Shannon Skelton, Environmental Hero with a Fish Story Worth Hearing

The early years were a scary endeavor and squeaky tight financially. Yet, Shannon Skelton knew he could build a better river. With water resources valued for sustaining human life, Skelton had his work cut out for him to champion a new approach to river ecosystem rehabilitation.

In 2011, the fifth year of the Earth Hour campaign, WWF-Australia introduced the WWF Earth Hour Awards to celebrate the grassroots efforts of everyday Australians going ‘beyond the hour’ for the planet.
As we enter the second year of the Awards, we're pleased to re-launch last year's favourite categories, the Education, Young Panda and Futuremakers Awards. We're also happy to introduce a few new ones. Read on for more information on each category and how to apply for 2012.

Education Award

© WWF-Australia

There's no doubt that education is vital to nurturing the environmental consciousness of our young people. In 2012, WWF continues to celebrate the important role that schools are playing in empowering students to create a sustainable future.

Masao Kanamitsu, whose pioneering efforts transformed the ability of scientists to detect climate patterns over the course of decades, died of cancer Aug. 17 at his home in Del Mar, Calif. He was 67.

An infant mountain gorilla was rescued from poachers in Rwanda in August 2011 with help from a partnership made up of WWF, African Wildlife Foundation and Fauna & Flora International. A group of Rwandan and Congolese men were attempting to smuggle the female, less than one-year old, into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The smugglers responsible were arrested and an investigation into a possible larger network is underway. The rescue is positive news, but it also brings light to the issues of illegal poaching and wildlife trade.

Anderson's Georgia-based firm, Interface, makes carpet tiles from petroleum products. He transformed the firm into a model of sustainability.

By Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times

On Earth Day of this year, pro surfer Jesse Heilman, 23, thought about what he might be able to do to make a difference in the environmental landscape. With seemingly insurmountable doom and gloom on the ecological horizon, the possibility of affecting change might seem too daunting for some.

Tim DeChristopher was sentenced to 2 years in prison today at the Salt Lake City federal courthouse. He was taken immediately into custody, being denied the typical 3 weeks afforded to put his affairs in order and say goodbye to his friends and family.

Amy Russell isn't expecting her walk across Connecticut to pose much of challenge.

She's just going 140 miles, starting Saturday in Granby and finishing next Friday in Greenwich.

Montanans Gregg Treinish and Deia Schlosberg backpacked the length of the Andes Mountains for nearly two years, traversing the rocky spine of South America on foot.

The two explorers pieced together a makeshift route that included portions of centuries-old Incan trails and paths carved by inhabitants of remote mountain villages they visited along the way, fording rivers and battling bouts of typhoid fever and dysentery.