Two Women Caught The Attention Of World's Top Environmental Prize

The Goldman Environmental Prize is awarded annually and praises grassroots activists for significant accomplishments. In 2018, two remarkable South African women walked away with the prize.

The fight against toxic and nuclear contamination

Makoma Lekalakala, the director of Earthlife Africa, and Liz McDaid, the climate change coordinator for Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute, fought to stop the South African government’s secret nuclear deal with Russia.

After Earthlife Africa acquired a copy of the secret nuclear agreement between South Africa and Russia in 2014, Makoma, Liz, and their colleagues came together to discuss their disapproval of the deal. In their respective organisations, the two women joined forces and strategised on how they would go about challenging this massive project. This, of course, meant directly challenging the then president of their country, Jacob Zuma.

Lekalakala and McDaid were concerned about the environmental and health impact of maximising South Africa’s uranium mining, nuclear power generation, and the imminent production of nuclear waste. Having said this, they knew the best way to gain public attention was by exposing the corruption and large-scale costs involved in the nuclear deal.

They continued to meet with local communities, explaining the environmental and financial implications of the deal. Anti-nuclear vigils were organised in front of Parliament in Cape Town, and many marches and rallies swept through the country. Through these movements they quickly garnered the public’s attention.

A landmark legal victory

On April 26, 2017, the Western Cape High Court ruled that the $76 billion nuclear power project was unlawful and unconstitutional. The milestone victory protected South Africa from an expanding nuclear industry and production of radioactive waste that would have had a momentous impact on the country.

Thanks to Lekalakala and McDaid, any endeavor to reestablish a nuclear deal in South Africa will face much scrutiny and opposition.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.