Natural Resources Defense Council - A Group Committed to Environmental Protection

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a non-profit national environmental advocacy group made up of a team of concerned attorneys and scientists, and supported by 1.2 million members and online advocates, aiming to safeguard the Earth, through winning key litigation cases and influencing public policy in favor of protecting our precious marine and wildlife animals and conserving natural resources since its establishment in 1970. In recognition of their noble efforts and esteemed accomplishments, Supreme Master Ching Hai chose NRDC to be the recipient of the Shining World Leadership Award. In April Golden Year 5 (2008), Mr. Joel Reynolds, Senior Attorney and Director of the Marine Mammal Protection Project, received the Award on NRDC's behalf.

This Award was presented in conjunction with the commencement of their compassionate efforts to ensure the safety of our animal co-inhabitants and their successful advocacy under the ruling of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals that the US Navy must abide by limits on its sonar training off the coast of Southern California because the exercises could harm dozens of species of whales and dolphins, etc. A similar ban was also issued by a federal judge in Hawaii to its state's coastline. This decision protects many species from temporary hearing loss, other injuries and behavior changes created by underwater high-powered sonar.

Mr. Reynolds expressed his pleasant surprise for the beautiful Award in his appreciation letter to our Association and also thanked us for our work on behalf of the environment. He humbly said that he is "one of the lucky ones who can go to work every day with a purpose consistent with the imperative ... to protect the environment and achieve justice." Facing our era of environmental challenges, NRDC has long-standing remarkable contributions toward protecting and preserving our planet and all of its inhabitants.

We are thankful to NRDC for their enlightened leadership and noble dedications over the years, as well as their environmentally conscious collaborators for their heartfelt concern and faithfulness to protecting our animal co-inhabitants.

Reference:http://www.ndrc.org