Erwin Kräutler, a Catholic bishop motivated by liberation theology, is one of Brazil's most important defenders of and advocates for the rights of indigenous peoples. Already in the 1980s, he helped secure the inclusion of 
indigenous peoples' rights into the Brazilian constitution. He also plays an important role in opposing one of South America's largest and most controversial energy projects: the Belo Monte dam on the Xingu River.
Last week he received the Right Livelihood Award "for outstanding vision and work on behalf of our planet and its people."
His acceptance speech and an interview appear on the Right Livelihood Award Web site.
Don't miss a thing: Sign up to receive free NCR email alerts.
NCR Comment code:
We are not able to monitor every comment that comes through. If you see something objectionable, please click the "Report abuse" button. Once a comment has been flagged, an NCR staff member will investigate.
For more detailed guidelines, visit our User Guidelines page.
For help on how to post a comment, visit our reference page.