Wangari Maathai & The Green Belt Movement

Wangari Maathai is pure inspiration. In October 2004, she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her environmental activism. She founded Kenya’s Green Belt Movement, a grassroots organization that encourages tree planting and other environmental initiatives.

She overcame clashes with the Kenyan government to become elected to the country’s Parliament and became assistant minister for the environment. She is one of my environmental heroes. Her inspiring story can be found in these two books as well as at her website, www.greenbeltmovement.com.

The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the Experience: founder Wangari Maathai tells its story, why it started, how it operates, and where it is going. She includes the philosophy behind it, its challenges and objectives, and the specific steps involved in starting a similar grassroots environmental and social justice organization. This is the inspiring story of people working at the grassroots level to improve their environment and their country. Their story offers ideas about a new and hopeful future for Africa and the rest of the world.

And for the kiddos…

Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai With glowing watercolor illustrations and lyrical prose, Claire Nivola tells the remarkable story of one woman’s effort to change the fate of her land by teaching many to care for it. An author’s note provides further information about Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement. In keeping with the theme of the story, the book is printed on recycled paper.