Green Belt Movement: World leaders pay tribute to Wangari Maathai

It is with great sadness that the family of Professor Wangari Maathai announces her passing away on 25th September, 2011, at the Nairobi Hospital, after a prolonged and bravely borne struggle with cancer. Her loved ones were with her at the time.

Professor Maathai’s departure is untimely and a very great loss to all who knew her—as a mother, relative, co-worker, colleague, role model, and heroine; or who admired her determination to make the world a more peaceful, healthier, and better place.

Prof. Wangari Muta Maathai started the Green Belt Movement in 1977, working with women to improve their livelihoods by increasing their access to resources like firewood for cooking and clean water. She became a great advocate for better management of natural resources and for sustainability, equity, and justice.

World leaders have shared their condolences on the passing of Wangari Maathai. You can view them all here, and read a selection below:

Barack Obama, President of the United States, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2009
It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Professor Wangari Maathai. On behalf of all Americans, Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to Professor Maathai’s family and the people of Kenya at this difficult time. The world mourns with you and celebrates the extraordinary life of this remarkable woman who devoted her life to peacefully protecting what she called “our common home and future.” The work of the Green Belt Movement stands as a testament to the power of grassroots organizing, proof that one person’s simple idea—that a community should come together to plant trees—can make a difference, first in one village, then in one nation, and now across Africa. Professor Maathai’s tireless efforts earned her not only a Nobel Peace Prize and numerous prestigious awards, but the respect of millions who were inspired by her commitment to conservation, democracy, women’s empowerment, the eradication of poverty, and civic engagement. Professor Maathai further advanced these objectives through her service in the Kenyan government, the African Union, and the United Nations. As she told the world, “we must not tire, we must not give up, we must persist.” Her legacy will stand as an example to all of us to persist in our pursuit of progress.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
A globally recognized champion for human rights and women’s empowerment, Professor Maathai was a pioneer in articulating the links between human rights, poverty, environmental protection and security—for which she was awarded the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize.

Professor Maathai contributed over many decades to furthering the ideals and objectives of the United Nations.

She was known throughout the development and human rights community not just for her inspirational eloquence, but for her human warmth. Her passing is a loss for the people of Kenya and the world, in particular as we prepare for next year’s crucially important Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development. For the full statement, click here.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State
I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Wangari Maathai. The world has lost a powerful force for peace, democracy and women’s rights.

From early on, Dr. Maathai was a tireless advocate for the environment, for women and for all those in the developing world who are unable to realize their potential. She founded the Green Belt Movement that has planted millions of trees and helped women throughout Africa improve their lives and the futures of their families and their communities. She understood the deep connection between local and global problems, and she helped give ordinary citizens a voice. Her death has left a gaping hole among the ranks of women leaders, but she leaves behind a solid foundation for others to build upon. I was inspired by her story and proud to call her my friend.

My thoughts and prayers are with her three children, Waweru, Wanjira and Muta, and her granddaughter, Ruth Wangari.

Gordon Brown, Former Prime Minister, United Kingdom
I am deeply saddened by the death of my remarkable friend Wangari Maathai. Throughout her career she blazed a trail for the environment, women’s equality and human rights. Winning the Nobel Peace Prize seven years ago reflected a lifetime’s battle against vested interests and political pressure to raise awareness of environmental responsibility and help protect our planet for future generations. For more, click here.

HRH The Prince of Wales
There are few people who have had such a profound impact on the future direction of humanity than Wangari Maathai. Her understanding of the link between human poverty and the quality of the natural environment undoubtedly influenced a generation of environmentalists and policymakers. It is a tribute to her passionate determination that so many people feel such a deep sense of loss at her passing. I was fortunate enough to work closely with Wangari on a number of occasions over the years and every time I met her I was struck by both the force of her personality and the quality of her intellect. Her passion shone through in everything she did, from her work on women’s equality to her tireless championing of the rainforests. I, like so many others, will miss her more than it is possible to describe and send my most heartfelt condolences to her children and to everyone who knew her, loved her and depended upon her.

Mikhail Gorbachev, Founder, Green Cross International, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 1990
[Professor Maathai's] leadership and work serves to enlighten us all that alleviation of poverty, sustainable development, preservation of our environment, establishment of truly democratic institutions, and peaceful resolution of conflict are all integral parts of a safe and secure global future. As the first recipient of a Nobel Peace prize for her environmental work she helped bring about a new understanding of the inter-connections between environment and peace. This is one of her very important contributions.

Mary Robinson, Former High Commissioner for Human Rights, former President of Ireland, President of MRFCJ
The death of Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, means we are all deprived; we have lost an extraordinary activist who showed the skills of leadership and great determination. But two words sum her up for me; passion and energy—traits she showed in all she did.

I am fortunate to have many wonderful memories of Wangari but I will focus on just one, a meeting we both addressed in Germany some years ago. The venue was full of young people and I watched in awe as she conveyed to them her extraordinary passion about the environment in general and the need for climate fairness and justice in particular. But then, at the end of the meeting, Wangari moved to a new level when she energised all present by leading them in a wonderful sing-a-long. Her charisma was remarkable and she literally held hundreds of young people in her hand, and I have no doubt but she was a formative influence on them.

The passing of Wangari Maathai will be an enormous loss to her family, her extended family including the Green Belt Movement, and to the world she cared so much about.

Al Gore, Former Vice-President, United States and 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
It is with great sadness that I learned today of Wangari Maathai’s passing. Wangari overcame incredible obstacles to devote her life to service—service to her children, to her constituents, to the women, and indeed all the people of Kenya—and to the world as a whole. Wangari was a warm and devoted mother and I send my condolences to her family. She worked tirelessly both as an elected Member of Parliament and an Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources. She forged new ground for women in Kenya helping shatter what we would call the “glass ceiling” in the United States. And, she found her true passion as the founder of the Green Belt Movement. As the first environmentalist and first African woman to earn the Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari served as a true inspiration to us all. For more, clickhere.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 1984
Wangari Maathai understood and acted on the inextricable links between poverty, rights and environmental sustainability. One can but marvel at her foresight and the scope of her success. She was a true African heroine. Our condolences go to Professor Maathai’s family, to the people of Kenya, and to the countless women (and men) across Africa and the world to whom she was an inspiration.

From the Office of Nelson Mandela, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 1993
It was with great sadness that we learned today of the passing of this exceptional environmental activist.

Her work with the Green Belt Movement in Kenya and as an activist for civil and women’s rights in Kenya and beyond received worthy recognition internationally when she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2004. For the full statement, click here.

Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2001
Wangari Maathai will be remembered as a committed champion of the environment, sustainable development, women’s rights, and democracy.

Her energy and life-long dedication to improve the lives and livelihoods of people will continue to inspire generations of young people around the world. For the full statement, click here.

Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya
We all knew her as a voice of reason, a lady who stood above our artificial divisions of race, tribe and region and championed the cause of humanity.

Reposted from our partners at the Green Belt Movement.

Tags: Africa, Climate Change, Global Warming, green belt movement, Kenya, tcktcktck, trees, wangari maathai

Category: Tck Action