Congratulations to a remarkable Woman I'd Like to meet

[Tippster]

December 10, 2004
OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
Trees for Democracy
By WANGARI MAATHAI

Nairobi, Kenya

WHEN I was growing up in Nyeri in central Kenya, there was no word for desert in my mother tongue, Kikuyu. Our land was fertile and forested. But today in Nyeri, as in much of Africa and the developing world, water sources have dried up, the soil is parched and unsuitable for growing food, and conflicts over land are common. So it should come as no surprise that I was inspired to plant trees to help meet the basic needs of rural women. As a member of the National Council of Women of Kenya in the early 1970's, I listened as women related what they wanted but did not have enough of: energy, clean drinking water and nutritious food.

My response was to begin planting trees with them, to help heal the land and break the cycle of poverty. Trees stop soil erosion, leading to water conservation and increased rainfall. Trees provide fuel, material for building and fencing, fruits, fodder, shade and beauty. As household managers in rural and urban areas of the developing world, women are the first to encounter the effects of ecological stress. It forces them to walk farther to get wood for cooking and heating, to search for clean water and to find new sources of food as old ones disappear.

My idea evolved into the Green Belt Movement, made up of thousands of groups, primarily of women, who have planted 30 million trees across Kenya. The women are paid a small amount for each seedling they grow, giving them an income as well as improving their environment. The movement has spread to countries in East and Central Africa.

Through this work, I came to see that environmental degradation by poor communities was both a source of their problems and a symptom. Growing crops on steep mountain slopes leads to loss of topsoil and land deterioration. Similarly, deforestation causes rivers to dry up and rainfall patterns to shift, which, in turn, result in much lower crop yields and less land for grazing.

In the 1970's and 1980's, as I was encouraging farmers to plant trees on their land, I also discovered that corrupt government agents were responsible for much of the deforestation by illegally selling off land and trees to well-connected developers. In the early 1990's, the livelihoods, the rights and even the lives of many Kenyans in the Rift Valley were lost when elements of President Daniel arap Moi's government encouraged ethnic communities to attack one another over land. Supporters of the ruling party got the land, while those in the pro-democracy movement were displaced. This was one of the government's ways of retaining power; if communities were kept busy fighting over land, they would have less opportunity to demand democracy.

Land issues in Kenya are complex and easily exploited by politicians. Communities needed to understand and be sensitized about the history of land ownership and distribution in Kenya and Africa. We held seminars on human rights, governing and reducing conflict.

In time, the Green Belt Movement became a leading advocate of reintroducing multiparty democracy and free and fair elections in Kenya. Through public education, political advocacy and protests, we also sought to protect open spaces and forests from unscrupulous developers, who were often working hand in hand with politicians, through public education, political advocacy and protests. Mr. Moi's government strongly opposed advocates for democracy and environmental rights; harassment, beatings, death threats and jail time followed, for me and for many others.

Fortunately, in 2002, Kenyans realized their dream and elected a democratic government. What we've learned in Kenya - the symbiotic relationship between the sustainable management of natural resources and democratic governance - is also relevant globally.

Indeed, many local and international wars, like those in West and Central Africa and the Middle East, continue to be fought over resources. In the process, human rights, democracy and democratic space are denied.

I believe the Nobel Committee recognized the links between the environment, democracy and peace and sought to bring them to worldwide attention with the Peace Prize that I am accepting today. The committee, I believe, is seeking to encourage community efforts to restore the earth at a time when we face the ecological crises of deforestation, desertification, water scarcity and a lack of biological diversity.

Unless we properly manage resources like forests, water, land, minerals and oil, we will not win the fight against poverty. And there will not be peace. Old conflicts will rage on and new resource wars will erupt unless we change the path we are on.

To celebrate this award, and the work it recognizes of those around the world, let me recall the words of Gandhi: My life is my message. Also, plant a tree.

http://www.giraffe.org/2003%20images/vohMAATHAI.jpg

Wangari Maathai, the 2004 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is Kenya's assistant minister for environment and natural resources and the founder of the Green Belt Movement.

[Spats]

Bump for an excellent speech that holds true for all of us everywhere, not just in Africa.

"I also discovered that corrupt government agents were responsible for much of the deforestation by illegally selling off land and trees to well-connected developers."

Doesn't sound like the USA at all. Nope! Not a bit.

[truth]

ATTN: SIR,
I DO FOR SEE THE SUPRISE THIS LETTER WILL BRING
TO YOU, AS IT COMES FROM A STRENGER, BUT BE REST
ASSURED AS IT COMES WITH BEST INTENTIONS. I AM DR
JOSEPH NTANYOTORA ABURUNDI BASED HERE IN ITALY.
I AM SERVING AS A CONTACT MAN TO A TOP MINISTER IN
THE OUTSTED BURUNDI GOVERNMENT OF PIERRE BUYOYA
OF BURUNDI. HE ASKED ME TO LOOK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER
SPECIFICALLY FROM YOUR COUNTRY WHO WILL ASSIST IN THIS
BUSSINESS.I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH AN INTERNET
TRADE DIRECTORY. THIS TOP MINISTER HAS FIFTEEN MILLION
DOLLARDS (US$15,000,000.00) DEPOSITED IN A SECURITY
COMPANY (BSK, SECURITIES) HERE IN ITALY. DUE TO THE
RECENT CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT IN BURUNDI AND THE THREATS
BY THE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT DOMITIEN NDAYIZEYE.
TO PROBE ALL TOP MINISTERS UNDER THE FORMER
PRESIDENT PIERRE BUYOYA,HE HAD DECIDED TO WITHDRAW
THE BOX AND TRANSFER THE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR INVESTMENT BEFORE THE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT COMES PROBING ALL THEIR LOCAL/FOREIGN DEPOSITS.
HE HAS PROMISED TO COMPESATE YOU WITH 20% OF THE
TOTAL SUM WHILE 5% WILL BE FOR ANY EXPENDITURE TO BE
ENCOUNTERED AT THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION, WHILE
THE REMAINING 75% WILL BE FOR INVESTMENT FOR THE
MINISTER.UPON YOUR RESPONSE, DETAILS OF THIS TRANSACTION
WILL BE MADE KNOWN TO YOU, MOREOVER , ABSOLUTE
SECRECY IS REQUIRED SO AS TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS.
I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE.
REGARDS,
DR JOSEPH NTANYOTORA

