| Wangari Maathai, Peacemaker Extraordinaire |
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"It's very, very important for us to take action at the local level, because sometimes when we think of global problems, we get disempowered. But when we take action at the local level, we are empowered." Wangari Maathai, Earth Charter Commissioner & Nobel Peace Laureate "It's very, very important for us to take action at the local level, because sometimes when we think of global problems, we get disempowered. But when we take action at the local level, we are empowered." Wangari Maathai, Earth Charter Commissioner & Nobel Peace Laureate I met the extraordinary speaker of these words at the launch of the Earth Charter in The Hague Peace Palace in June 2000. She sat next to me on the bus that was taking us to the Mayor’s reception. It is easy to recall her in her bright green African dress, with her dazzling smile and alive, expressive face. I could not help but notice the respect for her emanating from the others on the bus. We spoke briefly about her grassroots work in Kenya. She spoke so matter of factly about it that I did not fully appreciate the courage and determination it took to do what she was doing. Instead she focused on me, enthusiastically asking about our Earth Charter Community Summits, which had been announced that morning as the major effort in the United States. I remember receiving her card because she wanted me to send her our “manual”. No such thing existed, as the Summits were a dream not yet fulfilled. This self-effacing woman became the toast of the globe, winning the coveted Nobel Peace Prize for her work in Kenya--the first African woman to win the award. She is not only a Nobel Laureate but also the Earth Charter Commissioner from Kenya. She brings profound credibility to the Earth Charter and its importance in making the world a better place. She describes her prize winning work in Kenya as a “translation of the Earth Charter though community actions.” Dr. Wangari Maathai is an outstanding example of the difference one person can make when she has a passion for what she is doing. She shows through her incredible courage what one person can accomplish when she stays the course and doesn’t give up. Dr. Maathai stands at the front of the fight to promote ecologically viable social, economic and cultural development in Kenya and in Africa. She has taken a holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces democracy, human rights and women's rights in particular. In her attempts to bring democracy to Kenya, she was jailed and beaten. Her work there was very difficult in the beginning and she was a target of the oppressive regime. She founded the Greenbelt Movement with the goal of restoring Africa's forests to put an end to the poverty that deforestation was causing by providing women with an income and empowering them to take on leadership roles within their communities. Since its founding in 1977, Green Belt has led women to plant more than more than 30 million trees throughout Kenya and establish over 6,000 tree nurseries When I read about the violence in Kenya I am concerned for her and the people in her country. I pray for all of them. I am somewhat reassured when I read about her peace-making efforts with Desmond Tutu. If anyone can resolve the conflict and violence, it is these two remarkable, unique and powerful people.
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