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Quote by Wangari Maathai

“Culture is coded wisdom”

Quote by Wangari Maathai

Author

Wangari Maathai

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. more

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“When I went back home, I was constantly being reminded, I'm an African woman, and so there are certain things I shouldn't do, certain ambitions that I should not entertain. That was a problem for me because I had never thought of myself as an African woman, never thought of myself as a woman to begin with. For me the limit was my capacity, my capability.”

Should Problem Home Certain Limits Ambition Capacity Capability Back Home African Women

Author:Wangari Maathai

“You cannot enslave a mind that knows itself. That values itself. That understands itself.”

Knows Mind Values

Author:Wangari Maathai

“It is very important for young people not to be afraid of engaging in areas that are not common to the youth. Get involved in local activities, get involved in local initiatives, be involved in leadership positions because you can’t learn unless you are involved. And if you make mistakes that is alright too because we all make mistakes and we learn from those mistakes. You gain confidence from learning, failing and rising again.”

“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.”

Want Feels Should May I Can Sometimes Problem Faces Animal Planets Overwhelmed Insignificant Do The Best Drains Bombarded Hummingbirds Bombarded By

Author:Wangari Maathai

“The people are learning that you cannot leave decisions only to leaders. Local groups have to create the political will for change, rather than waiting for others to do things for them. That is where positive, and sustainable, change begins.”

People Political Waiting Decision Leader Groups Locals Political Will

Author:Wangari Maathai

“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!”

Ifs Giving States Action Suffering Walks Environment Generations Giving Up Species Burden Driven Witness Restless Tire Future Generation Complacent

Author:Wangari Maathai

“All of us have a God in us, and that God is the spirit that unites all life, everything that is on this planet. It must be this voice that is telling me to do something, and I am sure it's the same voice that is speaking to everybody on this planet - at least everybody who seems to be concerned about the fate of the world, the fate of this planet.”

World Seems Spirit Voice Fate Planets Concerned Earth Day Green Earth World Earth Day Happy Earth Day

Author:Wangari Maathai

“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.”

Ifs Giving War Fighting Environment Becoming Giving Up Concepts Resources Complexes Burden Related Persist Evident Not Giving Up Tire Scarce

Author:Wangari Maathai

“Andrew Johnson was a Southerner generally who proclaimed that his native state of Tennessee was a country for white men.”

Men Country States White Native White Man Johnson Andrew Tennessee Southerner

Author:Stephen Ambrose

“The women of the Green Belt Movement have learned about the causes and the symptoms of environmental degradation. They have begun to appreciate that they, rather than their government, ought to be the custodians of the environment.”

Government Causes Environment Movement Ought Appreciate Green Environmental Climate Change Symptoms Belts Degradation Environmental Degradation Custodians

Author:Wangari Maathai