Professor Wangari Maathai
The woman who nurtured a greener future
Here's a time line of Prof. Wangari's life:
- 1940 - Born in Ihithe, Nyeri, Kenya.
- 1960 - Earns a scholarship to study biology in the United States as part of the “Kennedy Airlift.”
- 1964 - Graduates from Mount St. Scholastica College, Kansas, with a degree in Biological Sciences.
- 1966 - Receives a Master of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
- 1971 - Becomes the first East African woman to earn a Ph.D., specializing in veterinary anatomy from the University of Nairobi.
- 1977 - Founds the Green Belt Movement, an environmental organization focused on tree-planting, conservation, and women’s rights.
- 1989 - Spearheads protests against the construction of a massive skyscraper in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park, a project later abandoned.
- 1991 - Arrested and imprisoned for her activism. Brings international attention to the connection between environmental issues and political oppression.
- 2002 - Elected to Kenya’s Parliament and appointed Assistant Minister for Environment, Natural Resources, and Wildlife.
- 2004 - Becomes the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy, and peace.
- 2006 - Publishes her memoir, Unbowed: A Memoir, reflecting on her life and struggles.
- 2010 - Advocates for the inclusion of environmental conservation in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
- 2011 - Passes away at the age of 71 after a battle with cancer.
Wangari Maathai's legacy reminds us that nurturing our planet is an act of both courage and compassion, vital for future generations." -- Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
If you have time, you should read more about this incredible human being on her Wikipedia Entry