New Nobel Laureate's Insights Featured in Anglican Book
Episcopal News Service. October 8, 2004 [100804-1-A]
New Nobel Peace laureate's insights featured in new Anglican book
Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai writes in 'Healing God's Creation'
[Episcopal News Service, New York] -- Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai -- named today (October 8, 2004) as newest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize -- has contributed her insights to a new Anglican book titled "Healing God's Creation" (Harrisburg, Pa: Morehouse, 2004).
"The Beauty and Spirit of Empowerment" is the chapter written by Maathai, 64, who is reported by fellow environmentalists to be a Roman Catholic.
(http://www.simulconference.com/clients/sowf/dispatches/dispatch27.html)
Maathai is the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She has been commended for challenging Kenya's former government, led for 24 years by President Daniel arap Moi before he stepped down after elections in 2002.
Maathai -- founder of Kenya's Greenbelt Movement through which thousands of Kenyan women have planted thousands of trees -- originally offered the chapter as the text of her remarks delivered by a colleague to the 2002 Global Anglican Congress on the Stewarship of Creation, held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The congress was coordinated by Archdeacon Taimalelagi F. Tuatagaloa-Matalavea, Anglican Observer at the United Nations
In the text, Maathai observes: "When I was a child, streams and rivers were clean and provided safe drinking water. Lush vegetation grew along riverbanks and bathed in the sweet waters in the streams. Rivers roared downstream and trout danced in the cold, clean and fresh streams."
She adds that when people make the connection between environmental degradation and the problems which communities face every day "the God in us will move and energize us. It will guide us from apathy to action, from being observers to doers in the hope that those actions can make a difference."
She adds: "Therefore, as His disciples, we set the example and are courageous for those who need protection, fairness, justice and peace. And lest we forget the log in our eyes, we start with ourselves: serving, standing up, empowering others and ourselves and practicing love, compassion, justice and equity...to be examples of what we claim the Master Himself would do."
As the Anglican Communion News Service has reported, the Green Belt Movement, begun in 1977, involves local people in civic education and environmental projects. Its work today has been extended to include food, security, advocacy and networking. Some 100,000 people are involved in the Movement's tree campaigns where local community associations are formed to organize plantings. Groups are encouraged to plant indigenous species and to date some 2 million trees have been planted throughout 19 of Kenya's 26 regions. Dr Maathai's statement inspired delegates to look to themselves to germinate and tend the seeds of change. She said, "I believe that inspirations come to all of us but if we are unprepared they fall on infertile ground." (http://www.anglicancommunion.org/aw/print/100/108/summit.html)
Regarding the Peace Prize, which is to be awarded December 10 accompanied by an award of some $1.3 million, the Norwegian Nobel Committee issued the following statement today:
"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2004 to Wangari Maathai for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.
"Peace on earth depends on our ability to secure our living environment. Maathai stands at the front of the fight to promote ecologically viable social, economic and cultural development in Kenya and in Africa. She has taken a holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces democracy, human rights and women's rights in particular. She thinks globally and acts locally.
"Maathai stood up courageously against the former oppressive regime in Kenya. Her unique forms of action have contributed to drawing attention to political oppression - nationally and internationally. She has served as inspiration for many in the fight for democratic rights and has especially encouraged women to better their situation.
"Maathai combines science, social commitment and active politics. More than simply protecting the existing environment, her strategy is to secure and strengthen the very basis for ecologically sustainable development. She founded the Green Belt Movement where, for nearly thirty years, she has mobilized poor women to plant 30 million trees. Her methods have been adopted by other countries as well. We are all witness to how deforestation and forest loss have led to desertification in Africa and threatened many other regions of the world - in Europe too. Protecting forests against desertification is a vital factor in the struggle to strengthen the living environment of our common Earth.
"Through education, family planning, nutrition and the fight against corruption, the Green Belt Movement has paved the way for development at grass-root level. We believe that Maathai is a strong voice speaking for the best forces in Africa to promote peace and good living conditions on that continent.
"Wangari Maathai will be the first woman from Africa to be honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize. She will also be the first African from the vast area between South Africa and Egypt to be awarded the prize. She represents an example and a source of inspiration for everyone in Africa fighting for sustainable development, democracy and peace.
Oslo, 8 October 2004" (http://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/)