[truth]

MISS SARAH GUEI-IVORY-COAST
Dear Friend,

I know that this letter will come to you as a surprise considering the fact
that we have not met before.I am looking for someone that will assist me with a
business that has to do with my family estate which my late father left behind
for us.i am contacting you based on the fact that i want somone that is not
known to my family to assist me in this business and this is for security
reasons which i will explain to you as we make progress.

I am a Sarah Guei the daughter of late Mr Samuel Guei, a cocao merchant in
Republic Of Ivory-coast .I am presently on political asylum in Holland. I got
your contact over the internet during my search for a person that will assist
me in this business.this became neccessary as i do not want anybody known to me
or my family to be associated with what is at stake.I want you to note that
this business will benefit both of us and that it is 100% risk free.

However, you must confirm your ability to handle this because it involves a
large amount of money. The fund $7m (SEVEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) is my
share of my late father estate. I boxed and shipped the money with a security
and finance company declaring it as personal valuable items (artifact) at the
peak of the a political uprising that rocking my country,all i want you to do
for me is for you to represent me as the beneficiary and the receiver of this
consignment oversea.If you accept to assist me clear this consignment out of
the custody of this company your percentage is 25% of the total money and i
have also mapped out 5% for any expenses that you may incure in the process of
clearing out this fund the rest will be for me.

Now that the crisis has not yet end , I need a trustworthy person to proceed to
the place of the security company in order to clear the fund and afterwards,i
will come to your country for us to start a joint business venture as i do not
have the intention of bringing the fund back to Africa for a very long
time.Note that I will send to you the relevant documents that will enable you
take possession of the fund for onward investment for our mutual benefit.

All I need from you is as follows:

1. Your confirmation of your ability to handle this business for me.
2.Your word that you will keep this business as confidential as possible at all
times until we conclude this business.
3. Your telephone and fax numbers for communication.

As soon as I get the above information from you, I will disclose to you the
name and the country of the security company,as well as your name and
particulars to the security company as my representative and my partner to
enable them contact you accordingly. As we make progress.

Note that this is a very safe transaction as this fund is my share of my father
estate.

I await your response through this corresponding e.mail of mine to enable us
proceed.
Best Regards,

Sarah Guei
E.MAIL: sarahguei2004@netscape.net

[powstash]

"I also discovered that corrupt government agents were responsible for much of the deforestation by illegally selling off land and trees to well-connected developers."

Hmmm, Wolf Creek?

[Tippster]

I'm not as funny as I think I am...

Fuck you for equating a remarkable human being, regardless of her Nationality (Kenyan, BTW, not from Burundi or Cotes d'Ivoire) with some e-mail scammers. Awfully white of you, Bwana. Why not some jokes about Watermelon & Fried Chicken? Too close to home?

[truth]

Fuck you for equating a remarkable human being, regardless of her Nationality (Kenyan, BTW, not from Burundi or Cotes d'Ivoire) with some e-mail scammers. Awfully white of you, Bwana. Why not some jokes about Watermelon & Fried Chicken? Too close to home?

Here's a tip tippster...












PS: pave everything.

[Tippster]

Here's a tip tippster...












PS: pave everything.

Meh. You can do better...

c'mon. give me something.

[truth]

Funny, there's nothing in there under "freeloading."

That's an astute observation. Well done. If only it made sense.

[Tippster]

That's an astute observation. Well done. If only it made sense.

That's why I changed it. You're just too quick for my sluggish wit...

[PaSucks]

She has a degree from Pitt. P I T T P I T T LETS GO PITT!

[splat]

Thank God there are people willing to stand up to corrupt governments EVERYWHERE and revolt!
Either passively, assertively, or otherwise.

All the better when it's women.

[telemetric]

She's a bit of a freak.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...0/s1216687.htm

[watersnowdirt]

Wangari Matthai won the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1991. The Goldman Prize is awarded to grassroots environmental heroes. It's been awarded to over 100 people over the last 15 years.

If you like her story, check out www.goldmanprize.org - there are some pretty fantastic and amazing people there.

I've produced the Goldman Prize ceremony in SF for the last 5 years. As lph and wonderwoman can attest, it's like an instant shot of inspiration - a reminder that there are people out there fighting for the last of what's good in this world. (We're hoping that Wangari will speak at the ceremony next year.)

I was so glad to see her awarded the Nobel this year - just amazing. Thanks for posting that Tippster.

[MacDaddy]

She's a bit of a freak.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...0/s1216687.htm

Fantastic!


what if?

sadly we wont know