Wangari Maathai - farewell to an inspiration

Vicki Felgate

26 September 2011

It was with great sadness that I read today of the death of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and patron of Friends of the Earth International Dr Wangari Maathai.

Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya in 1977 - more than 20 million trees have been planted in Africa as a result of her work.

She also worked to protect people's access to forests and natural resources.

Wangari Maathai was an inspiration to a great many people, including me.

I lived and worked in Kenya from 2001 to 2003 and it was here that I first heard about the Green Belt Movement.

I must have raved on about it because my mum bought me the book Green Belt Movement: Sharing the approach and the experience.

I was hooked.

I never met her. But I wish I had.

It's difficult to imagine how anyone could fill the hole she leaves behind. But I know she'll live on in the work she started and so passionately devoted herself to.

Read a profile of Dr Wangari Maathai

Vicki Felgate, Publishing and New Media Team

Subscribe to this blog by email using Google's subscription service.