"I don't want to die before finishing my work".
Those were the words of celebrated Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai, in her memoir, Unbowed.
Nairobi woke up to a gloomy and cloudy sky, as if to mourn the passing of one of Kenya’s most celebrated and honoured women, Wangari Maathai.
She became a household name when she fought back against Daniel Arap Moi’s regime, taking on police brutality and the aching agony of being thrown into jail. Through it all, she has proven tried and tested, and come out a phenomenal woman, inspiring us all to live our lives to the full.
In her book, Unbowed, she explained:
“I don’t tend to invite challenges, but I meet them. And once I do, I stick with it. I know that the situation is not going to be resolved overnight, and I don’t hurry to meet a second challenge until the first one is concluded. That, perhaps, has been my strong point. I have seen time and time again that if you stay with a challenge, if you are convinced that you are right to do so, and if you give it everything you have, it is amazing what can happen.”
If that is not the testament of a strong woman, I don’t know what is. From humble beginnings, to being a global icon, she is a testament to what one can do, given commitment, perseverance and sheer willpower.
There’s a story in her book that she used to love to tell.
A forest was on fire, and all the animals decided to save themselves....
Those were the words of celebrated Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai, in her memoir, Unbowed.
Nairobi woke up to a gloomy and cloudy sky, as if to mourn the passing of one of Kenya’s most celebrated and honoured women, Wangari Maathai.
She became a household name when she fought back against Daniel Arap Moi’s regime, taking on police brutality and the aching agony of being thrown into jail. Through it all, she has proven tried and tested, and come out a phenomenal woman, inspiring us all to live our lives to the full.
In her book, Unbowed, she explained:
“I don’t tend to invite challenges, but I meet them. And once I do, I stick with it. I know that the situation is not going to be resolved overnight, and I don’t hurry to meet a second challenge until the first one is concluded. That, perhaps, has been my strong point. I have seen time and time again that if you stay with a challenge, if you are convinced that you are right to do so, and if you give it everything you have, it is amazing what can happen.”
If that is not the testament of a strong woman, I don’t know what is. From humble beginnings, to being a global icon, she is a testament to what one can do, given commitment, perseverance and sheer willpower.
There’s a story in her book that she used to love to tell.
A forest was on fire, and all the animals decided to save themselves....
"They dashed to the edge of the forest and watched, overwhelmed and feeling helpless, as the fire engulfed their home.
That is, all animals except one: a hummingbird, who said, "I'm going to do something about the fire!" So she flew to the nearest stream and scooped up a drop of water in her beak and deposited it on the conflagration. Back and forth she flew from the stream to the inferno, tireless and focused, without losing patience and speed. Each time she carried a droplet and let it fall on the flames.
In the meantime, as the fire raged, the other animals looked on in amazement and disbelief. "You are too small," they said to the hummingbird. "You cannot hope to put out the fire. What do you think you're doing?"
As she prepared to dive again, the hummingbird turned to the animals and nodded her head. "I'm doing the best I can!"
And this is what we are called to do, no matter who or where we are, or what our capabilities. We are called to do the best we can!
There is nothing as infuriating as being ignored, pilloried, ridiculed and despised for pursuing what genuinely gives you pride. That was the lot of Prof Wangari Maathai. She was the prophet that was not recognised at home and found fame, favour and respect abroad. In death, however, she will be eulogised, feted and lionised by the same society that paid lip service to her efforts at environmental conservation.
Elsewhere in this newspaper, we tell Maathai’s story, her resilience, and even stubbornness, in the face of truncheon-wielding policemen and hired hooligans. Her’s is a beautiful tale for she single-handedly took the battle to save Mother Earth to all the corners of the globe, spoke at any forum that would hear her campaign.
She made entreaties to prime ministers, scientists, presidents, senators, headmasters, simple farmers, students and writers, linking the very essence of life to the health of the environment around them.
In her words and wisdom, forests are the lungs of the planet and without healthy lungs, all life is at risk of becoming extinct. This simple truism demonstrated her passionate attachment to forests, nature and people. Here was a pillar of strength that failed to take up a coveted political position to pursue her life’s crusade to green — not justKenya
but — the whole world.
Brave new WorldIn a society that idolises political power, Prof Maathai turned her back to the ministerial flags that could have been hers for the taking in exchange for environmental health management. No wonder she was dismissed by detractors for refusing to embrace "the finer things in life".
But in her memoir titled "Unbowed" she insists she neither found, nor hungered for any other calling than the planet’s.
The recognition as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate transformed Maathai into an extraordinary custodian of life and pitched sleepy Tetu, in faraway Kenya, into prominence in a brave new world.
Suddenly, it dawned on leaders and researchers across the world that there is a definite link between depletion of forest cover and net reduction of resources.
This erosion triggered conflicts for basics like pasture, arable land, watering points and, ultimately, all sources of livelihood. The result: the breakdown of society as neighbouring communities turn arms on each other, with deadly consequences.
