Wangari Muta Maathai

Wangari Muta Maathai

On World Environment Day (June 5, 1977), Wangari Maathai planted seven trees in her back yard. She wanted to do something for the environment to show others that individuals can create change in the world. Everything is not totally hopeless.

Her small personal act led to the founding of the Green Belt Movement. Wangari always said she wanted to empower people, to raise consciousness, and to give people a sense of hope. In Kenya more than 70% of the farmers are women, and they are the bulk of Maathai’s foundation. 50,000 of those women have planted more than 10 million seedlings since the birth of the organization.

But Maathai personally paid a high cost for her actions. She experienced, divorce, a losing run for Parliament, and lost employment.

She was involved with the green belt opposition to building in Uhuru Park, Nairobi. The group wanted to demonstrate, but were denied the license. Many were kicked out of offices they had held for over ten years. It was a dangerous atmosphere to live in.

Wangari’s supporters began to apply counter-pressure to Kenya’s oppressive government and the police showed up at the house to arrest her. People crowded around the house and refused to let the police through.

But eventually they took her to jail for spreading malicious rumors. She spent the rest of her life in and out of jail. She led hunger strikes and was severely beaten during some of the demonstrations. But she was always well supported by others. Her life was a tough one to have to live through, but her belief’s sparked a global movement for the environment.

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