Albena Simeonova

Albena Simeonova (* 1964) is a Bulgarian environmental activist. She became internationally known because of their work against the Bulgarian Belene nuclear power plant.

Education / Professional

Albena Simenove studied at the University of Sofia biology and chemistry. In further studies, she worked in the field of ecology. She worked for several years as a teacher of biology in the secondary.

Since 1991 she has worked as a Senior Ecologist for the Botevgrad district administration. From 1994 to 1996 as Executive Director of the Foundation for Environmental Education (Foundation for Ecological Education and Training) worked in Sofia. This addition to their function as Vice- Chairman of the Bulgarian Party "The Greens ".

She is one of the largest organic farmers in Bulgaria, their agriculture is about 12 km from the planned nuclear power plant Belene away.

Environmental protection activities

Albena Simenova was one of the first members of the Bulgarian Ekoglasnost environmental organization in 1987. She founded the Bulgarian Green Party in 1991. In 1996 she was co-founder of the Bulgarian Green Association.

Death threats

Your protest activities subjected to death threats by themselves. Starting from December 16, 2004 Albena received a first anonymous phone call in which she was threatened with death if they will not give up the cooperation with Greenpeace and the resistance against the Belene nuclear power plant.

The death threats started an international support action for the safety of Albena. This was supported by Greenpeace in cooperation with Bankwatch, Friends of the Earth Europe, WISE, elaw and the Goldman Foundation. The result was police protection Albena. Additional private protection could be provided through the support of the Goldman Foundation and Greenpeace.

Prizes and awards

She was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1996 for their initiatives for environmental protection in Bulgaria.

In 1997 she received the UNEP Environmental Award.