Exhibitions

Physicist, environmentalist wins Sydney Peace Prize

This year's Sydney Peace Prize has been awarded to Indian physicist and environmentalist Dr Vandana Shiva.

Dr Shiva has been described as an eco-feminist and anti-globalisation campaigner and author.

She started a seed bank in India to protect biodiversity and has also campaigned against genetically modified foods.

The Sydney Peace Foundation's Director Professor Stuart Rees says she is one of the most significant environmental campaigners in the world and this year's prize winner will re-invigorate debate on global warming.

"She was the leader of the anti-globalisation movement and the last book of hers 'soil not oil' reminds us that the vast majority of people in developing countries are subsistence farmers who depend on the soil for their livelihood," he said.

"She makes the point that there can be no distinction between the health of the environment and the health of the people who live on it."

Professor Stuart Rees says the New Delhi-based Ms Shiva will give the annual lecture in Sydney in November.

"We will be lucky to get her to Sydney because she's popular with most of the world's leaders who want to take global warming seriously."