AFRIPOL.ORG IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

 

        THE PERSON OF THE MONTH: PROFESSOR WANGARI MAATHAI
                                                           July10, 2007

The Founder of Green Belt Movement which is dedicated to planting trees and preservation of environment in Kenya. Maathai is the first black woman and African to be awarded Nobel Peace Prize in the year 2004.She is globally renowned as a fighter in defense for democracy, women rights and environmental conservation. She has enriched Africa and the world with her ebullient effort in making the planet earth more peaceful for habitation.
Professor Maathai has continue to be active in social and environmental initiatives after winning the Nobel Peace. She propounded the initiatives including : Environmental conservation and regenerating program grounded on the Four R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Repair. She also initiated the Protection of the famous Congo Basin Rainforest Ecosystem, including  education and awareness in the battle against poverty, AIDS/HIV and malaria.
“Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya, in 1940, the daughter of farmers in the highlands of Mount Kenya. The first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctoral degree, Professor Maathai obtained a degree in Biological Sciences from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas (1964). She subsequently earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh (1966). She pursued doctoral studies in Germany and the University of Nairobi, obtaining a Ph.D. (1971) from the University of Nairobi, where she also taught veterinary anatomy. She became chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and an associate professor in 1976 and 1977 respectively. She was the first woman in the region to attain those positions. ”
Dr. Maathai is a citizen of the world. A dedicated defender of rights of women globally and the rights of indigenous people around the world. For her stewardship to humanity and her sustenance of the environmental integrity of our planet, the Management and Staff of Afripol chose Professor Wangari Muta Maathai as the PERSON OF THE MONTH.

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