Wangari Maathai

Hey all,

So glad we're finally talking about something positive! The upbeat environmentalist I chose to spotlight for this entry is Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan woman who was the impetus behind the country's Green Belt Movement. Basically, she saw that women suffer as much (if not more so) than men from environmental degradation, even if they're partly responsible, so she encouraged women to start planting trees all over Kenya to both make people better off and help the environment. You can read more about her at the GBM's website: http://greenbeltmovement.org/w.php?id=59

Basically, she kicks butt. She's run for president (more as a statement than to actually get elected) and has been imprisoned before for vocally protesting Kenyan policies. She's a great example of a grassroots, on-the-ground environmental activist who's truly making a difference, and she's also a great role model for women in low-income countries, inspiring them to take initiative and fix the things they see going wrong.