The My Hero Project -

MY HERO Celebrates Earth Day

The real life heroes celebrated in this feature come from all parts of the world and make the protection of the planet their priority.

MY HERO is pleased to share an award-winning short film by high school student Will Levitt on his environmental hero, Wangari Maathai

Discover more environmental heroes
and find out ways you too can make a difference.

Chico Mendes was a father who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defending rainforests. by Jeff Trussell	Dr. Vandana Shiva works to preserve biodiversity for the planet. by David Kemker	Fin Donnelly works to keep our rivers and waters clean. by Jenny Kim	Jean-Michel Cousteau is committed to protecting the ocean for future generations through education and conservation. by Slater
Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement that plants trees to help restore the desolate ecosystem in Africa. by Heidi Antocicco	Chief Oren Lyons is an internationally venerated advocate for preserving biodiversity. by Aibanrihun Lyngdoh	Saint Francis of Assisi was a true example of harmonious existence on Earth by Claudia Herrera Hudson	Roxanne Kremer works with the Mestizo Indians of the Peruvian rainforest to save pink dolphins. by Jennifer Beck
Julia Hill brought public attention to deforestation in California.	Rachel Carson was the mother of the environmental movement. by Wendy Jewell	John Muir advocated preservation, feeling that natural areas promote mental health. by Harold W. Wood, Jr.	Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park is the only park in the Americas established and run by indigenous peoples. by Claudia Herrera Hudson
Hesti Widodo works to preserve Komodo National Park through ecotourism. by Marco from Surabaya, Indonesia	Mrs. Mei Ng: Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong) uses education to foster environmental awareness in China by Wendy Jewell	Sandra Postel believes in the importance of water conservation. by Edward Ortiz	Jacques Cousteau invented the Aqua-Lung, a predecessor to the SCUBA systems used by divers worldwide today. by Jeff Trussell
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an eco-warrior defending the earth for future generations. by Wendy Jewell	Kory Johnson was honored with the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1998. by Goldman Environmental Prize	Ryan Hreljac helps build wells for clean water in Africa. by Wendy Jewell	Chief Arvol Looking Horse appeals to indigenous voices across the world to bring peace.
Sylvia Earle is a marine biologist and ambassador of the oceans. by Edward Ortiz	China's Living Water Garden combines art and science through ecological education. by Anne H. Mavor ©2004-05 YES!	Australian Aborigines Protecting Wetlands by working to conserve the environment around them.	CAMPUS CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY at Humboldt State University. by Wendy Jewell
David Nathan Chain was killed during a nonviolent protest to save the redwoods.	Ocean Robbins helps organize young people committed to protecting the planet. by Wendy Jewell	Jason Expedition Disappearing Wetlands	Wetland and Water Conservation in South Africa
Worldwide Wetland Conservation	Michal Kravcik is a Slovakian hero for the environment and for democracy. by MY HERO	A Sewer Becomes a Water Park with floating botanical gardens that are helping restore ecological health. by Karen Charman ©2004-05 YES! Used with permission from YES! magazine. PO Box 10818, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. Web: www.yesmagazine.org	Corbin Harney has spread a message of peace throughout the world.
Friends of the Sea Lion rescue, treat, and release these mammals back into the ocean. by Susannah Abbey	'Lost Boys of Sudan' try to Rebuild Lives by Ben Dovin and Bill Poovie Associated Press Writers	Robert Ballard conducts scientific expeditions around the world with students. by My Hero	Barry Commoner works to protect the environment and raise awareness about the danger of radio activity. by Emily
Deland Chan started an environmental group at the YMCA in New York City.	Alan Rabinowitz started the first ever jaguar preserve. by Luke Matthews	Dian Fossey worked to protect the endangered Mountain Gorilla.	Bill Roley taught children in a Mexican orphanage how to work the land.
