The award, given on a bi-annual basis, recognizes media achievement in enhancing public knowledge and awareness about the interdependency of ecological, economic and social issues.

Launched in 2001 by the Forum and Euronatur under the auspices of the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Prof. Dr. Klaus Toepfer, the ECA reviews applications from a wide range of media work.

This year’s winner in the categories of Corporations is Initiative Pro Recyclingpapier in Germany.  This company, located in Berlin, created a media kit, information packet, and brochures to advocate their recycling paper campaign.  Their campaign, ‘Use Recycled Paper, It works Perfectly”, has proven to be very successful, with such industry members as, B.A.U.M, Remondis, Siemens, Sony, and Xerox.  

In the category of Initiatives, Campaigns and Institutions, the esteemed jury selected Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME), Jordan for their campaign “Saving the Dead Sea”.  The umbrella organization “Friends of the Earth Middle East” brings together leading environmental non-governmental organizations from Jordan, Palestine and Israel. Since 1995 the FoEME has been working on reducing the threats facing the Dead Sea. The Campaign “Saving the Dead Sea” strives to gain and sustain public interest. Therefore the FoEME took various approaches: a regional photo competition, clean-up campaigns, press conferences, publications, drawing exhibitions etc. The results of this environmental communication are a change of attitude at the government level and a change of perception at the public level.

The campaign “Saving the Dead Sea” is a very good example how important it is to work internationally and to build powerful partnerships with other organizations. Also it shows that only a long staying power can be successful to reach the government and public level. The branding of the Dead Sea problems with various approaches and the call of attention to options and solutions were heard.

In the category Individuals, the jury saw fit to honor Dennis Meadows from the United States for his resource-use role-playing games Stratagem and Fishbanks. As one of the co-authors of the Club of Rome´s “Limits to Growth“ in 1972, Meadows has spent his entire career educating and promoting the innovative ways of making people aware of the problems and dangers that come with the unrestrained use of natural resources. He created these two games that are now widely used at the Universities around the world. The games, which provide players the chance to simulate real-life management choices on the use of resources, have been recognized for their originality and effectiveness in educating students and participants of workshops. Throughout the duration of his career, Meadows has organized many workshops and educational forums that helped participants understand how important the proper usage of the nonrenewable resources is. Those people proceed to educate others and make the issue well known around the world.

Meadows, who recently published the 30-year update to “Limits to Growth” has published many books and articles on systems thinking and the sustainable use of natural resources.