Indian physicist awarded Sydney Peace Prize

Distinguished Indian physicist and environmentalist Vandana Shiva has been awarded the prestigious Sydney Peace Prize this year, in recognition of her works in the field of social justice.

57-year-old Vandana -- a philosopher, environmentalist, women's activist and author, has won the award for her work on the empowerment of women in developing countries, her advocacy of the human rights of small farming communities, and her scientific analysis of environmental sustainability, a Sydney University release said.

Shiva will give the City of Sydney Peace Prize lecture at Sydney Opera House on November 3, and will be presented with the prize the next evening.

Shiva will also be the guest of 1,500 high school students in a traditional peace festival welcome in Melbourne. Dehradun-born Vandana is one of the leaders at the International Forum on Globalisation and the Third World Network.

She has earlier received the Global 500 Award of the United Nations Environment Programme and the the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the 'Alternative Nobel Prize'.

Shiva is the founder of Navdanya, an environmental NGO that promotes organic farming and food security. She was also associated with the Chipko Movement of the 1970s.