After seeing the video in class, I immediately got interested in Wangari Maathai, Founder of the Green Belt Movement. She presented a very interesting and effective solution to two of the biggest social problems of our time—poverty and environmental sustainability. The interview with her explained more about her work and I got to understand better and admire more of her work.
I never thought making money could be environmental friendly. In fact, I would assume the development of human civilization rely somehow on the exploitation of our environment. We use various nature resources to feed us and provide shelter for us.
I consider it a great idea that the tree planting campaign started with planting for someone who has done good. It made the tree planting less associated with the greater picture or the invisible future, but for somewhere close as your community, someone familiar as your friend. It was not a surprise that the tree planting become an empowering symbol and eventually grew bigger into a social movement. It was no longer an environmentalist reclaiming lands and trees. The movement became political, cultural, spiritual. Although Maathai had encountered problems with getting permission to continue her plan, she overcame them and encourages more and more people, especially women to get involved with the movement. In the interview, she delivered an inspiring opinion about men and women's role in the local community. As men went away to work, women were the backbone of the community who did all the field work. She really pushed hard and persuaded people to fight for a better living.
Her journey really inspired me. It was sad to find out she passed away in 2011. What she represented was more than environmentalism. She devoted her life to the rights of women, supporting them and improving their living. She will be remembered and the Green Belt Movement will be continuously going on.
