Environmental Issues

In this book, Maathai (2004) tells why she began The Green Belt Movement, how it operates, and where it is going. She includes the philosophy behind it, its challenges and objectives, and the specific steps involved in starting a similar grassroots environmental and social justice organization. According to Maathai (2004), the Green Belt Movement represents an example of how grassroots initiatives can lead to change.

In his review of this book, Peacenik (2005) states that, this book aptly illustrates the practical effect a visionary can have towards the cause of unifying and balancing the degraded social, cultural and biological environment that we inhabit, by its ample portrayal of the life, philosophy and focus of Professor Maathai (n.p).

Another review by Merton (2005) states that,
The book illustrates both the work of the Green Belt Movement and the philosophical motivations behind it, making it a useful and applicable guide to any person or organization interested or involved in a grassroots, holistic, and sustainable approach to changing the environmental and social threads of our world. (n.p)

In early 2000, the Green Belt Movement was experiencing changes through a new strategic plan, which led to the introduction of two phases that would guide the operations of  the organization. The book is a record of the first phases experience and focuses mainly on the activities of Green Belt Movement from its beginning up to 1999, the year strategic planning commenced. The book goes on to highlight major goals and objectives for the second phase of the organisation.

The book begins with a dry account of the Green Belt Movements twenty year history, which was characterised by both with setbacks and successes. The second half of the book enumerates goals and projects, explaining why ideas are worthwhile and outlining step-by-step processes that similar groups can follow.

The Green Belt Movement (GMB) was founded in 1976 for environmental conservation including prevention of soil erosion and forestation by planting trees through citizen foresters (community based tree planting). It began with the planting of seven trees on the World Environment Day that year (2003). GBM is managed by Kenyans, mostly women in the rural areas, preferred to rely on local capacity, knowledge, wisdom and expertise where appropriate. Its main focus was planting of trees for environmental conservation and improvement of the quality of life of women.

Professor Maathai explains that when she returned to Kenya (from her studies abroad), she found the environment very degraded. From, then on, she had the inspiration to conserve the environment, through planting of trees and empower locals to help themselves, thus founding the Green Belt Movement. Maathais first task was to create awareness on environmental issues, raising concerns on acid rain, loss of wilderness and depletion of forest cover, and the threats to various biological resources such as water catchments areas that could lead to desertification. (p.8). Maathai proposes that the only method to save a degraded land is by planting trees, which she backs up in her another 2008 article, where she states,

Because the land had been so degraded, an obvious solution was to rehabilitate it by planting trees. Trees stop soil erosion, thus conserving water. In addition, tree planting is a simple and realistic goal which guarantees successful results within a reasonable amount of time. (n.p)

Different approaches that the Green Belt Movement used included training the locals on issues of forestation such as its importance, conservation, cutting strategies (p.27), better and sustainable farming techniques e.g. organic farming (p.43) and educating the communities on the value of traditional foods (p.45) and even organize mass action events against illegal allotment of land misuse of the environment, which brought her a lot of criticisms and subjected her to vilifications from the then government. In her own words, the Kenyan Government was a major detractor and a source of harassment and violent obstructions (p. 62). One of the major challenges was that they inherited a very mismanaged system, one that had been riddled with so much corruption and looting of public resources (n.p).

Maathai suggested that schools raise awareness about primary environmental care and enhance knowledge, attitudes, and values that support sustainable grassroots socio-economic and ecological welfare. According to her, schools should help children acquire the democratic values of social justice, respect for the environment, and social responsibility. The Green Belt Movement introduced the tree-planting project to three thousand schools.

A major achievement is that, through the Green Belt Movement, Professor Maathai has assisted women in planting more than 40 million trees on their farms and on schools and church compounds in Kenya and all over East Africa.

Maathais (2003) argument about environmental conservation is convincing. The only way to achieve sustainable is to enlighten people about the importance of conservation, avail to them the methods of conservation and involve as many people as possible, so that they have a sense of ownership and appreciate more what they do themselves, which she did. I conquer with her that the only solution for a degraded land is rehabilitation through planting of trees, which not only purify the air and prevent soil erosion, but they are also important water catchments areas, that ensure the continuous flow of our rivers.

This is a topic which criminologists should be concerned about. Environmental degradation is also a result of criminal activities such as illegal logging, illegal allotment of land, and pollution among others.
Through her work, she has inspired many, even those that have not read this book. However, the book gives a detailed account of who Wangari Maathai really is, for it is in the face of difficulties and challenges that our true characters and personalities are revealed. She instils hope, inspires hard work and represents the possibility that everyone can make a difference, if we only commitment. This book is important for anyone, not only those interested in environmental issues, as through the experience of professor Maathai, we can learn and apply them in our situations. I would recommend it for everyone.

Professor Wangari Maathais Biography
Professor Wangari Maathai was born in 1940 in Nyeri. In 1960, she was one of the first Kenyan women to travel to the US to study a degree, after receiving the Kennedy Scholarship. She graduated with a degree in Biological Sciences from Mount St. Scholastica College in Kansas. She later graduated with a Master of Science degree at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition, she did her doctoral studies in Germany and became the first African woman in East and Central Africa to receive a Ph.D.

Returning to Kenya in 1966, and having witnessed the havoc caused by deforestation to forests and farmlands, she decided to become an environmental activist and consequently founded the Green Belt Movement. At the time, she was serving at the National Council of Women of Kenya of which she was Chairwoman from 1981 to 1987. The Green Belt Movement was a source of many criticisms, outright attacks and imprisonment by the then government. She however never gave in to the different problems she encountered. She persisted in her struggles for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation.

In September 1998, Professor Maathai became co-chair of the Jubilee 2000 Africa Campaign, an international not-for profit organisation that had a mission to advocate for debt cancellation for African countries. In the 2002 general elections in Kenya, she was elected to be a Member of Parliament to represent Tetu Constituency and was appointed that Assistant Minister for Environment, Wildlife, and Natural Resources, where she served till 2007.

Her works have received international recognitions. Together with the Green Belt Movement, she has received numerous awards, most notably, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first African woman to receive the price, for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. She has also written three books of her own an autobiography, Unbowed (2006), The Green Belt Movement Sharing the Approach and the Experience (2003), where she explains in detail the Green Belt Movement organization including why she started it, the challenges, objectives and goals and The Challenge for Africa  (2009) where she offers hope for the numerous challenges facing Africa.