Rock the Earth has announced the winners of its 2010 Planet Defender Awards in conjunction with its Rock the Earth Day celebration. Bonnie Raitt is this year’s winner in the Planet Defender Awards’ Artist category. Raitt was a founding member of MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) which produced the concerts, album and movie, No Nukes in 1979. More recently, Rock the Earth was a recipient of a fundraising Grant from her The BonTaj Collective Action Fund for the organization’s environmental protection work.

“As a long-time advocate for the environment and safe energy, it is such an honor to receive the Planet Defender award from Rock the Earth,” Raitt said. “This organization has been a faithful non-profit partner in my ongoing effort to share the message of ultimate environmental responsibility with fans at my concerts. Thank you, Rock the Earth, for helping to spread the word about protecting the environment and encouraging people to get involved at the local level. Keep up the great work!”

Stop Global Warming Founder Laurie David, and Louie Psihoyos, Executive Director of the Oceanic Preservation Society and the Director of the Academy Award winning documentary The Cove, were also selected as the winners in three categories. Planet Defender recipients are nominated by Rock the Earth members and chosen by Rock the Earth’s National Volunteer Staff.