Quotessence
Home / Authors / Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai Quotes

Political Activist

Filter quotes by topic

AllPeopleIfsNeedsEnvironmentGovernmentTreeThinkingWorldKnowsResourcesKenyaWantWayChildrenForestsProblemProtectSometimesImportantLand

Famous Wangari Maathai Quotes

“The way in which we can promote peace, is by promoting sustainable management of our resources, equitable distribution of these resources, and that the only way you can actually do that, is that then you have to have a political, economic system that facilitates that. And then you get into the issues of human rights, justice, economic justice, social justice, and good governance or democratic governance. That's how it ties up.”

WayHumansPoliticalSocialJusticeIssuesRightsEconomicResourcesManagementSocial JusticeDemocraticHuman RightsTiesDistributionGovernancePromotingEconomic SystemsFacilitateEconomic JusticeEquitableGood Governance
Author:Wangari Maathai
Create image

“I have always felt that perhaps women have sometimes almost embraced the same values as men, and the same character as men, because they are in the men's world, and they are trying to fit into a system that men have created. And maybe in truth when there is a critical mass of women who play that role in governments, then we will see whether women can really manage power in a way that is less destructive than the way that men have used power.”

MenWorldWayTryingSometimesPlayCharacterGovernmentUsedValuesFeltRolesHe ManFitMassCriticalManageDestructiveCritical MassTrying To Fit In
Author:Wangari Maathai
Create image

“The government of Qatar, as I mentioned, has proposed to come and lease Kenya's Tana River delta in order to farm there. What I am not sure of is, has an environmental impact assessment been made to ensure that exploiting this delta for agricultural activities is the best way we can use the delta?We must be concerned about the long-term impact of agricultural activities in the delta.”

WayLongMadeUseGovernmentOrderTermActivityConcernedRiversImpactEnvironmentalBest WayLong TermNot SureFarmsAssessmentKenyaLeaseDeltaQatarEnvironmental Impact
Author:Wangari Maathai
Create image

“There is no reason why a company like Monsanto, for example, that is pushing GMOs, cannot go to Kenya, partner with the university, partner with the research institutions, and try to promote - in a responsible way - advanced techniques to help farmers. But this should be done in such a way that the farmers' livelihoods are not undermined because the government is irresponsible or careless, or because it is compromised.”

WayShouldTryingReasonDoneHelpingGovernmentCompanyExampleResearchResponsibleInstitutionsUniversityTechniquePartnersReason WhyNo ReasonPushingFarmersCarelessIrresponsibleLivelihoodKenyaGmosMonsanto
Author:Wangari Maathai
Create image

“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.”

WayFightingWaterLevelsLandResourcesManagementOilLocalsOne WayCompetingDistributionClashKenyaMineralsEquitableLand And Water
Author:Wangari Maathai
Create image