Vandana Shiva

Vandana Shiva born on November 5, 1952, in 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 non-violent 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 alter-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.

Early life and Education

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 received her Ph.D. in physics at the University of Western Ontario in 1978. Her thesis was titled "Hidden Variables and Non-locality in Quantum Theory". 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.

Career

Shiva has fought for changes in the practice and paradigms of agriculture and food. Intellectual property rights, biodiversity, biotechnology, bioethics, genetic engineeringare 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.

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.” She has also received the Global 500 Award of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1993, 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:

• In 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
• In 1995, "Pride of the Doon" Award from Doon Citizen Council, Dehra Dun, India, in recognition of distinguished contributions to the region
• In 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
• In 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"
• In 2000, Pellegrino Artusi Award, Italy for original contribution to reflections on relations between humans and food
• In 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

Publications

• Social Economic and Ecological Impact of Social Forestry in Kolar, Vandana Shiva, H.C. Sharatchandra, J. Banyopadhyay, Indian Institute Of Management, Bangalore.

• Staying Alive: Women, Ecology and Survival in India.

• Ecology and the Politics of Survival: Conflicts Over Natural Resources in India

• Stolen Harvest: The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply,
• Water Wars.
• Vedic Ecology: Practical Wisdom for Surviving the 21st Century
• Globalization's New Wars: Seed, Water and Life Forms
• Breakfast of Biodiversity: the Political Ecology of Rain Forest Destruction
• Earth Democracy; Justice, Sustainability, and Peace

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.

In 1993 Shiva received the Right Livelihood Award (also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize)