Green Gazette: Wangari Maathai

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The Green Belt Movement, founded by Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has planted 30 million trees across Africa since 1977.
The Green Belt Movement, founded by Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has planted 30 million trees across Africa since 1977.
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The Green Belt Movement, foundedby Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has planted 30 million trees across Africa since 1977.
The Green Belt Movement, foundedby Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has planted 30 million trees across Africa since 1977.

The Genius of Wangari Maathai

Several prominent Norwegians have questioned the Nobel Committee for awarding the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize to Wangari Maathai. Why honor environmental activism in an era when war, terrorism and nuclear proliferation are even more urgent problems, they wonder.

What they miss is Dr. Maathai’s special genius.

The first time we met Maathai was five years ago in an airy guesthouse beneath towering Jacaranda trees on the outskirts of Nairobi. At the time, the Green Belt Movement she founded nearly 25 years earlier was still struggling against the ruthless political regime of President Daniel arap Moi.

As we then witnessed her movement in action at the village level, we felt privileged to get a taste of Maathai’s genius. National Public Radio commentator Daniel Schorr has said that Maathai may someday be seen as an African Mother Theresa. But, make no mistake, Maathai’s life is not about taking care of others. It is about something else

  • Published on Apr 1, 2005
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