While living in New Caledonia (in the South Pacific east of Australia), Bruno Van Peteghem worked to protect one of the world's coral reefs from mining interests and destruction. International companies were ready to dig up and pollute huge portions of the reefs as they introduced new, highly toxic mining practices. Van Peteghem led a campaign to place the reef on the World's Heritage List—the reef's best hope for permanent protection. A successful island environmental activist since the early 1990s, he confronted severe intimidation and abuse including the suspicious burning of his family's home. The Goldman Environmental Prize is the world's largest prize for grassroots environmentalists. Each of the winners, chosen from the planet's six inhabited continental regions, demonstrate exceptional courage and commitment, often working at great risk to protect our environment. In the process, they inspire the rest of us to do the same. Learn more at www.goldmanprize.org and follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/goldmanenvironmentalprize

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