WANGARI MUTA MAATHAI.
By Mussa Juma, Dar es Salaam.
By Mussa Juma, Dar es Salaam.
PROFESSOR Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya in 1940 and her passing away on 25th September, 2011, at the Nairobi Hospital.
According to the, wikipedia and Green Belt Movement website ,this was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree, Professor Maathai obtained a degree in Biological Sciences from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas (1964).
She subsequently earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh (1966). Professor Maathai pursued doctoral studies in Germany and the University of Nairobi, obtaining a Ph.D. (1971) from the University of Nairobi where she also taught veterinary anatomy.
Professor Maathai was active in the National Council of Women of Kenya in 1976-87 and was its chairman from 1981-87.
Professor Maathai was active in the National Council of Women of Kenya in 1976-87 and was its chairman from 1981-87.
Maathai has assisted in planting more than 40 million trees on community lands
In 1986 the Green Belt Movement (GBM) established a Pan African Green Belt Network that has exposed many leaders of other African countries to its unique approach.
Some of these individuals have established similar tree planting initiatives in their own countries using the methods taught to improve their efforts.
Countries that have successfully launched such initiatives in Africa include Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and others.
In September 1998, Professor Maathai became co-chair of the Jubilee 2000 Africa Campaign, which seeks debt cancellation for African countries.
In September 1998, Professor Maathai became co-chair of the Jubilee 2000 Africa Campaign, which seeks debt cancellation for African countries.
Her campaign against land grabbing and rapacious allocation of forest lands has gained international attention in recent years.
Professor Maathai is internationally recognized for her persistent struggle for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation.
Professor Maathai is internationally recognized for her persistent struggle for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation.
She has addressed the UN on several occasions and spoke on behalf of women at special sessions of the General Assembly during the five-year review of the Earth Summit.
She served on the commission for Global Governance and the Commission on the Future.
She and the Green Belt Movement have received numerous awards
Winning the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize.
On 8 October 2004, Maathai received a call from Ole Danbolt Mjos, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, informing her that she was the recipient of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy and peace She became the first African woman, and the first environmentalist, to win the prize.
Since winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai had become a spokesperson for a number of important initiatives.
Both before and since she won the Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai spoke about, and was interviewed on, a range of subjects.
Wangari Passing away
Family of Professor Wangari Maathai announces her passing away on 25th September, 2011, at the Nairobi Hospital, after a prolonged and bravely borne struggle with cancer. Her loved ones were with her at the time.
Professor Maathai's departure is untimely and a very great loss to all who knew her - as a mother, relative, co-worker, colleague, role model, and heroine; or who admired her determination to make the world a more peaceful, healthier, and better place
Professor Maathai Wangari we will truly miss her
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