At Green Is The New Black, we are proud to announce Dr. Jill Robinson, founder of Animals Asia, and legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle as our 2024 Green Warrior Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. These two women embody this year’s theme, We Are Nature: Voices for the Earth, through their lifelong dedication to safeguarding animals and ecosystems and inspiring future generations.
Jill Robinson: Mother of Moon Bears and Founder of Animals Asia
Jill Robinson’s journey began in 1993 when a trapped moon bear on a Chinese bile farm reached out to her through the bars of its cage. This powerful encounter drove her to dedicate her life to rescuing these beautiful creatures and advocating for their welfare. In 1998, she founded Animals Asia, an organization that has since rescued nearly 700 bears from the bile industry, giving them a second chance at life in sanctuaries in China and Vietnam.
Under Jill’s leadership, Animals Asia has reshaped animal welfare in Asia, creating safe havens for bears and influencing the phase-out of bile farming in Vietnam. Her programs, such as Dr. Dog and Professor Paws, further the mission by educating communities on animal companionship and compassion. Through her holistic approach to animal welfare, Jill has made Asia a pioneer of compassionate conservation, setting an example of what it means to truly protect and honor the lives of animals.
Sylvia Earle: Guardian of the Deep Blue
Joining Jill as a 2024 Lifetime Achievement Green Warrior is Dr. Sylvia Earle, renowned oceanographer and explorer, affectionately called “Her Deepness.” With over 7,000 hours spent diving in the ocean, Sylvia has spent her life advocating for marine ecosystems and the essential role they play in sustaining life on Earth. Through her initiative Mission Blue, Sylvia has established over 100 marine “Hope Spots,” critical areas around the world that provide sanctuary for marine life and a blueprint for global conservation. Her work reminds us of the ocean’s beauty, fragility, and necessity—and that every action to protect our oceans is an action to protect ourselves.
We Are Nature: Voices for the Earth – A Celebration of Interconnectedness
The theme of this year’s Green Warriors Awards, We Are Nature: Voices for the Earth, celebrates our intrinsic connection to the natural world and calls on each of us to remember that our health and future are deeply linked with the well-being of animals, oceans, and ecosystems. By honoring Jill Robinson and Sylvia Earle, we celebrate their transformative impact and acknowledge the critical, intertwined fight to protect Earth’s biodiversity.
Continuing the Green Warriors Legacy
Through the Green Warriors Awards, Green Is The New Black is committed to spotlighting leaders like Jill and Sylvia who inspire a conscious, compassionate world. By sharing their stories, we aim to foster an appreciation for all life and encourage everyone to take #LittleGreenSteps. These two Green Warriors exemplify that true change comes from empathy, dedication, and an unyielding commitment to the Earth. Together, we are reminded: We Are Nature, and each of us has a vital role to play in protecting it.
To learn more about Jill’s and Sylvia’s work and how you can support their missions, visit Animals Asia and Mission Blue.
