Keynote Speakers

Dr. Vandana Shiva

Winner of the "Alternative Nobel Award"

Brief Introduction:

Vandana Shiva is an eco-feminist, physicist, and author from India. In 1993, she was awarded the "Right Livelihood Award," also known as the "Alternative Nobel Award". She is a leader of international forums on globalization and an internationally renowned environmental activist.

Dr. Shiva heads the Navdanya Foundation in India, which operates its own seed bank and organic farm, which was established with the aim of researching cultivation techniques that do not damage biodiversity and that protect the earth and small-scale farmers. The Foundation's biodiversity protection plan seeks to support local farmers and save disappearing crop and plant species, while also establishing direct-to-farmer marketing channels to sell farmers' agricultural products.

Dr. Shiva's books include "Soil Not Oil" and "Biopiracy", the Chinese editions of which have been published in Taiwan this year (2009) by Green Formosa Front.

Senator Bob Brown

Australian Greens Leader 

Brief Introduction:

Bob Brown is the current leader of the Australian Greens (Australia's third largest political party), as well as a long-standing member of the Australian Senate.

A determined and energetic activist, he was instrumental in helping to halt construction of the Franklin dam in Tasmania, in 1992, and continues to work tirelessly in and outside his home state for the preservation of Australia's plant and animal species.

Bob Brown's time in the Tasmanian Parliament saw him introduce legislation on a wide range of issues, including Freedom of Information, the lowering of parliamentary salaries, gay law reform, and opposition to nuclear energy.

Most recently, and at the federal level, the Australian Greens together with other opposition parties and legislators voted down a flawed carbon trading bill in the Senate.