Vandana Shiva
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Vandana Shiva (b. November 5, 1952, Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand), is a physicist, ecofeminist, environmental activist and author. Shiva, currently based in New Delhi, is author of over 300 papers in leading scientific and technical journals.
Shiva participated in the nonviolent Chipko movement during the 1970s. The movement, whose main participants were women, adopted the tactic of hugging trees to prevent their felling. She is one of the leaders of the International Forum on Globalization, (along with Jerry Mander, Edward Goldsmith, Ralph Nader, Jeremy Rifkin, et al.), and a figure of the global solidarity movement known as the anti-globalization movement. She has argued for the wisdom of many traditional practices, as is evident from her book Vedic Ecology that draws upon India's Vedic heritage.
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[edit] Early life and education
Shiva was born in the valley of Dehradun, to a father who was the conservator of Forests and a farmer mother with a love for nature. She was educated at St Mary's School in Nainital, and at the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Dehradun. Shiva was trained as a physicist and wrote on the "Hidden Variables and Non-locality in Quantum Theory" at the University of Western Ontario from where she later received an honorary degree in 2002.[1] She later went on to interdisciplinary research in science, technology and environmental policy, at the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore.
[edit] Career
Shiva has fought for changes in the practice and paradigms of agriculture and food. Intellectual property rights, biodiversity, biotechnology, bioethics, genetic engineering are among the fields where Shiva has contributed intellectually and through activist campaigns. She has assisted grassroots organizations of the Green movement in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Ireland, Switzerland and Austria with campaigns against genetic engineering. In 1982, she founded the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology. Her book, "Staying Alive" helped redefine perceptions of third world women. Shiva has also served as an adviser to governments in India and abroad as well as non governmental organisations, including the International Forum on Globalisation, the Women's Environment & Development Organization and the Third World Network.
[edit] Recognition
In 1993, Shiva received the Right Livelihood Award (also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize) "...For placing women and ecology at the heart of modern development discourse."[1]. Other awards she has received include the Global 500 Award of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1993 [2], and the Earth Day International Award of the United Nations (UN) for her dedicated commitment to the preservation of the planet as demonstrated by her actions, leadership and by setting an example for the rest of the world.
Additional awards include:
- 1993: Order of the Golden Ark, by his Royal Highness Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands for outstanding services to conservation and ecology;VIDA SANA International Award, Spain, for her contribution to Ecology and Food Security
- 1995, "Pride of the Doon" Award from Doon Citizen Council, Dehra Dun, India, in recognition of distinguished contributions to the region
- 1997, The Golden Plant Award (International Award of Ecology), Denmark, for the remarkable contribution for Ecology and Environment; Alfonso Comin Award, Barcelona, Spain, for important contribution both scientifically and personally to the ecologist and feminist movement in India
- 1998, Commemorative Medal by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand on the occasion of the Celebration of the 18th World Food Day, organised by FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok; Medal of the Presidency of the Italian Republic from the International Scientific Committee of the Pio Manzu Centre at Rimini, Italy during the XXIV Pio Manzu International Conference on "The Horizons of Hermes"
- 2000, Pellegrino Artusi Award, Italy for original contribution to reflections on relations between humans and food
- 2001, HORIZON 3000 Award of Austria in recognition to rendering useful service for defending Human Rights and Preservation of Peace and for the vision of a world wide fair development in the third millennium
[edit] Publications
- 1981, Social Economic and Ecological Impact of Social Forestry in Kolar, Vandana Shiva, H.C. Sharatchandra, J. Banyopadhyay, Indian Institute Of Management, Bangalore
- 1988, Staying Alive: Women, Ecology and Survival in India, Zed Press, New Delhi, ISBN 0-86232-823-3
- 1991, Ecology and the Politics of Survival: Conflicts Over Natural Resources in India, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California, ISBN 0-8039-9672-1
- 1992, The Violence of the Green Revolution: Ecological degradation and political conflict in Punjab, Zed Press, New Delhi
- 1992, Biodiversity: Social and Ecological Perspectives (editor); Zed Press, United Kingdom
- 1993, Women, Ecology and Health: Rebuilding Connections (editor), Dag Hammarskjold Foundation and Kali for Women, New Delhi
- 1993, Monocultures of the Mind: Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Agriculture, Zed Press, New Delhi
- 1993, Ecofeminism, Maria Mies and Vandana Shiva, Fernwood Publications, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, ISBN 1-895686-28-8
- 1994, Close to Home: Women Reconnect Ecology, Health and Development Worldwide, Earthscan, London, ISBN 0-86571-264-6
- 1995, Biopolitics (with Ingunn Moser), Zed Books, United Kingdom
- 1997, Biopiracy: the Plunder of Nature and Knowledge, South End Press, Cambridge Massachusetts, I ISBN 1-896357-11-3
- 1999, Stolen Harvest: The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply, South End Press, Cambridge Massachusetts, ISBN 0-89608-608-9
- 2000, Tomorrow's Biodiversity, Thames and Hudson, London, ISBN 0-500-28239-0
- 2001, Patents, Myths and Reality, Penguin India
- 2001, Water Wars, South End Press, Boston
- 2002, Vedic Ecology: Practical Wisdom for Surviving the 21st Century, Mandala Publishing Group, Novato, California, ISBN 1-886069-65-4
- 2002, Water Wars; Privatization, Pollution, and Profit, South End Press, Cambridge Massachusetts
- 2005, Globalization's New Wars: Seed, Water and Life Forms Women Unlimited, New Delhi, ISBN 81-88965-17-0
- 2005, Breakfast of Biodiversity: the Political Ecology of Rain Forest Destruction, ISBN 0-935028-96-X
- 2005, Earth Democracy; Justice, Sustainability, and Peace, South End Press, ISBN 0-89608-745-X
[edit] References
- ^ Seeds of Self-Reliance. Retrieved on March 2, 2007.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Vandana Shiva's ZNet HomePage
- ZNet audio: Vandana Shiva
- The Soil Is Our Liberator - Vandana Shiva
- Interview with Vandana Shiva by Paolo Scopacasa, EcoWorld, March 2004
- Vandana Shiva biography, Right Livelihood Award homepage
- In the Footsteps of Gandhi - An Interview with Vandana Shiva by Scott London (From the Radio Series 'Insight & Outlook').
- Vandana Shiva page, Third World Traveler.
- Vandana Shiva on McDonald's, Exploitation and the Global Economy, One-Off Productions, 1997.
- Whose Freedom? Which Freedom?, Working TV, June 15, 1998.
- Resurgence Magazine: Vandana Shiva
- Vandana Shiva. Corporate Terrorism, Resurgence Magazine, January 2002.
- Vandana Shiva. Privatizing water will lead to war, Resurgence Magazine, July 2003.
- Amy Goodman. An Hour With Vandana Shiva, Democracy Now, November 27, 2003.
- Vandana Shiva. Gift of Food, Resurgence Magazine, January 2005.
- Vandana Shiva. Celebrating Food Economies, Resurgence Magazine, March 2005.
- Shiva on Coca-Cola's involvement in water depletion and contamination in India, NOW with Bill Moyers. September 5, 2003.
- Video of Shiva's lecture at Michigan State University, Internet Archive, April 7, 2005.
- Vandana Shiva. Two Myths That Keep The World Poor, Ode Magazine, October 2005.
- Listen online: Women, Bioengineering, Corporations
