WANGARI MUTA MAATHAI (born April 1, 1940) is a Kenyan environmental and political activist. She was educated in the United States at Mount St. Scholastica and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the University of Nairobi in Kenya. In the 1970s, Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights.
WANGARI MUTA MAATHAI (born April 1, 1940) is a Kenyan environmental and political activist.
She was educated in the United States at Mount St. Scholastica and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the University of Nairobi in Kenya.
In the 1970s, Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights.
In 1979 her husband sued for divorce after a lengthy separation, saying she was too strong-minded for a woman and that he was unable to control her.
She was charged with contempt of court, found guilty, and sentenced to six months in jail for branding the judge who accepted their divorce as either incompetent or corrupt.
After three days in Lang’ata Women’s Prison in Nairobi, her lawyer formulated a statement which the court found sufficient for her release.
In 1984, she was awarded the Right Livelihood Award, and in 2004, she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for, "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.”
Maathai was an elected member of Parliament and served as Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources in the government of President Mwai Kibaki between January 2003 and November 2005.
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