Wangari Maathai

Wangari Muta Maathai (born April 1, 1940 in Nyeri) is a Kenyan environmental and political activist. In 2004 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace" — the first African woman to receive the award.

Activism and political life

Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement — a grass-roots environmental lobby — in 1977, which has now planted over 30 million trees across the country to prevent soil erosion. She came to be affectionately called "Tree Woman". Since then, she has been increasingly active on both environmental and women's issues.

Related Topics:
Green Belt Movement - 1977 - Soil erosion

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Maathai was also the former chairperson of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake (the National Council of Women of Kenya). In the 1980s her husband divorced her, saying she was too strong-minded for a woman, and that he was unable to control her. The judge in the divorce case agreed with the husband.

Related Topics:
Maendeleo Ya Wanawake - 1980s

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In 1997, in Kenya's second multi-party elections marred by ethnic violence, she ran for the country's presidency, but her party withdrew her candidacy. Under the regime of President Daniel Arap Moi, she was imprisoned several times and violently attacked for demanding multi-party elections and an end to corruption and tribal politics. Almost single-handedly she saved Nairobi's Uhuru Park in 1989 by stopping the construction of a 60-storey Kenya Times Media Trust business complex by Moi's business associates. Maathai was elected to parliament in 2002 when Mwai Kibaki defeated Uhuru Kenyatta. She has been Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Wildlife since 2003. She founded the Mazingira Green Party of Kenya in 2003.

Related Topics:
1997 - President - Daniel Arap Moi - Uhuru Park - 1989 - 2002 - Mwai Kibaki - Uhuru Kenyatta - 2003 - Mazingira Green Party of Kenya

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On 28 March 2005, she was elected as the first president of the African Union's Economic, Social and Cultural Council.

Related Topics:
28 March - 2005 - African Union - Economic, Social and Cultural Council

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