Toledo lawyer Terry Lodge is this year’s recipient of the Johnsrud Unsung Heroes Award presented by the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, a coalition of more than 30 activist groups across the nation that promote non violence and less reliance on nuclear power.

The award, presented Tuesday at the alliance’s 30th annual awards gala in Washington, is named after the late Judith Johnsrud, a geographer “who worked diligently for more than 50 years to protect communities from nuclear power in all its phases,” the alliance said.

Mr. Lodge, who specializes in environmental and energy issues, has been a lawyer since the late 1970s. He is associated with the nonprofit Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, which offers free and affordable legal services.

In his acceptance speech, he encouraged more active participation in democracy.

“Legislate nature’s right to exist; prohibit air, soil and water from exposure to nuclear perils and make citizens the legal guardians with the power to sue on behalf of nature,” Mr. Lodge said.

Another area activist, Michael Keegan of Monroe, received the award in 2015 for his many years as a nuclear watchdog. Another Michigan activist, Kay Cumbow of St. Clair County, was the award recipient in 2016.

First Published May 26, 2018, 5:28 a.m.