Monday, September 26, 2011

Wangari Muta Maathai (1940-2011) "When I celebrate, I plant a tree!"


Find this photo and portrait of same various places--

The irrepressible woman who once signed a police report in her own blood left the world a much greener, kindlier place.

Wangari Muta Maathai (1940-2011)

Her story is that of A Person of Firsts in many areas...GO here

The day she heard that her movement won the Nobel Laureate here

The Cracked Mirror: Cultural liberation will only come when the minds of the people are set free and they can protect themselves from colonialism of the mind. Only that type of freedom will allow them to reclaim their identity, self-respect and destiny. Only when communities recapture the positive aspects of their culture will people relearn how to love themselves and what is theirs. Only then will they really appreciate their country and the need to protect its natural beauty and wealth. And only then will they have an understanding of the future and of generations to come...
Read the Rest here

NPR.org audio with the picturesque stories mentioned above - and NOTE HOW MANY trees Maathai planted! here

Watch and listen to "I Will Be A Hummingbird" from Dirt, the Movie - here Here "The Tree Lady" narrates a tale of always trying to do the best you can, no matter how small you are.

Tributes to Maathai are filling the pages of Greenbelt.org.

NPR.org's colleague Ofeibea Quist-Arcton will have more about Maathai on their site soon.

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