Activist who fought for legal rights for Europe's largest saltwater lagoon wins 'Green Nobel'

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Growing up, Teresa Vicente spent long days in Spain's Mar Menor swimming in transparent waters, cupping seahorses in her hands and partying under the moonlit sky. Out there, she recalled, time stood still.

But over the decades, chronic contamination from mining, development and agricultural runoff turned the once crystal-clear waters of Europe's largest saltwater lagoon into a graveyard. A mass fish die-off in 2019 prompted the professor of philosophy of law at the University of Murcia to take action.

Over the next several years, Vicente, now 61, led a grassroots campaign to save the region's ecological jewel from collapse. Her efforts helped lead to a new law passed in 2022, giving the lagoon the legal right to conservation, protection and damage remediation.

Vicente is one of this year's seven winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize, known as the “Green Nobel," which honors grassroots activists and leaders from across the globe for achievements in protecting the natural world. The recipients were selected from about 100 nominees and the winners were announced Monday.

“(This prize) signifies an international recognition that we are facing a new stage in humanity," said Vicente in Spanish. It's a stage where “human beings understand they are part of nature. And this recognition means that it is not a local or national conquest, but rather a European and international one."

“They call Mar Menor the lagoon of magic," she added, "and all of us on this journey have seen a lot of magic.”

The other winners are:

— Marcel Gomes, executive secretary for the media nonprofit Repórter Brasil, who organized a campaign that alleged connections between beef from the world's largest meatpacking corporation, JBS, and illegal deforestation in Brazil and helped pressure retailers around the world to stop selling the meat.

— Indigenous activist Murrawah Maroochy Johnson, who helped stop development of a coal mine in Australia's Queensland state that would have devasted nearly 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares) of a nature preserve, spewed nearly 1.6 billion tons of planet-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over its lifetime, and endangered the rights and culture of Indigenous peoples.

— Alok Shukla, who led a community movement that saved nearly half a million acres (200,000 hectares) of forests from 21 proposed coal mines in Chhattisgarh, a state in central India.

— Andrea Vidaurre, who helped convince the state of California's air quality agency to establish two transportation regulations that limit emissions from trains and trucks. The rules include the nation's first emissions limit for trains.

— Nonhle Mbuthuma and Sinegugu Zukulu, Indigenous activists who prevented seismic testing for coal and gas in a coastal area off South Africa's Eastern Cape.

Michael Sutton, executive director of the Goldman Environmental Foundation, called the winners “an incredible group of individuals laboring, sometimes in obscurity, against overwhelming odds to prevail against governments, against industry."

Vicente was born and raised in Spain's southeastern city of Murcia, home to the Mar Menor. When she learned about the 2019 fish die-off, she was at the University of Reading in England studying how other countries had successfully bestowed legal rights upon natural resources to protect them.

To save the lagoon, Vicente in 2020 helped write the first draft of a bill granting legal protection to the Mar Menor and submitted it to Spain's Parliament, which allows citizens to propose laws directly. But the process required her to gather 500,000 signatures during COVID-19 lockdowns.

By November 2021, with help from thousands of volunteers across Spain, Vicente had amassed nearly 640,000 signatures — and the law was passed in 2022.

She never doubted she would succeed. "People had understood that they were part of that ecosystem and were excited about the idea of ​​being able to defend their rights," she said. "When people forget their political differences, their religious differences or their economic differences, and give themselves over to a new idea of ​​justice, that is a sure success.”

The Goldman Environmental Prize was founded in 1989 by philanthropists Richard and Rhoda H. Goldman to recognize common people working in their communities to protect and improve their environment.

AP video journalist Haven Daley contributed to this report from San Francisco.

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment.

Teresa Vicente poses for a photo on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in San Francisco. Vicente, a professor who helped save Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, is one of the winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize, known as the “Green Nobel" and announced on Monday, April 29. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Teresa Vicente poses for a photo on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in San Francisco. Vicente, a professor who helped save Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, is one of the winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize, known as the “Green Nobel" and announced on Monday, April 29. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Teresa Vicente poses for a photo on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in San Francisco. Vicente, a professor who helped save Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, is one of the winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize, known as the “Green Nobel" and announced on Monday, April 29. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

FILE - A man collects dead fish that have appeared by the shore of the Isle of Ciervo off La Manga, part of the Mar Menor lagoon in Murcia, Spain, Aug. 19, 2021. Teresa Vicente, a professor who helped save the lagoon, is one of the winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize, known as the “Green Nobel" and announced on Monday, April 29. (Edu Botella/Europa Press via AP, File)

Teresa Vicente poses for a photo on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in San Francisco. Vicente, a professor who helped save Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, is one of the winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize, known as the “Green Nobel" and announced on Monday, April 29. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

DETROIT (AP) — Jesús Sánchez drove in Bryan De La Cruz with a 10th-inning groundout, and the Miami Marlins beat the Detroit Tigers 1-0 on Tuesday night.

Both starters — Miami’s Ryan Weathers and Detroit’s Reese Olson — allowed three singles in a career-best eight innings. Olson struck out six, and Weathers finished with four strikeouts.

Josh Bell hit a leadoff single in the 10th against Alex Lange (0-3), moving De La Cruz to third. Sánchez then hit a bouncer to second that resulted in a forceout at second base.

A.J. Puk pitched a scoreless 10th for his first save.

Weathers matched a bit of family history; his father, David, allowed three hits in eight shutout innings for the Marlins against the San Diego Padres on Sept. 6, 1993. David Weathers spent most of his 19-season career as a reliever, only starting 69 games.

Weathers didn’t allow a baserunner until Wenceel Pérez led off the sixth with a grounder through the infield. Javier Báez then grounded into a double play.

The Tigers put two runners on against Tanner Scott (2-4) in the ninth, including Mark Canha reaching on the game’s only walk, but Riley Greene grounded out to end the inning.

BREWERS 4, PIRATES 3

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Sal Frelick homered for the first time this season, Joe Ross and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Milwaukee beat the Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh’s Nick Gonzales hit his first homer of the year, and Connor Joe also went deep for the Pirates.

Gonzales’ last homer was July 2 against the Brewers. Frelick hadn’t homered since Aug. 7 of last season, against the Pirates.

Frelick also made two diving catches in center field. He caught a sinking liner from Jared Triolo to end the second and made a play on the warning track to rob Andrew McCutchen of an extra-base hit in the eighth.

Joe homered with two outs in the ninth off Trevor Megill to cut Milwaukee’s lead to 4-3, but Megill struck out Jack Suwinski to earn his fifth save.

Ross (2-4) struck out six while allowing two hits, two runs and one walk in five innings. Bryan Hudson pitched two innings and Elvis Peguero worked the eighth without allowing anyone to reach base.

PHILLIES 4, METS 0

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Nola pitched a four-hitter for his fourth major league shutout and the Philadelphia beat the slumping New York Mets for a two-game sweep.

Philadelphia scored twice in the third inning against starter Jose Buttó on a hit by pitch and a bases-loaded walk. Bryson Stott had a run-scoring single in the ninth and Alec Bohm doubled home a run to finish with two RBIs.

Nola (5-2) did the rest, throwing 109 pitches in his sixth career complete game and first since a five-hit shutout against Cincinnati in August 2022. He struck out eight and walked none. It was the third time in nine starts this season he lasted at least eight innings.

After giving up a bloop double and a single in the ninth, Nola retired Francisco Lindor on a routine flyball with runners at the corners to end it.

BRAVES 7, CUBS 0

ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Olson hit a three-run homer and drove in four, Chris Sale pitched two-hit ball over seven innings and Atlanta beat the Chicago Cubs for their second straight shutout in the series.

Michael Harris II also homered for Atlanta, which has won six of seven. The Cubs were held to three hits by Sale and relievers Aaron Bummer and Jackson Stephens and have managed a combined eight hits while being outscored 9-0 in the first two games of the series.

Sale (6-1) had nine strikeouts, his third consecutive start with at least nine, and didn’t walk anybody. The right-hander won his fifth straight start.

Right-hander Jameson Taillon’s fielding error on Orlando Arcia’s grounder helped set up the Braves’ six-run fourth inning, including the homers by Harris and Olson. Five runs in the inning were unearned.

Taillion (3-1) allowed seven runs, two earned, in four innings.

YANKEES 5, TWINS 1

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton homered and Carlos Rodón overcame a shaky start and worked six-plus strong inning as the New York Yankees beat Minnesota Twins 5-1.

Alex Verdugo added a two-run double for New York, which has won nine of 12. The Yankees continue to thrive in Minnesota where they are 29-15 all-time at Target Field and boast the highest winning percentage of any opponent at the park.

Rodón (4-2) allowed a leadoff home run to Ryan Jeffers in the bottom of the first inning and surrendered three hits in the frame. He gave up six hits overall and didn’t walk a batter, finishing with six strikeouts before being lifted following a leadoff single by Carlos Santana in the seventh. The 31-year-old left-hander had retired 11 in a row before Santana’s hit.

Rodón has allowed two runs or less in seven of his 10 starts this season. Ian Hamilton relieved Rodón and allowed a pinch-hit single by Edouard Julien, but came back to strand both runners. He pitched two scoreless innings, and Clay Holmes worked a perfect ninth.

Twins right-hander Chris Paddack (4-2), who had won three straight starts, surrendered a career high-tying 12 hits and five runs in five innings. Minnesota lost for just the fourth time in 21 games.

WHITE SOX 4, NATIONALS 0, GAME 1

NATIONALS 6, WHITESOX 3, GAME 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Keibert Ruiz and Trey Lipscomb each hit an RBI single during Washington’s three-run eighth inning, and the Nationals beat the Chicago White Sox in the opener of straight doubleheader.

Joey Meneses went 4 for 4 and drove in two runs for Washington, which had lost three of four. Lipscomb had three hits and swiped three bases.

Derek Law (3-1) got three outs for the win, and Kyle Finnegan handled the ninth for his 13th save in 14 opportunities.

Eloy Jiménez hit a solo homer for Chicago, which has dropped two in a row since a four-game win streak. Tommy Pham had two hits and drove in a run.

Vaughn hit his second homer of the season with two out in the third inning in the second game, connecting on a 1-1 pitch from Mitchell Parker (2-2). He went deep again in the eighth against Jackson Rutledge.

After Fedde (4-0) departed, Jordan Leasure worked the eighth and Michael Kopech finished the four-hitter.

Kopech issued consecutive walks with one out in the ninth, and the runners advanced on the reliever’s second wild pitch of the inning. But Ruiz popped out and Jesse Winker lined to left.

The White Sox put runners on first and second with one out in the ninth, but Zach Remillard bounced into a forceout at third and Nicky Lopez struck out looking for the final out.

RED SOX 5, RAYS 4, 12 INNINGS

BOSTON (AP) — Romy Gonzalez singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 12th as Boston rallied to beat the Tampa Bay.

Gonzalez dropped a hit to shallow right off reliever Manuel Rodríguez, who had intentionally walked Tyler O’Neill to start the inning. Instead of forcing a possible double play, the move allowed Connor Wong to easily score the game-winner after a wild few extra innings.

Cedanne Rafaela, who homered in the fifth for Boston, delivered a wild throw in the 11th that allowed the Rays to briefly take a 4-3 lead. But Boston was able to tie it when Rodríguez immediately looked to second instead of home on a grounder up the middle that allowed Boston to tie it.

Brennan Bernardino (2-1) got the win and Rodríguez (0-1) took the loss.

Josh Lowe hit a solo homer in the first and Randy Arozarena got one in the sixth.

The Rays made a base-running blunder in the 11th when Ben Rortvedt, who opened the inning on second, got caught in a rundown between third and home. Arozarena made it to second and went on to score on an error by Paredes.

Boston starter Nick Pivetta pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts.

GUARDIANS 7, RANGERS 4

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) —Josh Naylor hit a three-run homer, Bo Naylor had a two-run double and the AL Central-leading Cleveland beat Texas, handing the reigning World Series champions their season-high fifth consecutive loss.

Those big hits by the Naylor brothers came in a six-run second inning for the Guardians. Older brother Josh’s 12th homer with two outs put them up 6-0 and chased top pitching prospect Jack Leiter (0-1).

Adolis García, Corey Seager and Nathaniel Lowe hit solo homers for the Rangers (22-22).

Ben Lively (2-2) struck out five and walked three in five innings, with the only runs coming on those homers. The right-hander had given up only two long balls over 27 1/3 innings in his first five starts of the season.

Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his 12th save in 14 chances.

ASTROS 2, ATHLETICS 1, 10 INNINGS

HOUSTON (AP) — Victor Caratini hit an RBI single in the 10th inning to lift Houston to a 2-1 win over the Oakland after the Astros lost their starting pitcher when Ronel Blanco was ejected following a foreign substance check.

The game was tied at 1 when pinch-runner Trey Cabbage replaced Jon Singleton as the automatic runner on second in the bottom of the 10th. Cabbage moved to third on a flyball by Jake Meyers before Caratini hit a grounder to center off Michael Kelly (2-1) to give the Astros their fifth win in six games.

Josh Hader (2-3) got the win by escaping a jam in the top of the 10th. With one out and runners on second and third, the veteran closer struck out pinch-hitter Esteury Ruiz before Brent Rooker grounded out to end the threat.

Oakland tied it at 1 in the eighth. Abraham Toro led off with a ground-rule double down the left-field line off Ryan Pressly. Toro moved to third on a groundout by JJ Bleday and scored on Rooker’s single.

