Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai passed away on Sunday 25th September in Nairobi. She was an inspirational human being who constantly fought for her beliefs and she shows us what a community can achieve when they harness their knowledge and protect their resources.
She created the United Nations Environmental Programme in 1972 and founding the Kenyan Green Belt Movement in 1977, Wangari inspired a nation to plant 45 million trees in Kenya. The GBM movement continues to plant trees and campaign for education, nutrition and other issues that are important to women. She wrote a number of books, which are available on the GBM website.
She was elected as an MP in Kenya in 2002, and became deputy environment minister in 2003. In 2004, she was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her commitment to sustainability, democracy and peace.
EcoStreet praises Wangari Maathai for her lifelong dedication to our beautiful planet. You are our hero… goodbye, you will be missed!
Why not join the Green Belt Movement tree planters and plant a tree in your neighbourhood because, in Wangari’s words “When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope”.
Photo copyright © The Nobel Foundation