Environmentalist wins Nobel Prize5 May 2010
Dr Wangari Maathai has just become the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Wangari the Environmentalist
The Nobel Peace Prize is a world famous prize that is given once a year to someone who has done something outstanding to help people. The fact that Wangari has been given the peace prize means that people are now realising how important the environment is for the well-being of people.
Wangari Maathai lives in Kenya and is as famous there as Beckham is in the UK .
Wangari the Tree Planter
In 1977 she started a women's organisation called the Green Belt Movement. The organisation helps protect forests and makes sure local people can use them.
As a result of her work more than 20 million trees have been planted on women's farms, in schools and church grounds. The Green Belt Movement now has 250,000 people and has been copied in many other African countries.
Wangari the Politician
Wangari has in the last few years been involved in politics and she is now Assistant Environment Minister in Kenya. She is working hard to make sure that local people living near forests won't be treated badly by big companies.
Read more about http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/
Read more about the Nobel Peace Prize http://www.nobel.no/
