The Sophie Prize 2012 is awarded to Eva Joly
“Today’s economic system is at odds with the limits set by nature. Eva Joly (born 1943) demonstrates a holistic understanding of how a green economy, free from corruption and economic speculation, may be an economic, social and environmental sustainable path. Again Eva Joly bravely stands out as a leading source of inspiration”, says the jury of the Sophie Prize.
The Norwegian Minister of Environment and International Development, Erik Solheim, will participate in today’s press conference in Oslo where the Sophie Prize winner 2012 is launched. A parallel press conference will take place in Paris with Joly. On June 13th Mr. Solheim will convey the prize of $100.000 in a prize ceremony in Oslo.
Joly headed the biggest corruption case of the 1990s, Elf Aquaitaine. She is a strong critic of an economic system that creates social and environmental problems. Annually trillions of dollars that could have been spent on global public goods are hidden in secrecy jurisdictions or tax havens. Joly highlights how the expanded use of tax havens as a means of tax evasion, denies funding and resources to developing and transitional economies and labels it “a modern form of colonialism”. The use of tax havens also harms rich countries and is considered to be a significant factor behind the financial crisis. “Without tax havens, there would be no problem in the in the Euro Zone. It’s an unforgivable weakness of Europe”, Joly says.
Joly, however, moves beyond mere criticism in proposing solutions and seeking arenas where her lifelong experiences and ideas can be moulded into real politics. In 2009 she was elected as a member of the European Parliament, where she is Chair of the Committee on Development. Joly currently runs for French Presidency for the environmental party, Green-Europe-Ecology.
“I thought that if I told people – writing books, giving interviews – the world would change. I thought it was only because people didn’t know. And then I think the most terrible thing is that, even when things are said, they don’t change. Then I thought that I must become a politician and really express these concerns”, Joly says.
As politician Joly continues her fight against corruption and economic crime. But Joly widens the approach. She highlights the needs for, and the benefits gained by, creating a green economy. Her crusade to fight corruption and economic crime has caused personal sacrifices. Joly faces death threats and entails an everyday life surrounded by life guards. But in spite of the real dangers involved, Joly has never given up fighting for her moral convictions. She has continued her fight against economic crime and corruption on a global scale, and is a source of inspiration for corruption hunters and anti-corruption networks around the world. Recently she was listed as one of the 150 most fearless women in the world.
About the Sophie Prize:
The Sophie Prize is an international award (US $ 100,000), for environment and sustainable development, awarded annually. The Sophie Prize is established to inspire people working towards a sustainable future. The Prize was established in 1997 by the Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder and his wife Siri Dannevig.
Former prize winners:
2011 Tristram Stuart (Britain)
2010 James Hansen (USA)
2009 Marina Silva (Brazil)
2008 Gretchen C. Daily (USA)
2007 Göran Persson (Sweden)
2006 Romina Picolotti (Argentina)
2005 Sheila Watt-Cloutier (Canada)
2004 Wangari Maathai (Kenya)
2003 John Pilger (Australia/Britain)
2002 His All Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch (Turkey)
2001 ATTAC (France)
2000 Sheri Liao (China)
1999 Herman Daly (USA) and Thomas Kocherry (India)
1998 Environmental Rights Action (Nigeria)
For more information, media contact:
Liv Røhnebæk Bjergene, Director Sophie Prize,tel:+ 47 99 79 71 13 or Sophie Prize board member, Petter Nome + 47 95 95 00 00.