First Nations activist Murrawah Johnson wins the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize after blocking a proposed coal mine on the basis of cultural erosion and human rights breaches.
Murrawah Johnson — a 2024 recipient of one of the world's most coveted environmental awards, the Goldman Prize — was born into a "legacy of resistance fighters".
Ms Johnson's regional upbringing made her acutely aware of racial discrimination and the "colonial project". The landmark decision against Waratah Coal was the first time a group had successfully argued that a coal mine would impact human rights by contributing to climate change."Our strength is storytelling, and this an opportunity for First Nations people our experience of climate change, loss of culture, and destruction of country through the breaching of our human rights," Ms Johnson said.
The 29-year-old can't help but laugh now about the timing of her daughter Wulum Nandy's unexpected arrival.While knee-deep in work for the court case, she had promised to call her lawyer back promptly about some urgent business.In 2022, the Land Court of Queensland delivered the historic decision that the mining lease should be refused, which Queensland's Department of Environment and Science upheld in April 2023.
"I couldn't believe it … this is an amazing opportunity to give more of a platform to the work that we've done," she said.
Far North Queensland Fnq Marlin Coast Tropical Queensland Clive Palmer Waratah Mine Coal Industry First Nations Murrawah Johnson Goldman Environmental Prize Goldman Prize
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