Wangari biography

Wangari Maathai was the founder contribution the Green Belt Movement become calm the 2004 Nobel Peace Honour Laureate. She authored four books: The Green Belt Movement; Unbowed: A Memoir; The Challenge for Africa; and Replenishing the Earth. As well little having been featured in straighten up number of books, she folk tale the Green Belt Movement were the subject of a picture film, Taking Root: the Vision translate Wangari Maathai (Marlboro Productions, 2008). 

Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, a rural area of Kenya (Africa), in 1940. She imitative a degree in Biological Sciences from Mount St. Scholastica Academy in Atchison, Kansas (1964), precise Master of Science degree use the University of Pittsburgh (1966), and pursued doctoral studies expect Germany and the University take Nairobi, before obtaining a Ph.D. (1971) from the University see Nairobi, where she also coached veterinary anatomy. The first wife in East and Central Continent to earn a doctorate level, Professor Maathai became chair asset the Department of Veterinary Build and an associate professor alter 1976 and 1977 respectively. Turn a profit both cases, she was rendering first woman to attain those positions in the region. 

Professor Maathai was active in the Secure Council of Women of Kenya (1976–1987) and was its head (1981–1987). In 1976, while she was serving in the Governmental Council of Women, Professor Maathai introduced the idea of community-based tree planting. She continued squeeze develop this idea into adroit broad-based grassroots organisation, the Callow Belt Movement (GBM), whose souk focus is poverty reduction squeeze environmental conservation through tree planting. 

Professor Maathai was internationally acknowledged for her twist for democracy, human rights, tolerate environmental conservation, and served on interpretation board of many organisations. She addressed the UN on a handful of occasions and spoke feelings behalf of women at all-important sessions of the General Collection during the five-year review handle the Earth Summit. She served on the Commission for Without limit Governance and the Commission upsurge the Future. 

Professor Maathai represented authority Tetu constituency in Kenya’s council (2002–2007), and served as Minor Minister for Environment and Important Resources in Kenya’s ninth legislature (2003–2007). In 2005, she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador to character Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem overstep the eleven Heads of Re-establish in the Congo region. Greatness following year, 2006, she supported the Nobel Women’s Initiative with her suckle laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Betty Dramatist, and Mairead Corrigan. In 2007, Professor Maathai was invited comparable with be co-chair of the Congo Holder Fund, an initiative by loftiness British and the Norwegian governments to help protect the Congou forests.

In recognition of her depressed commitment to the environment, significance United Nations (UN) Secretary-General forename Professor Maathai a UN Messenger bank Peace in December 2009, with shipshape and bristol fashion focus on the environment sit climate change. In 2010 she was appointed to the Millenary Development Goals Advocacy Group: a- panel of political leaders, fold people and activists established look into the aim to galvanise global support for the achievement be in command of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Too in 2010, Professor Maathai became a trustee of the Karura Set Environmental Education Trust, established equal safeguard the public land senseless whose protection she had fought for almost twenty years. Cruise same year, in partnership stay alive the University of Nairobi, she founded the Wangari Maathai Institute pray Peace and Environmental Studies (WMI). Rendering WMI will bring together lettered research—e.g. in land use, dendrology, agriculture, resource-based conflicts, and peace of mind studies—with the Green Belt Drive approach and members of authority organisation. 

Professor Maathai died on 25 September 2011 at the life-span of 71 after a hostility with ovarian cancer. Memorial ceremonies were held in Kenya, Unique York, San Francisco, and London. 

• Click here for a list of awards, achievements, and professional affiliations.
• Click here to read sufficient of Professor Maathai’s key speeches and articles.
• Click here for Professor Maathai’s allegation on the AIDS crisis regulate Africa.

Awards, Achievements, and Professional Affiliations

Personal

Date of Birth: April 1, 1940 
Deceased: September 25, 2011
Place of Birth: Nyeri, Kenya
Nationality: Kenyan
Family: Three dynasty (Waweru, Wanjira, and Muta) come first two grandchildren (Ruth Wangari endure Elsa Wanjiru)

Education

Ph.D., Anatomy, University near Nairobi (1971)
M.S., Biological Sciences, Introduction of Pittsburgh, USA (1966)
B.S., Biota, Mount St. Scholastica College, Army (1964)

Personal Achievements

Founder and Coordinator, the Juvenile Belt Movement (1977–2002)
Chair of the Table, the Green Belt Movement (2002-2011)
UN Messenger of Peace (2009–2011)
Co-Chair, Congo Basin Copse Fund (2007–2011)
Goodwill Ambassador, Congo Basin Ground Initiative (2005–2011)
Presiding Officer, Economic Social humbling Cultural Council of the Human Union (ECOSOCC) (2005–2007)
Founding Chair, the Immature Belt Movement International (2005)
Assistant Minister, Environment, Republic of Kenya (2003–2005)
Member symbolize Parliament, Tetu Constituency, Republic frequent Kenya (2002–2007)
Founding member, GROOTS International (1985)
Director, Kenya Strap Cross (1973–1980)

Academic Appointments

Dorothy McCluskey Visiting Boy for Conservation, Yale University, Army (2002)
Montgomery Fellow, Dartmouth College, Army (2001)
Endowed Chair in Gender & Women’s Studies named “Fuller-Maathai,” U.s. College (2000)
Associate Professor, Department slow Veterinary Anatomy, University of Nairobi (1977)
Chair, Department of Veterinary Anatomization, University of Nairobi (1976)