Prof Maathai resolutely took a stand with and for humanity at an age when it was fashionable and economically sound to fell trees, practice unsustainable agriculture, without due regard to regeneration. It was a lonely journey that was eventually recognised at the highest forum of the world — the Nobel Peace Prize.
In this accolade, she has trodden the same path as other international icons such as Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu, FW De Klerk, Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres, as an outstanding citizen who has made a positive difference in world affairs.
The gangly, barefoot kid from Tetu will forever be recognised as an icon and the best we can do is not mourn her passing. The world should instead celebrate her life’s work, take up her hoe, watering jerrican, plant a tree for posterity, and ensure her efforts live beyond her 61 short years.
Who would have known words like biodiversity, restoration, ecosystems, environmental preservation would be part of everyday lexicon?
Mother NatureHer grassroots campaign to put an end illegal logging, uncontrolled grazing, unsustainable farming methods, grabbing of forestland and unbridled charcoal burning to feed urban stoves has yielded tangible benefits. Indeed, the looting and pillage of the Mau Forest catchment area is the best example of a planet that needs reining in.
The recent national and international relief effort to feed communities that should not have gone hungry in the first place is a clarion call to ensure Maathai’s work becomes compulsory instruction in schools andcolleges
Where better to plant the seed of environmental conservation than in the young minds of impressionable youth, who also stand to lose the most if certain practices destroy their homelands?
What an example of tenacity, courage and tribute to our common ancestry to preserve Mother Nature for future generations? Go out today and plant a tree in honour of Wangari Muta Maathai.
There is nothing as infuriating as being ignored, pilloried, ridiculed and despised for pursuing what genuinely gives you pride. That was the lot of Prof Wangari Maathai. She was the prophet that was not recognised at home and found fame, favour and respect abroad. In death, however, she will be eulogised, feted and lionised by the same society that paid lip service to her efforts at environmental conservation.
Elsewhere in this newspaper, we tell Maathai’s story, her resilience, and even stubbornness, in the face of truncheon-wielding policemen and hired hooligans. Her’s is a beautiful tale for she single-handedly took the battle to save Mother Earth to all the corners of the globe, spoke at any forum that would hear her campaign.
She made entreaties to prime ministers, scientists, presidents, senators, headmasters, simple farmers, students and writers, linking the very essence of life to the health of the environment around them.
In her words and wisdom, forests are the lungs of the planet and without healthy lungs, all life is at risk of becoming extinct. This simple truism demonstrated her passionate attachment to forests, nature and people. Here was a pillar of strength that failed to take up a coveted political position to pursue her life’s crusade to green — not just
Brave new WorldIn a society that idolises political power, Prof Maathai turned her back to the ministerial flags that could have been hers for the taking in exchange for environmental health management. No wonder she was dismissed by detractors for refusing to embrace "the finer things in life".
But in her memoir titled "Unbowed" she insists she neither found, nor hungered for any other calling than the planet’s.
The recognition as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate transformed Maathai into an extraordinary custodian of life and pitched sleepy Tetu, in faraway Kenya, into prominence in a brave new world.
Suddenly, it dawned on leaders and researchers across the world that there is a definite link between depletion of forest cover and net reduction of resources.
This erosion triggered conflicts for basics like pasture, arable land, watering points and, ultimately, all sources of livelihood. The result: the breakdown of society as neighbouring communities turn arms on each other, with deadly consequences.
Prof Maathai resolutely took a stand with and for humanity at an age when it was fashionable and economically sound to fell trees, practice unsustainable agriculture, without due regard to regeneration. It was a lonely journey that was eventually recognised at the highest forum of the world — the Nobel Peace Prize.
In this accolade, she has trodden the same path as other international icons such as Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu, FW De Klerk, Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres, as an outstanding citizen who has made a positive difference in world affairs.
The gangly, barefoot kid from Tetu will forever be recognised as an icon and the best we can do is not mourn her passing. The world should instead celebrate her life’s work, take up her hoe, watering jerrican, plant a tree for posterity, and ensure her efforts live beyond her 61 short years.
Who would have known words like biodiversity, restoration, ecosystems, environmental preservation would be part of everyday lexicon?
Mother NatureHer grassroots campaign to put an end illegal logging, uncontrolled grazing, unsustainable farming methods, grabbing of forestland and unbridled charcoal burning to feed urban stoves has yielded tangible benefits. Indeed, the looting and pillage of the Mau Forest catchment area is the best example of a planet that needs reining in.
The recent national and international relief effort to feed communities that should not have gone hungry in the first place is a clarion call to ensure Maathai’s work becomes compulsory instruction in schools and
Where better to plant the seed of environmental conservation than in the young minds of impressionable youth, who also stand to lose the most if certain practices destroy their homelands?
What an example of tenacity, courage and tribute to our common ancestry to preserve Mother Nature for future generations? Go out today and plant a tree in honour of Wangari Muta Maathai.
She certainly will not be forgotten.
Join Kenyans as they plant trees to celebrate and honor her legacy.