Wangari Maathai 
Biography
Founder of Green Belt Movement, Politician, Nobel Laureate, from Kenya
Professor Maathai is the Founder of Africa’s Green Belt Movement , a grassroots organization whose main focus is the planting of trees with women groups in order to conserve the environment and improve their quality of life.
In December 2002, Professor Maathai was elected to parliament with an overwhelming 98% of the vote and was subsequently appointed by the president, as Assistant Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Wildlife in Kenya’s ninth parliament.
She serves on the boards of several organizations including the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament.
In 2004 she received the Nobel Peace Prize for “her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.”
She has also been named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential leaders in the world.
Videos
Wangari Maathai
Why does sustainable development matter?
Professor Maathai says that in awarding her the Peace Prize in 2004 the Nobel Committee ‘has challenged global society to think in a more holistic way.’ Here, Professor…
Recorded: 17 December 2004
Wangari Maathai
Can Africa look after itself?
Professor Maathai explains how colonial administrators in Africa saw local culture as a hindrance to ‘progress.’ As a result, Africa’s cultural roots were systematically…
Recorded: 17 December 2004
Wangari Maathai
How can Africa develop successfully?
In clip two (see “Empowering Africa”), Wangari Maathai talked about empowerment through culture. Here, she talks about empowering Africa through democracy. She speaks…
Recorded: 17 December 2004
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