Professor Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement

Professor Wangari Maathai was a famous figure in Kenya, in Africa and many parts of the world. She was a strong believer of the power of women and making positive change for our environment. Professor Maathai spent most of her life encouraging individual communities and groups all over Africa to come together and make a difference. She started a tree planting initiative in Kenya which grew into The Green Belt Movement in 1977 which empowers women and the community at large to conserve the environment and improve the lives of its people. 

Professor Wangari Maathai obtained her first degree in Biological Science, a masters of Science degree and finally PhD in 1971 from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She also taught Veterinary Anatomy at the University of Nairobi. Professor Maathai was the chairperson of the National Council of Women of Kenya in 1981-1987 where she introduced the idea of community-based tree planting. She is well known for a constant struggle for democracy, human rights and the conservation of the environment.

For Kenya, Professor Wangari Maathai is the reason for several positive changes. She is an important figure particularly in this project because through these speeches and her contributions in various areas such as her political struggle for equal rights, her talks on the challenges of AIDS in Africa and stand for environmental conservation, Kenya continues to become a better place. In her address during the 2 nd World Congress of Agroforestry Professor Wangari Maathai urges the world to take on the Japanese culture of learning at a tender age to be accountable to the future generations in conserving the environment. 

Professor Maathai’s community-based project was started in one rural region in Central Kenya. Only a handful of women took part in it. These women were completely ignored as they slowly started to plant trees in the hopes that they would soon have clean water, more food supplies and firewood. Gradually more women became involved causing media houses to cover the stories and their goals. As radio stations, newspapers and television channels continued to cover these stories, the initiative went viral. Kenyan women suddenly became excited, wanting to be a part of the change. As Kenya is a male dominant country, immediately after these testimonies hit the media, political leaders attempted to side step the issue, making sarcastic remarks aimed to ridicule Professor Maathai’s efforts. However it was too late to stop them. These women wanted to contribute and with Professor Maathai at the forefront they were certain there goals were attainable.

Through her leadership in this particular project, Professor Wangari Maathai encouraged women to believe in themselves. In the Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai, a certain woman stated that Professor Wangari Maathai has caused her to realise that if she fought for her rights, she could make it happen. Her self expression leads me to believe that through this initiative more Kenyan women were found their voice and became more willing to take a public stand for what they believe in. Many more women are now taking part in Kenyan politics. This is not to say that Professor Wangari Maathai is solely responsible for this development but that she greatly contributed to the outcome. She continues to be of influence even after her passing in 2011. 

<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In her talk on the Challenge of AIDS in Africa Professor Wangari Maathai points out that both he issues of poverty and environmental conservation and The AIDS pandemic are huge issues that need immediate attention. She goes so far as to state that sometimes she is torn as to which to focus on. However, she gives both a fair share of her time stressing the need for all communities to come together to fight these issues.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In addressing the Challenge of AIDS in Africa, Professor Maathai repeatedly explains that Africa needs more education on HIV and AIDS and ways to protect themselves and others from the spread of the disease. She further discussed that the superstitions and cultural beliefs on the ways the disease was created and the ways to curb or obtain cure from it are false. Her purpose was to create awareness, to urge Africans to take the issue seriously, and to educate and protect themselves. Professor Maathai was also quick to point out that HIV/AIDS is not her field of expertise. Despite this, Professor Wangari Maathai continued to care deeply for her community and wanted the best for her people.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Kofi Anaan the seventh secretary general of United Nations prepared a statement on behalf of the African Union following the announcement of the results of the Kenyan presidential elections. In his speech he commended the Kenyan government, the opposition and Kenyans in general for the remarkable calm that was the country at a very tense moment. After the 2007 elections, political post election violence erupted in the country where many people were killed, others lost their homes and property and many others were injured. Great fears for a repeat performance caused observers including international ones to keep a close eye on the elections. Despite the disappointment of several ethnic groups upon the announcement of Kenya’s new president, the country remained peaceful. Kofi Anaan who played a major part in the negotiations that took place in 2008 after the elections between the chosen candidate president mwai Kibaki and his opponent Raila Odinga. Kofi Anaan’s statement goes to demonstrate the growth of the country from a political view. As much as some communities were not impressed by the results the country as a whole remained peaceful. The political leaders also this time opted to take their issues to the courts instead of inciting the youth and other Kenyans to take to the streets.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Through the narratives provided by these articles, a clear picture is painted depicting how where Kenya started from, where it aims to go and how far it has come as a developing country. While there is a lot more to be done for the country, their achievements so far are commendable. These two great leaders have in their speeches shared their encounter with us providing us with a vivid picture of what being kenyan is really like.

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Kofi Anaan Foundation

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="line-height: 200%; color: blue; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> http://kofiannanfoundation.org/newsroom/press/2013/03/statement-he-mr-kofi-annan-behalf-african-union-panel-eminent-african-persona<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Green Belt Movement: Professor Wangari Maathai

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="line-height: 200%; color: blue; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/wangari-maathai/key-speeches-and-articles/2nd-world-congress-of-agroforestry-keynote-address<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Challenge of AIDS in Africa: Professor Wangari Maathai <span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="line-height: 200%; color: blue; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/wangari-maathai/key-speeches-and-articles/challenge-of-AIDS<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">

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