Dr. Shirley McGreal founded the International Primate Protection League. by Julian Siminski	Bill Roley taught children in a Mexican orphanage how to work the land.	Frances Moore Lappe works to eliminate the injustices that cause hunger. by Kathy Crockett My Hero	Mia Siscawati teaches people to protect their environment. by Grace from Surabaya
William McDonough designs buildings for ecological sustainability.	Prigi Arisandi works to educate people on the importance of protecting the rivers of Indonesia by Ade from Surabaya	SUJANA cleans roads in Indonesia to help the environment. by DEWI FITRIYANI from SMAN 24 BANDUNG	Jody Williams is a human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner who began a campaign to rid the world of landmines. by Jeff Trussel
Joseph Ki-Zerbo works to help Africans retain control of their country's agriculture. by Geeta Malik	Heather DeWitt is a devoted conservationist. by Geeta Malik	Gerald Durrell established the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust for endangered species. by Susannah Abbey	Suryo Wardhoyo Prawiroatmodjo educates people in Indonesia to protect the environment. by Wisnu from Surabaya
Dennis Weaver is an actor and advocate for ecologically sustainable living.	Greenpeace works globally to save the environment. by Zach from Seattle	George Schaller is a world-renowned naturalist.	Stanislav Petrov averted nuclear disaster, yet remains unknown to most. by Glen Pedersen
YouthCaN is a youth- run organization promoting environmental awareness through technology.	Friends of Nature:Mr. Liang Congjie is a voice for China's environment. by Wendy Jewell	Ben Redclay was an earthkeeper whose legacy lives on through his daughter. by Kanion Redclay	Beth Rickard Environmentalist is an advocate of solar as the energy of the future. by Wendy Jewell
Dr. Elvia Niebla Soil Scientist is dedicated to soil conservation. by SACNAS Biography Project	Dr. Richard Murphy Marine Biologist educates others about the sea and ways to protect the oceans for the future. by Wendy Jewell	Dr. Rosalie Bertell Anti-Nuclear Nun is a renowned scientist, eco-feminist and peace activist. by Wendy Jewell	Gail Kaaialii: Biologist investigates the origins of life and helps others value all life forms. by Sea Studios Foundation
Gina Gallant is an inventor whose passion is protecting the environment. by Wendy Jewell	Marjory Stoneman Douglas worked tirelessly to preserve the Everglades. by "Friends of the Everglades"	Paul Munsen Solar Oven Man manufactures sun ovens, which harness the sun's rays to provide an environmentally safe source of energy. by Wendy Jewell	Sasha Earnheart-Gold founded Apple Tree International to improve nutrition in poor villages. by Wendy Jewell
Shannon Hackett studies the genetic diversity and evolution in tropical birds. by © The Field Museum	Darlene Ketten studies stranded whales and dolphins. by Marc Airhart for Earth & Sky	Dilfuza Egamberdiyeva cares for the Earth's soil, researching ways to produce microbes to control plant diseases. by Wendy Jewell	Wes Jackson was a professor who returned to the land to advance sustainable agriculture practices. by Claudia Herrera Hudson
Stephanie Jenouvrier is a population ecologist researching the effects of climate change on emperor penguins. by Wendy Jewell	Jane Mt. Pleasant is an agricultural scientist who looks to the past to meet today's farming needs. by Claudia Herrera Hudson	Ramani Sankaranarayanan and Geeta Vaidyanathan founded CTxGrEn to show villagers how to turn native materials into fuel for electricity. by Claudia Herrera Hudson	Envirofit retrofits engines to reduce pollution and enhance energy efficiency in developing countries. by Claudia Herrera Hudson
Reef Ball Foundation restores damaged coral reef systems around the world. by Claudia Herrera Hudson	Film Festival 2006 Rowena Gerber and the Solar Oven Project	Jack Johnson is a musician who encourages kids to take care of the environment. by Savannah from Hawaii	'No Butts' Measure Inspired by Ingenious Woodbridge Siblings by Joseph Straw Washington Bureau Reprinted with permission from the New Haven Register.
Dr. E.O. Wilson studies the impact that human activity has on the planet. by Claudia Hudson	Michael Biddle and MBA Polymers is one of the world leaders in the development of recycling technologies. by Claudia Hudson	The Seawater Greenhouse transforms seawater into drinking water. by Claudia Hudson	Laurie David is passionately committed to stopping global warming. by Wendy Jewell