Wangari Maathai 1940–
Environmentalist and Winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize
In 1977, Wangari Maathai planted nine trees in her backyard in Kenya. From this beginning, Maathai went on to start a tree-planting program among village women. It is called the Green Belt Movement. Maathai's goal was to bring back Kenya's forests. Years of cutting down trees had led to soil erosion, lack of grass for animals, and lack of wood for fuel. This caused great poverty in Kenya's rural villages. Since the movement began, women in Kenya have planted more than 30 million trees. The women earn money for their work and help the environment at the same time.
As a women's leader, Maathai has spoken out strongly for democracy in Kenya. She often clashed with the government of Daniel arap Moi. After Moi left power in 2002, Maathai was elected to a seat in the parliament. In 2004, she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. In his speech, the head of the Nobel Committee said to Maathai: “You are an outstanding role model…for Africa and the rest of the world.”
Critical Thinking
In what way will planting trees help Kenya's economy?