Today, I will focus my discussion on a very special lady, Nobel Prize award winner Wangari Maathai. After viewing a documentary on her for my Global studies class, I was blown away by her actions within Kenya, as well as her overall attitute towards life and mother nature. It is only right that a portion of our blog be dedicated to her.
Wangari was born in Kenya, during a time when European colonization was starting to develop in Africa and a natural and humble appreciation for the earth and its bountiful gifts still existed. Wangari epxlains in the documentary how her mother told her never to touch this big fig tree that existed near her house. Wangari of course didn't and epxlained that this tree was a gift from god. In my opinion, this is the kind of mentality that is lacking in our societie's today. As our societies devleoped from being Native American to modern, technologically advanced nations, our appreciation for nature waned, just like it did when colonization started taking force in Africa, especially Kenya. It is sad to see how we rape our lands, the utter most form of disrespect towards our great mother nature. It is until we re-learn our retrograde ways, and accept a sense of repsonsibility and humility towards nature that our de-huminizing effects will reverse.
Another big lesson that can be learned from Wangari is that in order to preserve and solve some of the ecological problems we are faced today, sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective ones. Wangari started, "The Green Belt Movement" in which she and fellow Kenyan women hekped the environment by doing the most simplest thing: planting trees. Most of us believe that we need to invent these new revolutionary solutions and technologies that will magically solve our problems. But, in reality, what are Earth needs are simple and natural solutions.
Wangari is a revolutionary woman in every sense of the word, and I personally have gained alot of respect for her after seeing her acomplishments in Kenya.
To see more about this extraordinary woman visit:
Peace man,
Fiona
This is a great point.. She is a fantastic inspiration to all of us . imagine!!!
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