NEWS BY EURO NEWSROOM

Energy Globe for Gorbi's "Green Glasnost" 26.05.2008

BRUSSELS (BEL). A Special Award presented to Mikhail Gorbachev and his "Green Cross Foundation" was one of the highlights of the "Energy Globe Awards" gala held on Monday evening in the European Parliament in Brussels. Awards for the categories Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Youth went to Austria, Mozambique, Spain, Peru and South Africa.

Gorbachev, who single-handily did more to change Europe and the world peacefully in the last century, was hailed as one of the true heroes of the environment at the "Energy Globe Awards" ceremony. Gorbachev received the honorary award from European Council President Janez Jansa for his tireless engagement on behalf of the environment through his "Green Cross Foundation". Upon receiving the award, Gorbachev said: "We're going to have to work harder together for more success in the future."

From a grand total of 853 projects submitted from 109 countries around the world for the awards, 15 of the most unique innovations reached the chambers of the European Parliament in Brussels. EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso, Ex-UN-General Secretary Kofi Annan, recording artist Dionne Warwick and "Bollywood“ actor Aamir Khan were among the prominent guests who presented the Energy Globe Awards in the categories Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Youth.

The victory in the category Air went to Austria. Fronius International GmbH was honoured for its Project HyLOG – a hydrogen-powered logistics system. The in-house transportation of materials was changed through the retrofitting of its vehicle fleet, with lead/acid batteries being replaced with to hydrogen fuel cell power plants charged up locally with solar power.

Mozambique was honoured in the category Water. Switzerland’s Helvetas Gesellschaft built, fixed up and expanded the drinking water abstraction plants in Mozambique.

Setting up and implementing solar-thermal power plants helped Spain and the company Solar Power Plant Projects win the award in the category Fire.

The top award in the categories Earth and Youth went to Peru and South Africa, respectively. Peru’s Ciudad Saludable is involved in society-based trash recycling industry that helps keep cities clean and protects the health of their inhabitants. There are now 43 cities and 5 countries in Latin America taking part in the project. In South Africa, young people are getting involved in efforts to combat climate change. In 110 projects across the country people are being exposed to ecological issues in practical ways.

At the end of the gala and to the great joy of Energy Globe creator Wolfgang Neumann, EU Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering presented the World Award to his Austrian compatriots at Fronius International GmbH.

Top international recording artists rounded off the evening at the world's most prestigious environmental and energy awards ceremony. Along with Dionne Warwick, who gave a laudation earlier, Italian rock star Zucchero and Canadian singer Alanis Morissette put in performances.