As this week we were celebrating
one of our greatest heroes, Professor Wangari Maathai, I could not let it go
without recognizing the efforts that she made towards environmental conservation.
She passed away four years ago (on 25th September 2011) at the age
of 71.Wangari Maathai left a great legacy of protecting the environment by pioneering establishment of Green
Belt Movement with the aim of environmental conservation and planting as many
trees as possible (a million trees, a million reasons).
Born in 1940, Professor Wangari
Maathai transcended against all odds to become the first African woman to
acquire a doctorate degree. More amazingly, she was awarded the coveted
Nobel Peace Award by the Norwegian Nobel Committee due to her selfless, continuous,
and relentless effort of ensuring that environment was protected against land
grabbers and building of structures in forest regions.
I could envision the hardship she
underwent and the physical excruciating torture that she suffered to ensure
that places like Karura Forest and Uhuru Park were not tampered with. This
was an act of heroism that left an impact that will be felt in many generations
to come.
When giving out her speech after
receiving the Nobel Prize, Professor Wangari Maathai stated “…Although this
prize comes to me, it acknowledges the work of countless individuals and groups
across the globe. They work quietly and often without recognition to protect
the environment, promote democracy, defend human rights and ensure equality
between women and men. By so doing, they plant seeds of peace. I know they,
too, are proud today. To all who feel represented by this prize I say use it to
advance your mission and meet the high expectations the world will place on
us…”
As we remember her deeds, we should
also be challenged to ensure that at least from the little things we do by asking ourselves what kind of legacy we will
live behind. A reputation that will remain stuck in many generations many years
to come. As I conclude, Professor Wangari Maathai once said, “We cannot tire or
give up. We owe it to the present and future generations of all species to rise
up and walk!”
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