AsianScientist (Oct. 1, 2011) – Chinese solar visionary and entrepreneur, Huang Ming, has won the 2011 Right Livelihood Honorary Award for his “outstanding success in the development and mass-deployment of cutting-edge technologies for harnessing solar energy.”
This is the first time that a Chinese citizen has won a Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the “Alternative Nobel Prize.”
The Award will be presented at a ceremony in the Swedish Parliament on December 5, 2011, hosted by the Society for the Right Livelihood Award in the Swedish Parliament.
In 1995, Huang set up Himin Solar Corp in Dezhou’s Solar Valley. Himin Solar has an annual production of two million square meters of solar thermal heaters, and owns patents to some of the most advanced solar technologies available.
When he served on the 10th and 11th Peoples Congress, Huang was instrumental in getting the 2005 Renewable Energy Law passed in China, thus building a strong case for his country to take a leading role in preventing global climate chaos.
Huang, whose goal is to popularize solar systems in China, believes that China could become a low or even zero carbon society, and that nuclear has to be stopped.
In a statement, he said:
“I have a dream, a common dream of the people devoting to renewable energy source around the world, that for the blue sky and white cloud of the later generations, qualified products are used to realize renewable energy substitution.”
“I have a dream that one day throughout the whole world, renewable energy sources will take the dominant position. I have a dream that one day my entire country fellows, even the global citizens, know about solar energy and make full use of it.”
“I have a dream that one day solar industry will be as advanced as IT industry, as mature as electric home appliances industry, and as large-scaled and automatic as automobile industry. I have a dream that one day the sky will be much bluer, the water will be more limpid; our homeland will be full of sunshine, tranquil with no war.” — Huang Ming.
Founded in 1980 by Swedish philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull, the Right Livelihood Awards were introduced to honor and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today. There are 145 laureates from 61 countries as of 2011.
From the 123 proposals originating from 59 countries this year, there were a total of four laureates. Huang was made an honorary recipient as his work was one that “the Jury wishes to recognize but who is not primarily in need of monetary support.”
The other three laureates – Jacqueline Moudeina (Chad), GRAIN (International), and Ina May Gaskin (USA) – will share the €150,000 cash award.
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Source: The Right Livelihood Award.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
