Rocky Road: Wangari Maathai

 

 

Born as Wangari Muta in Kenya in 1940, none could have known of the lifelong struggle for justice she was to embody.

After early schooling in Kenya, Wangari was chosen for the Kennedy Airlift, which arranged University education for 300 Kenyans in the USA.  Here she was inspired by the environmental movement and returned to Kenya to become a lecturer, professor and activist.

Maathai was the first East African woman to obtain a PhD from the University of Nairobi. She founded the Green Belt Movement, which promoted tree planting as a means of beating poverty, deforestation and desertification, and she pushed for rights for women and for all Kenyans.

As an active environmental and democracy activist she fought at every turn to curtail the power of corrupt government and its degradation of the environment. She faced the threat of assassination and was frequently arrested and assaulted by the police, while the Kenyan Government repeatedly used dirty tricks to keep her out of mainstream politics.

Nevertheless, she was finally elected as an MP in 2002 and was recognised for her lifelong struggle for justice, peace, democracy and environmentalism through the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

She continued to work for the environment until her death from cancer in 2011.

“Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, you haven’t done a thing. You are just talking.”

Wangari Maathai’s life story reads like a movie, with violence, sexism and corruption that she overcame at every turn. Maathai’s example is of someone who absolutely believes in what is right, and is a humbling example to us all. – Bernardo Moya

About Bernardo Moya

Bernardo is the founder of The Best You, author of The Question, Find Your True Purpose, an entrepreneur, writer, publisher, TV producer and seminar promoter to some of the biggest names in Personal Development. He is editor-in-chief of The Best You magazine – a fascinating voice in the Personal Development world.
http://www.bernardo-moya.com

 

We are experts in lifestyle enhancement. We are in the business of helping people achieve their dreams. So why not subscribe now to The Best tips and advice from the world leaders in Personal Development.

p

 

CONTACT US

We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Sending

©2023   The Best You Inc or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. Registered office: Suite #1540 located at 9120 Double Diamond Pkwy, Reno, NV 89521
Call us now on +44 208 089 6972 or send us an email at: [email protected]