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Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai Quotes

Political Activist

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Famous Wangari Maathai Quotes

“Sometimes when I talk to little children I remind them of the fact that when I was growing up myself, I used to play with frog eggs and tadpoles and I used to walk in the field, I used to literally copy whatever my mother was doing on the land. And that may be the reason why I eventually developed the passion for green and for the Earth. So it is extremely important for adults and especially those who are in charge of cities to make sure that we do not lose touch with the land and with the environment. And especially our children.”

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Author:Wangari Maathai
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“If Africa is left behind, she is going to continue pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, especially carbon. She's going to continue logging the forests, she's going to continue burning charcoal, she is going to continue practicing agricultural activities that destroy the environment, and sooner or later Africa's problem will become a global problem.”

IfsProblemLeftBehindsEnvironmentActivityForestsBurningAtmosphereSooner Or LaterCarbonLeft BehindGreenhousesGreenhouse GasesCharcoalLogging
Author:Wangari Maathai
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“Education, if it means anything, should not take people away from the land, but instill in them even more respect for it, because educated people are in a position to understand what is being lost. The future of the planet concerns all of us, and all of us should do what we can to protect it. As I told the foresters, and the women, you don't need a diploma to plant a tree.”

PeopleIfsNeedsShouldMeanLostEnvironmentTreeLandPositionPlanetsProtectConcernPlantEducatedInstillPlant A TreeDiploma
Author:Wangari Maathai
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“It gradually became clear that the Green Belt Movement's work with communities to repair the degraded environment could not be done effectively without participants embracing a set of core spiritual values.”

DoneSpiritualValuesCommunityClearEnvironmentMovementGreenCoreContemplationBeltsParticipantsSpiritual Values
Book:Replenishing the Earth: Spiritual Values for Healing Ourselves and the World
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“People need open space. People need to bring their children into an area where they can play without restriction." And I was told, "This is development." And I said, "That is not development, definitely not sustainable development, definitely not responsible development. People need fresh air. They can do without buildings. They can do without concrete. But they cannot do without fresh air.”

PeopleNeedsChildrenSaidPlayCan DoSpaceEnvironmentAirBuildingDevelopmentAreasResponsibleConcreteRestrictionSustainable DevelopmentFresh AirOpen Spaces
Author:Wangari Maathai
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“Those of us who witness the degraded state of the environment and the suffering that comes with it cannot afford to be complacent. We continue to be restless. If we really carry the burden, we are driven to action. We cannot tire or give up. We owe it to the present and future generations of all species to rise up and walk!”

IfsGivingStatesActionSufferingWalksEnvironmentGenerationsGiving UpSpeciesBurdenDrivenWitnessRestlessTireFuture GenerationComplacent
Author:Wangari Maathai
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“It is evident that many wars are fought over resources which are now becoming increasingly scarce. If we conserved our resources better, fighting over them would not occur ... protecting the global environment is directly related to securing peace. Those of us who understand the complex concept of the environment have the burden to act. We must not tire, we must not give up, we must persist.”

IfsGivingWarFightingEnvironmentBecomingGiving UpConceptsResourcesComplexesBurdenRelatedPersistEvidentNot Giving UpTireScarce
Author:Wangari Maathai
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