On April 29, Manna Jo Greene, Clearwater’s Environmental Action Director, will receive the 2011 US EPA Environmental Quality Award for her lifetime of work to foster projects to empower Hudson Valley communities to participate in environmental decision-making, and ultimately serve as models for other communities that are working to address environmental justice concerns.
Greene has been a lifelong activist for the environment, peace, and social justice, particularly here in the Hudson Valley. She has served as the Environmental Director for the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater for over ten years, promoting Clearwater’s mission of protecting the ecology of the Hudson River and the quality of life of people living in its watershed. Greene has worked to promote environmental justice at the grassroots and community level, and, as one of the local leaders of the environmental movement, she has been an integral part of the ongoing efforts to get General Electric to remove PCB contamination from the Hudson River, and to close Entergy’s Indian Point nuclear plant.
“Manna Jo Greene’s efforts to protect the environment have established the gold standard for the passionate activist. She has been, and continues to be, the champion of a clean Hudson River,” stated Jeff Rumpf, Clearwater Executive Director, “If you are a polluter, she is your worst enemy. If you want action to protect our Hudson River, she is your first call. Do that for 30 years and you earn a well-deserved EPA honor. Congratulations, Manna, for making our Hudson Valley a better place for us all.”
The US EPA Environmental Quality Award recognizes individual citizens, press and media, business and industry, non-profit organizations, environmental or community groups, and federal, state, local or tribal agencies. These recipients come from within Region 2, which includes New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, The U.S. Virgin Islands and 7 federally-recognized Indian Nations. The award winners span a wide range of environmental achievements, but each proves exemplary determination and success and demonstrates an exceptional commitment to protecting and enhancing environmental quality and public health. This is the highest recognition presented to the public by EPA.
“Thanks to everyone for your kind words and support,” said Manna Jo, “It is indeed an honor — and I am especially thrilled to share this honor with the current Riverkeeper Patrol Boat Captain, John Lipscomb, who is one of my heroes, and was also nominated and selected. Truly this is as much for Clearwater as for me, and, with Clearwater’s Victor Pierre Melendez recently receiving a Luminary Award, we hope to pay it forward.”
The EPA will honor this year’s award recipients at a ceremony in New York City on Friday, April 29th, where U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velazquez will speak.
For more information about the EPA’s Environmental Quality Award, and to view prior winners, please visit http://www.epa.gov/region2/eqa .
