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We are very fond of blaming the poor for destroying the environment. But often it is the powerful, including governments, that are responsible.

Wangari Maathai

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Wangari Maathai
Age: 71 †
Born: 1940
Born: April 1
Died: 2011
Died: September 25
Biologist
Environmentalist
Political Activist
Politician
Teacher
Veterinarian
Wangari Maathaï
Maathai
Wangari Maathai
Poor
Destroying
Often
Governments
Nature
Affection
Government
Blame
Including
Responsible
Environment
Blaming
Powerful
Fond

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Disempowerment - whether defined in terms of a lack of self-confidence , apathy, fear, or an inability to take charge of one's own life - is perhaps the most unrecognised problem in Africa today.
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In a few decades, the relationship between the environment, resources and conflict may seem almost as obvious as the connection we see today between human rights, democracy and peace.
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It is wonderful when you don't have the fear, and a lot of the time I don't ... I focus on what needs to be done instead.
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It is important to nurture any new ideas and initiatives which can make a difference for Africa.
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Once people see that you improve you life if you are educated, then education becomes a valuable tool and people want it.
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As a scientist I cannot say we don't want to hear anything about GMOs, because these are advances in science. But I think its also important, especially when you are dealing with food, to be cautious.
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The planet needs trees. If there is indeed that carbon dioxide out there in the atmosphere, the only species on the planet that can actually trap it for us in a natural process of photosynthesis are the trees.
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The little grassroots people can change this world.
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What a friend we have in a tree, the tree is the symbol of hope, self improvement and what people can do for themselves.
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The developed world should be willing to help [Africa] and support her and make this energy affordable.
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When resources are degraded, we start competing for them, whether it is at the local level in Kenya, where we had tribal clashes over land and water, or at the global level, where we are fighting over water, oil, and minerals. So one way to promote peace is to promote sustainable management and equitable distribution of resources.
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When people can't use you, they ridicule what you represent. I was lucky that I understood that, because when one does not understand that, it is very easy to be broken and to be subdued.
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When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope.
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You cannot enslave a mind that knows itself. That values itself. That understands itself.
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All of us have a God in us, and that God is the spirit that unites all life, everything that is on this planet.
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Culture is coded wisdom
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We’re constantly being bombarded by problems that we face and sometimes we can get completely overwhelmed. [But] we should always feel like a hummingbird. I may feel insignificant, but I don’t want to be like the other animals watching the planet go down the drain. I’ll be a hummingbird, I’ll do the best I can.
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We have a responsibility to protect the rights of generations, of all species, that cannot speak for themselves today. The global challenge of climate change requires that we ask no less of our leaders, or ourselves.
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