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Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai Quotes

Political Activist

Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan political activist and environmentalist who became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Born on April 1, 1940, and passing away on September 25, 2011, Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots organization dedicated to environmental conservation and women's rights.

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All People Ifs Needs Environment Government Tree Thinking World Knows Resources Kenya Want Way Children Forests Problem Protect Sometimes Important Land

Famous Wangari Maathai Quotes

“I want to do the right things - I want to plant trees, I want to make sure that the indigenous forests are protected because I know, whatever happens, these are the forests that contain biodiversity, these are the forests that help us retain water when it rains and keep our rivers flowing, these are the forests that many future generations will need.”

Knows Want Needs Helping Happens Water Generations Tree Rain Rivers Plant Forests Right Thing Protected Indigenous Future Generation Whatever Happens Biodiversity Plant A Tree

Author:Wangari Maathai

“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.”

Ifs Needs Process Natural Tree Planets Species Atmosphere Traps Carbon Carbon Dioxide Photosynthesis

Author:Wangari Maathai

“For me planting a tree is a very doable thing. It's not complicated, it doesn't require technology, it doesn't require much knowledge, but it can be a very important entry point into communities understanding how they destroy their own resources, but how they can also restore those resources, and not wait for their government or international agencies to come and help them.”

Important Helping Government Waiting Understanding Community Technology Tree Resources International Complicated Agency Entry

Author:Wangari Maathai

“Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, you haven't done a thing. You are just talking.”

Done Water Nature Talking Environment Tree Havens Plant Holes Natural Environment Plant A Tree Tree Planting

Author:Wangari Maathai

“It's the little things citizens do. That's what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.”

Littles Differences Tree Citizens Little Things

Author:Wangari Maathai

“That's the way I do things when I want to celebrate, I always plant a tree. And so I got an indigenous tree, called Nandi flame, it has this beautiful red flowers. When it is in flower it is like it is in flame.”

Way Want Beautiful Tree Flower Red Plant Celebrate Flames Indigenous Plant A Tree

Author:Wangari Maathai

“For me, one of the major reasons to move beyond just the planting of trees was that I have tendency to look at the causes of a problem. We often preoccupy ourselves with the symptoms, whereas if we went to the root cause of the problems, we would be able to overcome the problems once and for all.”

Ifs Looks Reason Problem Would Be Able Moving Causes Tree Majors Roots Overcoming Tendencies Symptoms Root Cause

Author:Wangari Maathai

“When I first started, it was really an innocent response to the needs of women in rural areas. When we started planting trees to meet their needs, there was nothing beyond that. I did not see all the issues that I have to come to deal with.”

Needs Firsts Deals Issues Tree Areas Response Innocent Rural Areas

Author:Wangari Maathai

“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.”

People Ifs Needs Should Mean Lost Environment Tree Land Position Planets Protect Concern Plant Educated Instill Plant A Tree Diploma

Author:Wangari Maathai

“What a friend we have in a tree, the tree is the symbol of hope, self improvement and what people can do for themselves.”

People Self Peace Can Do Tree Self Improvement Improvement Symbols

Author:Wangari Maathai

“Every one of us can make a contribution. And quite often we are looking for the big things and forget that, wherever we are, we can make a contribution. Sometimes I tell myself, I may only be planting a tree here, but just imagine what's happening if there are billions of people out there doing something. Just imagine the power of what we can do.”

People Ifs May Sometimes Bigs Humanity Peace Can Do Forget Imagine Tree Happenings Billions Contribution Big Things

Author:Wangari Maathai

“You can make a lot of speeches, but the real thing is when you dig a hole, plant a tree, give it water, and make it survive. That's what makes the difference”

Giving Real Water Differences Vision Tree Future Speech Plant Holes Real Things Sustainable Development Plant A Tree

Author:Wangari Maathai

“Anybody can dig a hole and plant a tree. But make sure it survives. You have to nurture it, you have to water it, you have to keep at it until it becomes rooted so it can take care or itself. There are so many enemies of trees.”

Care Water Enemy Tree Plant Take Care Holes Rooted Nurture Plant A Tree

Author:Wangari Maathai

“Using trees as a symbol of peace is in keeping with a widespread African tradition. For example, the elders of the Kikuyu carried a staff from the thigi tree that, when placed between two disputing sides, caused them to stop fighting and seek reconciliation. Many communities in Africa have these traditions.”

Two Fighting Sides Community Tree Example Tradition Symbols Staff Elders Reconciliation

Author:Wangari Maathai

“When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope.”

Tree Plant Climate Seeds Plant A Tree

Book:The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the Experience

Source: The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the Experience

“That's the way I do things when I want to celebrate, I always plant a tree.”

Way Want Tree Plant Celebrate Plant A Tree Tree Planting

Author:Wangari Maathai

“There's a general culture in this country to cut all the trees. It makes me so angry because everyone is cutting and no one is planting.”

Country Culture Cutting Tree Angry

Author:Wangari Maathai

About the Author

Born: April 1, 1940
Died: September 25, 2011
Known for: Political Activist
Quotes: 161

Related Topics

People Ifs Needs Environment Government Tree Thinking World Knows Resources Kenya Want Way Children Forests Problem Protect Sometimes Important Land

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Replenishing the Earth: Spiritual Values for Healing Ourselves and the WorldRelated source material

The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the ExperienceRelated source material

UnbowedRelated source material

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