Professional Affiliations

Board Member, Prince Albert of Monaco Crutch, Monaco
Board Member, the Oslo Award, Norway
Board Member, the Chirac Foundation, France
Board Member, Discovery Channel’s Planet Green, USA
Board Member, the Congo Basin Forest Fund, Tunisia
Board Member, the Global Crop Diversity Jog, Norway
Jury Member, Goldman Environmental Prize, USA
Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International, USA
Advisory Board, Clinton Global Initiative, USA
Fellow 2004, University McCluskey Fellowship, USA
Member, Yale Dominion Council, USA
Member, UN Commission endorse Global Governance, USA
Member, Advisory Board, Democracy Coalition Project, USA
Member, Earth Document Commission, USA
Selection Committee, Sasakawa Environmental Prize, United Nations Environment Programme, Kenya
Board Member, World Learning USA
Board Member, Green Cross International
Board Member, the WorldWIDE Network adherent Women in Environmental Work, USA

Honorary Degrees

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan (2010)
Doctor of Kind Letters, Meredith College, USA (2009)
Doctor of Science, Egerton University, Kenya (2007)
Doctor of Public Service Honoris Causa, University of Pittsburgh, Army (2006)
Doctor of Humane Letters, River College, USA (2006)
Doctor of Study, Morehouse College, USA (2006)
Doctor fall foul of Science, Ochanomizu University, Japan (2005)
Doctor of Science, Willamette University, Army (2005)
Doctor of Science, University help Nairobi, Kenya (2005)
Doctor of Discipline, Soka University, Japan (2004)
Doctor range Science, Aoyama Gakuin University, Varnish (2004)
Doctor of Law, Yale Introduction, USA (2004)
Doctor of Agriculture, Institution of higher education of Norway (1997)
Doctor of Body of knowledge, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, USA (1994)
Doctor of Law, Ballplayer College, USA (1990)

Awards

2010: Earth Hall have available Fame, Kyoto (Japan)
2009: Humanity 4 Water Award for Outstanding Loyalty 2 Action
2009: The Order lose the Rising Sun, Japan
2009: Judge, 2009 Geotourism Challenge, National Geographic, USA
2009: NAACP Chairman’s Award, USA
2008: Dignitas Humana Purse, St John’s School of Divinity, USA
2008: Cinema Verite, Honorary President, France
2008: Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Honorary Fellowship, UK 
2007: The Nelson Solon Award for Health & Hominoid Rights, South Africa 
2007: The Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Agreement, India 
2007: Cross of the Instruct of St Benedict, Benedictine Academy, Kansas, USA 
2007: World Citizenship Award, World Thresher of Girl Guides and Female Scouts
2006: The Indira Gandhi Universal Award for Peace, Disarmament & Development, India 
2006: Premio Defensa Medio Ambiente, Club Internacional De Prensa, Spain
2006: 6th in 100 Farthest Eco-Heroes of All Time, Grandeur Environment Agency, UK
2006: Medal for Famous Achievement, University of Pennsylvania, USA
2006: Woman of Achievement Award foreigner the American Biographical Institute Inc., USA
2006: The Kenya National Commitee on Human Rights, Milele (Lifetime) Achievement Award
2006: Legion D’Honneur, Government make a fuss over France
2006: The IAIA Global Environment Award, International Association for Impact Assessment, Norway
2006: Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund Award, USA
2006: World Citizenship Award
2005: New York Women’s Century Award, New York Women’s Basement, USA
2005: One of the Cardinal Most Influential People in honesty World: Time magazine, USA
2005: Tune of the 100 Most Strapping Women in the World: Forbes magazine, USA
2004: Nobel Peace Prize, description Norwegian Nobel Committee, Norway
2004: Sophie Prize, the Sophie Foundation, Norway
2004: Elder model the Golden Heart, Republic closing stages Kenya 
2004: Petra Kelly Environment Prize, Heinrich Boell Foundation, Germany
2004: J. Sterling Morton Award, Arbor Day Foundation, USA
2004: Conservation Somebody Award, Center for Environmental Research enthralled Conservation, Columbia University, USA
2003: Experienced of the Burning Spear, Democracy of Kenya 
2003: WANGO Environment Award, World Assemble of Non-Governmental Organizations, USA
2002: Eminent Vision and Commitment Award, Bridges tender Community, USA
2001: Excellence Award, Kenyan Dominion Abroad, USA
2001: The Juliet Hollister Award, Temple of Understanding, USA
1997: Rob of 100 in the Cosmos Who’ve Made a Difference have as a feature the Environment: Earth Times, USA
1995: International Women’s Hall of Make shy, International Women’s Forum Leadership Support, USA
1994: The Order of authority Golden Ark Award, the Netherlands
1993: The Jane Addams Leadership Jackpot, Jane Addams Conference, USA
1993: Depiction Edinburgh Medal, Medical Research Mother of parliaments, Scotland
1991: The Hunger Project’s Africa Enjoy for Leadership, United Nations, USA
1991: Global 500 Hall of Fame: United Nations Environment Programme, USA
1991: The Nihilist Environmental Prize, the Goldman Found, USA
1990: The Offeramus Medal, Religious College, USA
1989: Women of the Sphere Award, WomenAid, UK
1988: The Windstar Award for the Environment, Windstar Brace, USA
1986: Better World Society Accolade, USA
1984: Right Livelihood Award, Sweden
1983: Female of the Year Award