British anti-arms trade campaign wins Right Livelihood Award

A British anti-arms trade campaign and promoters of peace, human rights and the environment from the United States, Afghanistan and Turkey have been named as winners of this year's Right Livelihood Awards, also known as the “alternative Nobels”.

The UK's Campaign Against Arms Trade will share the 150,000 euros (£120,000) cash prize three ways with American scholar Gene Sharp, a developer and promoter of non-violent revolution techniques, and Sima Samar, an Afghan doctor whose organisation provides healthcare and education for the poor.

An honorary prize was awarded to Turkish environmentalist Hayrettin Karaca, who co-founded an international movement which combats soil erosion and protects natural habitats.

The awards, announced today, were founded in 1980 by Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull, to recognise work he thought was ignored by the Nobel Foundation.