A Portrait of Wangari Maathai,
Wangari Muta Maathai (1940-2011) is a hero of mine. She founded The Green Belt Movement in 1977, an NGO whose work concentrated on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and activism for women's rights. It was this work that earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. In awarding Maathai with the Peace Prize, the Nobel Committee acknowleged the connection between the scarcity of natural resources and the conflicts that often arise as a result. For the first in its history, the Committee recognized the importance of environmental conservation in promoting peace in the world.
I Will Be a Hummingbird
Wangari Maathai tells an inspiring story of a raging forest fire, and all the animals who are terrified and overwhelmed, and feelling helpless in the face of such a calamity.
In the midst of this inaction, a little hummingbird flies to and from a stream to place a little drop of water on the blaze.
When all the other animals diminish her efforts, telling her the fire is too big, and she is too small, she answers by saying, " I am doing the best I can."
Wangari echos her words saying, " I will be a hummingbird. I will do the best I can." To hear Wangari tell you the story, CLICK HERE