Houston had led 1-0 since Alex Bregman opened the second with a drive to left off JP Sears for his fourth homer.

ROYALS 4, MARINERS 2

SEATTLE (AP) — Nelson Velázquez hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning to put Kansas City ahead, and Michael Wacha worked six dominant innings as the Royals beat Seattle.

Velázquez’s third homer of the season spoiled what had been a strong outing for Seattle starter Logan Gilbert. Entering the decisive seventh, Gilbert had given up just three hits in six shutout innings.

It all fell apart for Gilbert (3-2) in the seventh as Bobby Witt, Jr. led off with a walk and reached second on a Vinnie Pasquantino groundout to second base. Salvador Perez then reached on an intentional walk, and scored two batters later when Velázquez sent a 398-foot blast to left field.

Maikel Garcia added to Kansas City’s lead with an RBI single off Mariners reliever Trent Thornton in the eighth.

Luke Raley gave the Mariners an early lead with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, one of just three hits for the Mariners against Wacha (3-4), who struck out seven.

Mitch Haniger hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth off closer James McArthur, who struck out Dylan Moore and got Luis Urías to line out for his 10th save.

ROCKIES 6, PADRES 3

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ezequiel Tovar homered and Colorado beat Dylan Cease and San Diego, extending their win streak to a season-high six games.

Tovar, Ryan McMahon and Elehuris Montero each had two hits as last-place Colorado improved to 4-2 against San Diego this season.

Cal Quantrill (3-3) earned his third consecutive win. The right-hander, who was selected by San Diego in the first round of the 2016 amateur draft, allowed one run and six hits in six-plus innings.

Tyler Kinley handled the ninth for his first save.

REDS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 2

PHOENIX (AP) — Hunter Greene pitched seven effective innings, Will Benson hit a two-run homer and Cincinnati bounced back from a difficult loss with a win over Arizona.

Arizona handed the reeling Reds a 6-5 loss on Monday night on Kevin Newman’s two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Cincinnati gave the Diamondbacks no chance of another late rally, racking up 13 hits while scoring six runs between the fourth and sixth innings.

Benson homered off Slade Cecconi (1-3) in the fifth, and the Reds posted a pair of pinch-hit, run-scoring singles in the sixth for their second win in 13 games.

Greene (2-2) allowed two runs and five hits. He struck out five and walked one.

Blaze Alexander hit a two-run single for Arizona, which had six hits.

CARDINALS 7, ANGELS 6

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Alec Burleson hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning, Pedro Pagés had a three-run double for his first MLB hit and the St. Louis defeated the Los Angeles Angels.

Kevin Pillar had three hits and Logan O’Hoppe had a three-run homer in the fourth inning as the Angels fell to 1-5 on their current homestand despite rallying from an early five-run deficit. The Halos are a major league-worst 5-16 at home.

Burleson also had three hits as he homered for the fourth time in 16 games after not having one in his first 19. Nolan Arenado led off the seventh with a base hit before Burleson connected on Amir Garrett’s slider and drove it over the right-field wall to give the Cardinals their third straight victory.

Sonny Gray (5-2) struck out nine in six innings, but allowed five runs and eight hits. Ryan Helsley picked up his 13th save.

Hunter Strickland (1-1) took the loss.

DODGERS 10, GIANTS 2

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani had a solo home run and an RBI double among his three hits, and the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers pounded rival San Francisco.

Ohtani’s 12th homer highlighted a four-run fourth that was capped by Gavin Lux’s RBI triple. Teoscar Hernández doubled home a run and Max Muncy hit a sacrifice fly in the inning, backing Gavin Stone (4-1). Hernández later contributed a two-run triple.

Will Smith hit an RBI single in the fifth in the Dodgers’ sixth straight victory in the series dating to last year. Los Angeles has won 14 of 17 at Oracle Park and 10 of 12 overall against the Giants since being swept at home from June 16-18, 2023.

Heliot Ramos hit an RBI single in the sixth for the Giants, but the Dodgers added on in the seventh when Mookie Betts tripled and scored on Ohtani’s double.

Miguel Rojas added an RBI double in the ninth for the Dodgers.

Stone allowed one run and five hits over six innings to win his second consecutive start and fourth straight decision.

Giants starter Keaton Winn (3-6) allowed five runs and five hits in four-plus innings. The right-hander gave way to Randy Rodriguez with two aboard and no outs in the fifth.

Miami Marlins relief pitcher A.J. Puk throws during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)