2004-10-08 On this date in 2004, the first Black woman won the Nobel Peace Prize. Kenyan ecologist Wangari Maathai, 64, was honored by the Nobel committee for standing at the front of the fight to promote ecologically viable social, economic and cultural development in Kenya and in Africa. She is an outspoken environmentalist, whose tree-planting campaign slows deforestation and aids the poor. We continue to appeal to the rich countries in the world to consider patterns of lifestyle that can reduce pollution of the environment, Maathai said. To not do that is to put the burden on the poor countries, which do not consume as much, dont pollute as much but do suffer from that pollution. In 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement, the largest tree-planting project in Africa. Green Belt promotes biodiversity and at the same time creates jobs and gives women a stronger identity in society. Maathai was also voted Time Magazines Hero of the Planet in 1998. A household name in her country, Maathai has vowed to use the cash award that comes with the award to promote her environment campaigns. Wangari Maathai, Africas first female winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, died late Sunday in a Nairobi hospital following a battle with cancer. She was 71. Reference: Los Angeles Times October 9, 2004 The Associated Press permissions 450 W. 33rd St., New York, NY 10001.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 08:08:22 +0000
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