Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan environmental activist and the founder of the Green Belt Movement. She was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for “her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.” One of her most famous quotes is: “I may be humming like a hummingbird, but I’m doing the best I can.” This quote refers to how she wanted to make a difference in the world, even if her actions seemed small in the grand scheme of things.
Wangari Maathai’s Background
Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya in 1940. She was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree, completing her studies in biological sciences at the University of Nairobi in 1971. After completing her education, Maathai became the first woman to chair a department at the University of Nairobi. She started out teaching veterinary anatomy and later became the chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy.
In 1977, Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on conserving the environment and improving lives. The Green Belt Movement organized women in rural Kenya to plant trees in order to conserve the environment and improve their quality of life. Maathai was motivated to start the movement after seeing the environmental devastation across rural Kenya caused by deforestation.
The Green Belt Movement
The Green Belt Movement focused on having women plant native trees in their communities across Kenya. Some of the goals of the movement were to:
- Provide employment opportunities and income to rural women and their families
- Conserve the environment and protect nature from deforestation
- Empower women and strengthen their role in society
- Instill a culture of conservation among Kenyans
Women were paid a small stipend to plant seedlings and care for the trees. The movement eventually spread to over 30 countries across Africa, with tens of millions of trees being planted.
Impact of the Green Belt Movement
Here are some of the impacts of the Green Belt Movement under Wangari Maathai’s leadership:
Trees Planted | Over 51 million |
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Women Trained in Forestry | Over 30,000 |
Countries Involved | Over 30 across Africa |
Environmental Benefits | Prevented soil erosion, increased water access, sequestered carbon |
Community Benefits | Income generation, food security, empowerment of women |
Through the Green Belt Movement, Maathai was able to empower women, conserve the environment, and spread awareness about sustainable development across Africa. At the grassroots level, the movement improved livelihoods by generating income, improving food security, and increasing access to clean drinking water.
Wangari Maathai’s Activism
In addition to founding the Green Belt Movement, Wangari Maathai was also a prominent political activist in Kenya. She believed that environmentalism was intricately linked to issues such as social justice, human rights, and democracy. Here are some highlights of her activism career:
- In 1992, she established the Green Party of Kenya to push for environmental rights and democratic reforms
- She was an outspoken supporter of political pluralism and freedom of expression in Kenya
- Maathai protested land grabbing and illegal allocation of public land by the government
- She advocated for the release of political prisoners and spoke out against violence by the government
- Maathai played a role in blocking the construction of an office tower in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park
Through her bold activism and advocacy, Maathai became known as a staunch defender of democracy and women’s rights. She advocated fearlessly against abuses of power, inequality, and environmental degradation across Africa.
Persecution for her Activism
As a result of her outspoken activism, Maathai faced significant persecution from the government over the years. Here are some examples of how the authoritarian regime in Kenya targeted her activism:
Year | Persecution |
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1989 | She was arrested and beaten unconscious by police during a protest. |
1991 | The government suppressed the Green Belt Movement and cracked down on pro-democracy activists. |
1998 | Maathai had to take refuge in another country fearing for her life. |
1999 | She was assaulted by private agents and temporarily lost consciousness. |
2001 | The government forcibly tried to evict the Green Belt Movement from their offices. |
Despite the violence and intimidation she faced, Maathai persevered and continued to stand up for the environment, democracy, and human rights.
The Hummingbird Story
The “hummingbird story” originated from a Brazilian folk tale that Maathai frequently told to explain her own motivation and approach to making change. Here is the story as she told it:
“There was a big forest fire and all the animals fled in different directions. As they all stood in shock watching the forest burn, a hummingbird was seen flying back and forth from the nearest stream, each time picking up some drops of water in its beak to put on the fire. It went back and forth many times doing this. The other animals shouted at the hummingbird saying: ‘What do you think you can do? You are too little. This fire is too big. Your wings are too little and beak too small. You can’t put out this fire! What difference can you make?’ As the hummingbird continued its task, it called back to the animals, saying: ‘I am doing the best I can.’”
This parable resonated with Wangari Maathai. Although the challenges she faced seemed immense, she believed that she could not resign herself to inaction or indifference. Like the hummingbird, she was determined to keep “doing the best she could” in the face of adversity.
Meaning of the Hummingbird Story
The key lessons and meaning that can be drawn from the hummingbird story are:
- Don’t let the scale of problems prevent you from taking action. Start somewhere, however small.
- Contribute whatever you can offer. Every little bit helps, no matter how inadequate it may seem.
- Persist even when others doubt you. Stay true to your convictions.
- Remain committed to helping others through difficult times.
- Have hope that your humble actions can inspire larger efforts for change.
The hummingbird represented Wangari Maathai’s spirit of doing whatever she could to make the world greener, more peaceful, and more just. She encouraged others to adopt this attitude and do their part, rather than wait for someone else to solve problems.
Wangari Maathai’s Legacy
Wangari Maathai passed away in 2011 at the age of 71, but her legacy lives on through the work of the Green Belt Movement and the values she promoted. Here is a summary of her lasting impact:
- She started a grassroots movement that changed environmental practices across Africa.
- Maathai empowered and inspired women through environmental activism.
- She connected environmental goals to issues of democracy, equity, and human rights.
- Her courageous spirit served as an example on how to stand up for your convictions.
- Maathai demonstrated the power and potential of individual action.
- She motivated many to plant trees and adopt greener lifestyles.
Through the Green Belt Movement, over 51 million trees were planted by mobilizing local communities. To this day, the movement continues to pursue reforestation and women’s empowerment programs internationally.
As the first African woman recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Maathai paved the way for women leaders. She also set an example of how environmentalism intersects with other social justice issues.
Global Impact
Here is a table summarizing Wangari Maathai’s global impact over the years:
Year | Impact and Recognition |
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1977 | Founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya |
1984 | Received the Right Livelihood Award |
1991 | Awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize |
2004 | Became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize |
2005 | Named one of the Seven Women Who Changed the World by Forbes |
2009 | Awarded France’s Legion of Honour Medal |
2011 | The Wangari Maathai Trees and Garden was opened at the Kenyan National Museum in her honor |
In 2004, the Nobel Prize committee commended Wangari Maathai’s campaign for “sustainable development, democracy and peace.” She made vital contributions at the intersection of environment, women’s empowerment, and human rights.
Conclusion
When Wangari Maathai said she wants to be like a hummingbird, she meant that she was committed to making a difference through her environmental activism however she could. Just as the tiny hummingbird did its part to put out the forest fire drop by drop, Maathai did her part to better the world through planting trees and empowering women. Her perseverance in the face of adversity made her an inspiration to many around the world.
Through starting the grassroots Green Belt Movement in Kenya, Maathai led the way for sustainable development across Africa. She helped connect environmentalism to broader issues of democracy, equity, and human rights. Despite persecution by her government, Maathai stayed true to her vision and convictions. Even if her actions seemed small at the time, she believed that doing her best could have ripple effects for the future.
Wangari Maathai’s legacy lives on through the millions of trees planted across the planet and the example she set as an activist committed to making a difference. Her story reminds us that even the smallest actions can have immense impact when pursued with enough conviction. Like the hummingbird in her parable, we can all do our part to contribute to change.