Wangari Maathai remembered
Dec. 10, 2004, Wangari Maathai from Kenya holds her Nobel Peace Prize in the Oslo City Hall, Norway. Wangari Maathai, the first African woman recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Maathai died after a long struggle with cancer, the environmental organization she founded said Monday Sept. 26, 2011.
Maathai won her Nobel in 2004 for combining science and social activism. She was the founder of the Green Belt Movement, where over 30 years she mobilized poor women to plant 30 million trees.
Ms. Maathai said during her 2004 Peace Prize acceptance speech that the inspiration for her life’s work came from her childhood experiences in rural Kenya. There she witnessed forests being cleared and replaced by commercial plantations, which destroyed biodiversity and the capacity of forests to conserve water.
Indeed we need more Maathai stemming from the fact that you cannot bring results in the arena of environment and development unless you be the Living Vision entrusted within your day in day out actions.
Unfortunately very few out of this African leaders generation can stand the, pressures, oppression and ostracism inherent to standing up for one’s community and making the right fights for the betterment of our people… There is always a risk and Maathai was ready to face it. Rest in Peace Sister Maathai…Ameen.