Wangari Maathai's Green Belt mouvement

The planting of trees is the planting of ideas. By starting with the simple act of planting a tree, we give hope to ourselves and to future generations.–Wangari Maathai What is the Green Belt Movement? The Green Belt Movement is one of the most prominent women’s civil society organizations, based in Kenya, advocating for human rights and supporting good governance and peaceful democratic change through the protection of the environment. Its mission is to empower communities worldwide to protect the environment and to promote good governance and cultures of peace. How It All Started The Green Belt Movement (GBM) was started in 1977 by Dr. Wangari Maathai, the first African woman and the first environmentalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (in 2004). What began as a grassroots tree planting program to address the challenges of deforestation, soil erosion and lack of water is now a vehicle for empowering women. The act of planting a tree is helping women throughout Africa become stewards of the natural environment. But that’s just the first step. By protecting the environment, these women are also becoming powerful champions for sustainable management of scarce resources such as water, equitable economic development, good political governance, and ultimately….. peace. Our Achievements Today, more than 40 million trees have been planted across Africa. The result: soil erosion has been reduced in critical watersheds, thousands of acres of biodiversity-rich indigenous forest have been restored and protected, and hundreds of thousands of women and their families are standing up for their rights and those of their communities and so are living healthier, more productive lives. Yet, so much remains to be done. Forests are still being lost, democracy is fragile, and poverty is still widespread. Wangari Maathai was born April 1, 1940 Place: Nyeri Nationality: Kenyan Family: Three children (Waweru, Wanjira and Muta) Education PhD, Anatomy, University of Nairobi (1971) MS, Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, USA (1966) BS, Biology, Mount St. Scholastica College, USA (1964) Personal Achievements Goodwill Ambassador, Congo Basin Forest Initiative (2005-present) Presiding Officer, Economic Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC) (2005-2007) Founding Chair, the Green Belt Movement International (2005) Assistant Minister, Environment, Republic of Kenya (2003-Present) Member of Parliament, Tetu Constituency, Republic of Kenya (2002-present) Founding member, GROOTS International (1985) Founder and Coordinator, the Green Belt Movement (1977-2002) Director, Kenya Red Cross (1973-1980) Academic Appointments Chair, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Nairobi (1976) Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Nairobi (1977) Endowed Chair in Gender & Women’s Studies named “Fuller-Maathai,” Connecticut College (2000) Montgomery Fellow, Dartmouth College, USA (2001) Dorothy McCluskey Visiting Fellow for Conservation, Yale University, USA (2002) Professional Affiliations Board Member, Global Crop Diversity, Norway Jury Member, Goldman Environmental Prize, USA Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International, USA Advisory Board, Clinton Global Initiative, USA Member, UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, USA Member, UN Commission on Global Governance, USA Member, Advisory Board, Democracy Coalition Project, USA Member, Earth Charter Commission, USA Selection Committee, Sasakawa Environmental Prize, United Nations Environment Programme, Kenya Board Member, Women's and Environment Development Organization (WEDO), USA Board Member, World Learning USA Board Member, Green Cross International Board Member, Environment Liaison Center International, Kenya Board Member, the WorldWIDE Network of Women in Environmental Work, USA Board Member, National Council of Women of Kenya, Kenya Honorary Degrees Doctor of Science, Egerton University, Kenya (2007) Doctor of Public Service Honoris Causa, University of Pittsburgh, USA (2006) Doctor of Humane Letters, Connecticut College, USA (2006) Doctor of Science, Morehouse College, USA (2006) Doctor of Science, Ochanomizu University, Japan (2005) Doctor of Science, Willamette University, USA (2005) Doctor of Science, University of Nairobi, Kenya (2005) Doctor of Science, Soka University, Japan (2004) Doctor of Science, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan (2004) Doctor of Law, Yale University, USA (2004) Doctor of Agriculture, University of Norway (1997) Doctor of Science, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, USA (1994) Doctor of Law, Williams College, USA (1990) Awards 2007: The Nelson Mandela Award for Health & Human Rights, South Africa 2007: The Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, India 2007: Cross of the Order of St Benedict, Benedictine College, Kansas, USA 2006:The Indira Gandhi International Award for Peace, Disarmament & Development, India 2006: Premio Defensa Medio Ambiente, Club Internacional De Prensa, Spain 2006: 6th in 100 greatest eco-heroes of all time, The Environment Agency, UK 2006: Medal for Distinguished Achievement, University of Pennsylvania, USA 2006:Woman of Achievement Award from the American Biographical Institute Inc., USA 2006:The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Milele(Lifetime)Achievement Award 2006: Legion D'Honneur, Government of France 2006: The IAIA Global Environment Award, International Association for Impact Assessment, Norway 2006: Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund Award, USA 2005: New York Women's Century Award, New York Women's Foundation, USA 2005: One the 100 most influential people in the world: Time magazine, USA 2005: One of the 100 most powerful women in the world: Forbes magazine, USA 2004: Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Norway 2004: Sophie Prize, the Sophie Foundation, Norway 2004: Elder of the Golden Heart, Republic of Kenya 2004: Petra Kelly Environment Prize, Heinrich Boell Foundation, Germany 2004: J. Sterling Morton Award, Arbor Day Foundation, USA 2004: Conservation Scientist Award, Center for Environmental Research and Conservation, Columbia University, USA 2003: Elder of the Burning Spear, Republic of Kenya 2003: WANGO Environment Award, World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations, USA 2002: Outstanding Vision and Commitment Award, Bridges to Community, USA 2001: Excellence Award, Kenyan Community Abroad, USA 2001: The Juliet Hollister Award, Temple of Understanding, USA 1997: One of 100 in the world who’ve made a difference in environment: Earth Times, USA 1995: International Women’s Hall of Fame, International Women's Forum Leadership Foundation, USA 1994: The Order of the Golden Ark Award, the Netherlands 1993: The Jane Addams Leadership Award, Jane Addams Conference, USA 1993: The Edinburgh Medal, Medical Research Council, Scotland 1991: The Hunger Project’s Africa Prize for Leadership, United Nations, USA 1991: Global 500 Hall of Fame: United Nations Environment Programme, USA 1991: The Goldman Environmental Prize, the Goldman Foundation, USA 1990: The Offeramus Medal, Benedictine College, USA 1989: Women of the World Award, WomenAid, UK 1988: The Windstar Award for the Environment, Windstar Foundation, USA 1986: Better World Society Award, USA 1984: Right Livelihood Award, Sweden 1983: Woman of the Year Award