Goldman Environmental Prizewinner

Jet, May 10, 2004

GOLDMAN ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZEWINNER: Margie Richard of Norco, LA, the first African-American winner of the 15th annual Goldman Environmental Prize, enjoys a relaxing moment in San Francisco. Richard, 62, is visiting the city to receive the prestigious prize, the world's best-known award for environmentalists, for her untiring efforts in waging a campaign against Shell Chemical plant, which spewed toxic fumes into her hometown of Norco.

Citizens of the town reported high rates of cancer, birth defects and other ailments. In 2002, Richard, founder of Concerned Citizens of Norco, was able to get Shell Chemical to agree to reduce plant emissions by 30 percent and to pay resettlement cost for Norco residents. A former schoolteacher, Richard, the representative of North America, is one of six international activists who received the award as well as $125,000.