Wangari Maathai - The warrior for Green Earth
Fighting for the environment and its crores of inhabitants is not an easy thing. A lot of hurdles will be there on the way, eventhough we cannot point out in first sense.A confident and courageous mind is the essential think that required for this movement.
The declaration of Nobel peace prize of 2004 surprised the world. The recipient was the recently died Mrs.Wangari Maathai , a noted environmentalist from Kenya.She was the first African Woman to receive the Nobel peace prize.The Nobel committee declared that the prize was for her contribution in the fields of consistent development, democracy and peace.The press release of that declaration was as follows.
"The peace on earth depends on our ability to make our habitat safe and secure.Maathai stands in front to ensure that the social cultural and economic developments in Kenya and Africa does not affect the environment in any manner.The approach of Wangari Maathai is comprehensive.Democracy , human rights and women rights comes under it.She thinks globally and act locally."
Planting the saplings was a usual practice carried out all over the world in different occations.But it was transformed into a movement by Wangari Maathai. The Green Belt Movement that she established in 1977 planted millions of trees in Kenya and Africa.
Wangari Maathai was constantly watching the life realities of the Kenyan women flock. She found out that the destruction and pollution of environment had badly affected the woman of Kenya.Thus she recognised that the right way to protect the women is to protect the environment by encouraging the woman flock to plant trees.She pointed that the trees planted today can be used as logs in future.Also they act as the protectors of crops and water sources.As a honour , Wangari Maathai received an invitation to co-operate with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) when it was established in 1972 at Kenyan capital Nairobi.
The above thoughts and experiences made her to think about the mass tree plantation movement. It is estimated that the Green Belt Movement established by her had planted over 700 crore trees all over the world.
Wangari Maathai was a personality who shined in a multiple of fields. To Kenyans she was a human right activist, political leader, feminist etc. She became internationally famous when she opposed the deforestation decision of Kenyan Government for construction purposes.She became a national heroine through this act and government sentenced her to jail many times.Still she didn't withdraw from her activities for this environment.
Besides Nobel Peace Prize Wangari Maathai had received many other honours and awards also. The important among them are the Right livelihood award 1984 , Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2006 etc. She had also authored a number of books.The 2006 released book named "Unbowed - a Memoir" is the autobiography of Wangari Maathai.
We also may follow the footprints that Wangari Maathai left here.Try to plant a sapling at least once in a year on your most happy birthday and support the movement named "My Birthday an Earth Day" started by our college NSS unit.
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