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Josef Velek

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Josef Velek
Josef Velek in his apartment. Mid 1980s. Photo by Tomáš Fassati
Born(1939-11-30)30 November 1939
Died30 April 1990(1990-04-30) (aged 50)
Occupation(s)Journalist, author, environmentalist
AwardsGlobal 500 Roll of Honour

Josef Velek ['jozɛf 'ʋɛlɛk], ing. (Master of Arts, Technology) (30 November 1939 – 30 April 1990) was a Czechoslovak (Czech) journalist, author and environmentalist.

Biography

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Velek was born on 30 November 1939 in Klínec, Czech Republic.

He graduated in 1974, from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague and in the same year co-founded the Brontosaurus Movement focused on nature conservation within the framework of the then official Socialist Youth Union.[1]

He began to publish in the sixties, and from 1975 was a member of the editorial staff of the Mladý svět (Young world) weekly. He was considered a founder of the Czechoslovak environment-oriented journalism, and has repeatedly faced threats due to his critical texts.[2]

In June 1989, he was the first Czech to be included in the United Nations Global 500 honour roll of individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the protection and improvement of the environment.[1]

Velek died on 30 April 1990, while scuba diving in the Red Sea.[3][4][5]

Published works

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  • Jak jsem bránil přírodu (1980)
  • Od polderů k Ardenám (1985)
  • Příběhy pro dvě nohy (1988)
  • Muž přes plot (1989)

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b https://ekolist.cz/zprava.shtml?x=2207101
  2. ^ https://sedmagenerace.cz/josef-velek-ekologicky-ombudsman-80-let/
  3. ^ "Writing for Change: Can storytelling save the planet?". H-Soz-Kult. Kommunikation und Fachinformation für die Geschichtswissenschaften (in German). 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  4. ^ "Government Disregard for Environment Harming Czech Industrial Area : Bohemia: Lawmakers begin to see the need for clean energy in a town where acid rain is 10 times the national average. Yet families continue to be attracted by promises of housing". Los Angeles Times. 1989-12-10. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  5. ^ ČR, MŽP (2014-12-19). "It's up to you too 2010". http://. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
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