WANGARI MAATHAI- BACK TO NATURE

“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

As a child Wangari Maathai, Africa’s first female environmentalist to win the Nobel peace prize (2004), adored the sites of nature- the hundreds of tadpoles that enjoyed the freshness of the marshy waters in the village, and the green natural expanse. To her, this was perfection as the environment all around exudes the warmth of nature and the peaceable state of Mother Nature.

The beautiful scenery gave reason and peace to every day life existence. Gradually, like the fading away of the sun, the waters and the green growth that once decorated the environment became a rare sight. The vast lands have all been converted into commercial farmlands, the drive to improve economic activities have deprived the people the privilege of appreciating the beauty that once existed.

An anomaly suggesting the environment needs to be saved. Who is vested with this responsibility? Maathai in one of her statements insisted “it is the people who must save the environment”.

Portrayed as “Mother of trees”, Maathai lived her entire life tending, protecting and sustaining nature’s gift. Her closeness to nature, imparted on her personality, according to her, the land taught her all she knew. Being the first African woman in the East and Central region to earn a PhD; her early days as a Veterinarian Surgeon in the Nairobi University revealed to her the intricacies of government activities and how its resultant environmental degradation affects women of the community, with endless drought and vast loss of biodiversity. The environmental destruction according to her is the root cause of poverty in the country and as such she was determined to see that it was addressed. Driven by this goal, Maathai resorted to working with women, as a bid to assist in ameliorating their stress and paltry state as well as salvage the environment.

The Green Belt Movement (GBM), an initiative which started in Kenya as a grassroot program metamorphosed into an avenue for women empowerment and has successfully executed the planting of millions of trees around the globe.
The network of the movement has increased considerably with branches in 30 different countries. The movement consists of 600 community groups saddled with the responsibilities of taking care of 6,000 tree nurseries, supervised by ordinary citizens in the village. About 30million trees were planted by 2004.

Faced with so many huddles as she sought to improve and protect the environment, liberate women from their voiceless and jobless state as well as upholding the democracy of the nation; especially from the high and mighty of the state, Maathai never relented. She drew faith and belief, strength and vigour from every huddle, brought her way by the Kenyan government that went all out to truncate the effort of the great heroine of the environment. Severally, she was placed under arrest as she became more vocal pointing fingers in the affairs of the government of President Daniel Arap Moi, who dismissed her claims as that of a mad woman.

In 1989, Wangari Maathai was at the fore front of a campaign to stop the proposed plans of the government to construct a multimillion pound office development in Uhuru Park. Moi and his elite’s caucus would savour the relief of profit that would periodically be stashed in their account, but for the late scrapping of the project. This only increased the hatred Moi had for Mathaai and the reason why she would be included into his assassination list in 1992. For three days she barricaded herself in her home for protection, before the police could get through to her, placing her under arrest and charged for treason and sedition. However, with the intervention of the Kennedys, she and those in custody were all released.

Maathai in her unrelenting attitude staged a hunger strike with the support of others at the Uhuru Park (Freedom Corner) requesting the release of political prisoners. As usual, the police replied for the government, beat them up. In 1993, she was accused of being responsible for inciting an attack between the Kikuyus and Kalenjins. Constantly, she defended the interest of the poor in a global scale as regards to ecology and African democracy.

In the early 1990s, Maathai decided to play a role in the mainstream of Kenyan politics. Under the platform of the Kenyan Green Party, she won 98% of the votes in her constituency paving her way into the parliament.  She also served as a junior environment minister in the government of President Mwai Kibaki between January 2003 and November 2005. Aiming for the top, she contested for presidency, but was tricked out of it, according to her claims. In 2006, she led a UNEP tree-planting scheme that resulted in the planting of more than 7bn trees planted across the planet.

Born on 1 April, 1940, Wangari Maathai was married to Mwangi Mathai, a young Kenyan politician who studied abroad, in the spring of 1969 in Nairobi. The first few years of the marriage was rosy, with the birth of Waweru, her first son and there after her daughter Wangiri born on December 1971. In 1974, the third child, Muta increased the family size. That same year, her husband won a seat in the parliament, with promises to create jobs for the community. Wangari, with her ideas aimed at restoring the environment by providing employment, saw the opportunity to connect her vision to that of her husbands political ambition, hence the creation of Envirocare Ltd, a business involving ordinary people in the society planting tress to conserve the environment. Envirocare did not last long due to financial setbacks. In 1977, Maathai and her husband separated, and in 1979 a divorce finally ensued. Mwangi stated that Maathai was too strong-minded as a woman and that he was unable to control her. According to her, the marriage was “a catastrophe”.

The divorce suit came with its drama, with Mwangi accusing Maathai of adultery with another member of the parliament. The ruling by the judge went in Mwangi’s favor in sympathy to his high blood pressure assumed to have occurred as a result of his wives purported extra marital affairs. Maathai’s reaction to the ruling earned her a charge by the judge for contempt consequently leading to her being imprisoned for six months. In response to Mwangi’s request that she drop his name, Maathai included an extra “a” to the name. The divorce came costly making it difficult for Maathai, to take care of herself and children. Succor came through a job in the United Nations Development Program, which she grabbed with both hands notwithstanding the extensive traveling required by the job.

With ingenuity and finesse, Maathai connected culture, politics and economy, in relation to the environment. This gave her an edge in the conservation activism, made a role model of an African woman. Her early departure from mother earth has left a huge gap of legacy to be upheld not only by the Green Belt Movement (GBM), but also every well meaning African and individuals the world over. "The tree is just a symbol for what happens to the environment. The act of planting one is a symbol of revitalising the community. Tree-planting is only the entry point into the wider debate about the environment. Everyone should plant a tree," she stated in one of her interviews.

