My movement, begun in 1977, Started with just a handful of seedlings in my backyard .

It grew to
include hundreds of trees nurseries throughout Africa, where seedlings are doled out to women, who
planned them on both public and private lands. For every tree that takes root, the woman who planted
it earns a small sum. For many women, tree planting is now good deed that also helps make ends meet.

Many women wondered decades ago why I was so devoted to saving trees. It is Africa’s women, after
all, who trek out in the mornings with a small axes in hand in search of firewood to cook the family meal.
Some women wondered whether I had neglected her fellow women in favour of the tree. The answer,
of course, was no. My movement has always been as much about women as about trees.

‘’We try to make women see they can do something worthwhile,’’ I said in an interview with the New
York Times in 1989.’’And we are trying to empower people, to let them identify their mistakes, to show
they can build a comma or destroy the environment.’’

Proving to be very successful, the moment is responsible for the planting of more than 30,000,000 trees
in Kenya providing roughly 30,000 Women with new skills and opportunities. By 1986 a pan African
green belt movement was Established in other countries, including Tanzania, Uganda, malawi, Lesotho,
Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. And international chapter was also established to work outside the continent.
Participants from other countries are thought to be embraced the movements in vision and mission and
then concentrate on establishing similar tree planting initiatives in their own countries by using green
belt method.

My realization that activism must be grounded in the community, and that communication must be at a
level all members of the community can understand is the secret of green belt movements success.

I also challenged the government on its development plans and its handling the of the countries land. An
outspoken critic of dictator Daniel arap Moi, she was beaten and arrested numerous times. One of her
most famous actions was in 1989.I and her organization staged yeah protest in Nairobi's park to prevent
the construction of a skyscraper her campaign drew international attention and the project was
eventually dropped. The place in the park where she demonstrated became known as ‘’Freedom
corner.’’

For my lifelong dedication to environmental and human rights I received numerous awards, including
the Goldman environmental prize, the right livelihood award, and the United nations Africa prize for
leadership. I received the Edinburgh Medal in 1992, and in 1997, I was selected by times as one of 100
persons in the world who have made a difference in the field of environmentalism, and what difference
she has made ! In I was honoured with the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize grade the award is given
annually by the Nobel committee to individuals or organizations that work to promote peace, resolve
conflict, or uphold human right.

Traditionally, however , past noble winners tended to be bold who worked for peace during times of
war. When I was chosen as the recipient, I became the very first environmentalist to be recognised and
many wondered whether a’’ tree planter’’ deserved such an honour. For me there was an important link
between the environment and peace. Most of the people involved with GBM are rural African women
who, over the years, have planted nearly 30,000,000 trees. As a result, they have repeated the rewards
of food, shelter and employment. More importantly ,they have received control and over there own
lives. In an interview with the progressive, I commented on my Noble win:” I wasn’t working on the
issue of peace specifically. I was contributing towards peace and that is what the committee recognised:
that, indeed, we need to step back and look at more expanded concepts of peace and security.”

In my noble speech, I said that picking my further renowned Peace Prize ‘’challenged the old to broaden
the understanding of peace: there can be no peace without equitable development; and there can be no
development without sustainable management of the environment in a democratic and peaceful
space.’’

“I have received so many messages from Kenyans women, men and every children saying how happy
they are and how proud they feel as canyons and as Africans. I meet people around Nairobi and they
hug me with tears in their eyes. This prize has given Kenyans a lot of energy. It really is the icing on the
cake After the elections of 2002. While Kenya and Africa have many challenges, this price is a Signal
that there is a hope read for Kenyans, being recognised like this means we have been given year special
challenge. I hope the price will inspire us a government and as a people to set a good example for Africa
and the rest of the world command to show them that no matter what problems we face, we can still
protect the environment and think of future generations. The message of her Africans is that the
solutions to our problems we face, we can still protect the environment and think of future generations.
The message for Africans is that the solutions to our problems lie within us. The work we have been
doing with the green belt movement is a local response to a local problem.”

My water has gone beyond trees. I has played a role in fighting for cancellation of African governments
foreign debts and campaigned against land grabbing, in which numbers of Africa’s elite claim public land
has their own. Fighting occupation has also been one of her causes. Has not only had the courage to
stand up for my beliefs, but I have risked her my life for my . In 1992, I was hospitalised after I was
beaten unconscious by police during hunger the first time I have been assaulted. 7 years later run the
movement attempted the to replace trees cut by real estate developers, I and my group were attacked,
leaving my head gashed and many of my supporters injured. On some occasions law enforcement
officers have simply look at the other way. At one time Amnesty International sponsored a letter writing
campaign to black Canyon government and president Arap Moi to get her freed. Here is a glimpse into
my dedicated personality .”People often ask me what drives me,” I revealed .”Perhaps the most difficult
question would be:What ?”