or.jp.
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/SOURCE:
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Blue Planet Prize |
-0-
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06-24-2004 |
/CONTACT:
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Junko Taguchi
IR Japan
Tokyo
81-3-3796-1135 |
| /WEB SITE: |
http://www.af-info.or.jp.
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