October 8, 2004, Wangari Maathai received a call that from Ole Danbolt Mjos, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, informing her that she was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Mjos, this is in respect to her contributions to sustainable development, democracy and peace. That automatically, earned her an historical figure as the first African woman and environmentalist to win a nobel peace prize. “Maathai stood up courageously against the former oppressive regime in Kenya. Her unique forms of action have contributed to drawing attention to political oppression—nationally and internationally. She has served as inspiration for many in the fight for democratic rights and has especially encouraged women to better their situation.” This was the remarks of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, in a statement announcing her as the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The report of Wangari Maathai’s death came as a shock to all who knew and associated with the Kenyan heroine. A statement on the Green Belt Movement website, which read, "It is with great sadness that the family of Professor Wangari Maathai announces her passing away on 25 September 2011, at the Nairobi hospital, after a prolonged and bravely borne struggle with cancer. Her loved ones were with her at the time”, confirmed the death of Wangari Maathai. According to reports, Maathai has been in out of hospital this year, unknown to most Kenyans. The environmentalist died at the age of 71.

The world reacted to the sudden death of Wangari Maathai with condolence message and perception of the great environment defender, flooding the airwaves, and the internet. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete: "Rest in peace Dr Wangari Maathai. A great woman, an inspiration for many women across Africa, a magnificent visionary & embodiment of courage." Hilary Clinton, US Secretary of State said: "Wangari Maathai understood the deep connection between local and global problems, and helped give ordinary citizens a voice." Muhammad Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and a Nobel Laureate, put it simply, saying, "Let us all plant a tree to honour Maathai". "She understood and acted on the inextricable links between poverty, rights and environmental sustainability. One can but marvel at her foresight and the scope of her success. She was a true African heroine," Desmond Tutu's office said in a statement. "Wangari Maathai will be remembered as a committed champion of the environment, sustainable development, women's rights, and democracy. Her energy and life-long dedication to improve the lives and livelihoods of people will continue to inspire generations of young people around the world," Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

“In politics, she will be remembered for the role she played in agitating for political reforms that paved the way for the country's second liberation”, President Kibaki. "We all knew her as a voice of reason, a lady who stood above our artificial divisions of race, tribe and region and championed the cause of humanity," Prime Minister Raila Odinga. "I had an opportunity to serve with her in the 9th Parliament. She was kindhearted, helpful and committed to serving her country the best way she could. We have lost a true hero," Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende.

As part of her final wish, Wangari Maathai, was cremated and her remains interred according to a publication, “within the democratic space of the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi". The  procession was held at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park, Freedom Corner for the public to view the late Nobel laureate winner and a tree planting ceremony was performed by the Kenya Defense Forces. Closely following this, was the planting of about 5,000 trees nationwide.

Views of Wangari Maathai

Democracy and Civil society

Wangari Maathai was a believer in people’s participation in the government of the day. If the people were responsible for electing the government, then the government must and should lend a listening ear to them. And so she sought out to enlighten the women of Kenya especially, to see how narrow minded the government can be when it comes to protecting their personal interest. “The former Government was completely against the Green Belt Movement and our work of mobilizing women into groups that could produce seedlings and plant them. The Government was also against the idea of educating and informing women. It didn’t want citizens to know that sometimes the enemy of the forests and the environment was the Government itself, which was supposed to be protecting the environment. If citizens saw the linkages, they would put pressure on the government to improve governance, to create democratic space, to help them protect their environment, and to be responsible managers on citizens’ behalf. When we were beaten up, it was because we were telling the Government not to interfere with the forests. We were confronted by armed police and guards who physically removed us from the forests as we sought to protect these green spaces from commercial exploitation. Sometimes in the process we got hurt, arrested or thrown into jail.”

Environmentalism

Wangari Maathai loved the environment. To her, the proximity of man to nature is a sign that the earth is at peace. And so, when things went out of course, Wangari was determined to protect the environment no matter the cost. Hence, the reason for instituting the Green Belt Movement (GBM), heralding her struggles to save the environment. It is a fight that involves all and sundry even the youths. This earned the Nobel Peace Price in 2004. “I would like to call on young people to take inspiration from the Nobel Peace Prize. I want them to know that despite the challenges and constraints they face, there is hope. I want to encourage them to serve the common good. My experiences have taught me that service to others has its own special rewards. I also have a lot of hope in youth. Their minds do not have to be held back by old thinking about the environment. And you don’t have to be rich or give up everything to become active. Even simply using both sides of a piece of paper before recycling is conserving the environment. The situation, however, is serious because the youth of today will experience the consequences of their elders’ mismanagement of the environment. Unless we change course, the coming generations will inherit an impoverished environment that will mean a hungrier, less fertile, and more unstable world. More conflicts will erupt. Young people need to become involved in promoting environmental sustainability. Through the Green Belt Movement we have helped young people get involved in environmental activities. We have tried to instill in them the idea that protecting the environment is not just a pleasure but also a duty.”

Women's Rights

Wangari Maathai was an exemplary woman. She was fearless and would not be talked down because she is a woman. Wangari Maathai on the women of the Green Belt Movement
“I placed my faith in the rural women of Kenya from the very beginning, and they have been key to the success of the Green Belt Movement. Through this very hands-on method of growing and planting trees, women have seen that they have real choices about whether they are going to sustain and restore the environment or destroy it. In the process of education that takes place when someone joins the Green Belt Movement, women have become aware that planting trees or fighting to save forests from being chopped down is part of a larger mission to create a society that respects democracy, decency, adherence to the rule of law, human rights, and the rights of women. Women also take on leadership roles, running nurseries, working with foresters, planning and implementing community-based projects for water harvesting and food security. All of these experiences contribute to their developing more confidence in themselves and more power over the direction of their lives.”

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