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Excerpt from a biography on the Norwegian Nobel Committee's website: Wangari Maathai is internationally recognized for her persistent struggle for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation. She has addressed the UN on several occasions and spoke on behalf of women at special sessions of the General Assembly for the five-year review of the earth summit. She served on the commission for Global Governance and Commission on the Future. She and the Green Belt Movement have received numerous awards, most notably The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Others include The Sophie Prize (2004), The Petra Kelly Prize for Environment (2004), The Conservation Scientist Award (2004), J. Sterling Morton Award (2004), WANGO Environment Award (2003), Outstanding Vision and Commitment Award (2002), Excellence Award from the Kenyan Community Abroad (2001), Golden Ark Award (1994), Juliet Hollister Award (2001), Jane Adams Leadership Award (1993), Edinburgh Medal (1993), The Hunger Project's Africa Prize for Leadership (1991), Goldman Environmental Prize (1991), the Woman of the World (1989), Windstar Award for the Environment (1988), Better World Society Award (1986), Right Livelihood Award (1984) and the Woman of the Year Award (1983). Professor Maathai was also listed on UNEP's Global 500 Hall of Fame and named one of the 100 heroines of the world. In June 1997, Wangari was elected by Earth Times as one of 100 persons in the world who have made a difference in the environmental arena. Professor Maathai has also received honorary doctoral degrees from several institutions around the world: William's College, MA, USA (1990), Hobart & William Smith Colleges (1994), University of Norway (1997) and Yale University (2004). Most recently, Prof. Maathai named the 12th UN Messenger of Peace in December 2009.
Excerpt from a biography on the Nobel Prize Committee's website:
Wangari Maathai is internationally recognized for her persistent struggle for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation. She has addressed the UN on several occasions and spoke on behalf of women at special sessions of the General Assembly for the five-year review of the earth summit. She served on the commission for Global Governance and Commission on the Future. She and the Green Belt Movement have received numerous awards, most notably The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Others include The Sophie Prize (2004), The Petra Kelly Prize for Environment (2004), The Conservation Scientist Award (2004), J. Sterling Morton Award (2004), WANGO Environment Award (2003), Outstanding Vision and Commitment Award (2002), Excellence Award from the Kenyan Community Abroad (2001), Golden Ark Award (1994), Juliet Hollister Award (2001), Jane Adams Leadership Award (1993), Edinburgh Medal (1993), The Hunger Project's Africa Prize for Leadership (1991), Goldman Environmental Prize (1991), the Woman of the World (1989), Windstar Award for the Environment (1988), Better World Society Award (1986), Right Livelihood Award (1984) and the Woman of the Year Award (1983). Professor Maathai was also listed on UNEP's Global 500 Hall of Fame and named one of the 100 heroines of the world. In June 1997, Wangari was elected by Earth Times as one of 100 persons in the world who have made a difference in the environmental arena. Professor Maathai has also received honorary doctoral degrees from several institutions around the world: William's College, MA, USA (1990), Hobart & William Smith Colleges (1994), University of Norway (1997) and Yale University (2004).
On 25 September 2011, after a long battle with cancer, she died at the age of 71.
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Environmental campaigner, Kenyan politician and 2004 Nobel Peace laureate.
It is very heart breaking to learn of her death. She was still young and enrgetic. It is not only Kenya that has lost but the whole of Africa and indeed the world. She was one of a kind.
Clement Zambia
Wangari Maathai was a great leader who understood service to his fellow countrymen and women...and indeed the rest of Africa.
It was very refreshing to see a black strong woman advocate as opposed to seeing the daily expartriate community in Kenya. She built her movement on the grass root level. May her saul rest in peace!
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Wangari wa mathai was my role model not only for the role that she played on conservation. But also because she was a great advocate for women's rights. She will forever remain dear to our hearts. I also read something about Wangari wa mathai on my favorite website for more on this click on. http://www.tusijisunde.com/2011/wangari-mathai-did-we-learn-from-you/
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Kenya's Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai to Be Cremated
Wangari Maathai will be cremated and her remains interred as per her last wishes, her family and Government announced.
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