World Learning Trustee is Awarded 2004 Nobel Peace Prize

The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/all/20041205030240/http://www.worldlearning.org:80/news/2004/nobel_prize_maathai.html

Wangari Maathai

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced today in Oslo the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2004 to Wangari Maathai, of Kenya, the first woman from Africa to be so honored. As noted in the official announcement, Dr. Maathai "has taken a holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces democracy, human rights and women's rights in particular. She thinks globally and acts locally."

Wangari Maathai, Kenya's foremost environmentalist and women's rights advocate, founded The Green Belt Movement of Kenya on Earth Day, 1977, encouraging farmers -- 70 percent of whom are women -- to plant "greenbelts" to stop soil erosion, provide shade, and create a source of lumber and firewood. She distributed seedlings to rural women and set up an incentive system for each seedling that survived. To date, the movement has planted well over 15 million trees, produced income for over 80,000 people in Kenya alone, and has expanded its efforts to 30 African countries, Haiti and the United States.

Dr. Maathai became part of the World Learning community in 2001, when she accepted an invitation to serve on its Board of Trustees. Since then, she has visited Brattleboro and the School for International Training (SIT) campus several times to meet with students and faculty, and has supported SIT's college study abroad programs by providing opportunities for students to visit and work with the Green Belt Movement in conducting research and carrying out environmental projects in Kenya. In 2006, SIT and The Green Belt Movement will launch an environmental studies program for the SIT Study Abroad program in Kenya.

"Dr. Maathai's courage and lifelong commitment to the environment and peace causes is an ongoing source of inspiration to all of us on the Board," noted Susan A. Plimpton, chair of the World Learning Board of Trustees. "We are proud to count her a colleague, and are delighted that she and the Green Belt Movement have been given this worldwide recognition for their environmental work and for touching directly and powerfully the lives of an increasing number of women worldwide."

"Wangari Maathai has been a longtime advocate for peace, social justice, and the empowerment of women in Kenya and throughout the world," said James A. Cramer, President and CEO, World Learning and the School for International Training. "We cannot think of anyone more deserving of this acknowledgement. It is an honor to have her as part of the World Learning community."

Nov	DEC	Jan
	05
2003	2004	2005

World Learning Trustee is Awarded 2004 Nobel Peace Prize

Related links: