Desmond D'Sa

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Desmond D'Sa
NationalitySouth African
AwardsGoldman Prize

Desmond D'Sa is a South African environmentalist who received the 2014 Goldman Prize. [1] [2]

He is known for protesting Environmental justice issues in Durban, South Africa related to access to greenspace and pollution. [1] The region of the city where he lives is known as a "Cancer Alley" because of the 300+ industrial facilitates in the area. [3] To address this he founded the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance. [3] That network has been successful at opposing other polluting sites, [3] and is advocated to prevent expansion of the Port of Durban.

In 2011 his house was firebombed for his advocacy. [2] Raised in the Apartheid era, he was inspired to integrate environmental and social justice issues in his activism. [4]

For his work he received an honorary doctorate from the Durban University of Technology. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Honorary Doctorate for Durban Environmental Justice Watchdog". Durban University of Technology. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 Ensia, Ensia (28 April 2014). "Goldman Environmental Prize Awarded To South African Activist". HuffPost. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Climate Reality Leader Desmond D'Sa Wins Goldman Environmental Prize". Climate Reality. 28 April 2014. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  4. "#amaQhawe: Desmond D'Sa - How Apartheid's brutality ignited a quest for social justice". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 23 April 2021.