Home / Quotes / Quote by Wangari Maathai

Quote by Wangari Maathai

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

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

You May Also Like

“We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can bequeath our children a sustainable world that benefits all.”

World Children Next Inspiring Environment Generations Benefits Our Children Next Generation

Author:Wangari Maathai

“It is important to nurture any new ideas and initiatives which can make a difference for Africa.”

Important Ideas Differences Making A Difference Initiative New Ideas Nurture Nurturing

Author:Wangari Maathai

“It would be good for us Africans to accept ourselves as we are and recapture some of the positive aspects of our culture.”

Would Be Culture Accepting Aspect Be Good

Author:Wangari Maathai

“Women are responsible for their children, they cannot sit back, waste time and see them starve.”

Children Waste Responsible Wasting Time

Author:Wangari Maathai

“When you think of all the conflicts we have - whether those conflicts are local, whether they are regional or global - these conflicts are often over the management, the distribution of resources. If these resources are very valuable, if these resources are scarce, if these resources are degraded, there is going to be competition.”

Ifs Thinking Conflict Resources Management Competition Valuable Locals Distribution Scarce Scarce Resources

Author:Wangari Maathai

“We need to promote development that does not destroy our environment.”

Needs Doe Environment Development Our Environment

Author:Wangari Maathai

“If I go to a restaurant, other people stare. The meal is ruined.”

People Ifs Staring Meals Restaurants Ruined

Author:Brigitte Bardot

“In Kenya women are the first victims of environmental degradation, because they are the ones who walk for hours looking for water, who fetch firewood, who provide food for their families.”

Firsts Water Hours Walks Victim Environmental Degradation Kenya Fetch Environmental Degradation Firewood

Author:Wangari Maathai

“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.”

Way Fighting Water Levels Land Resources Management Oil Locals One Way Competing Distribution Clash Kenya Minerals Equitable Land And Water

Author:Wangari Maathai

“Some say that AIDS came from the monkeys, and I doubt that because we have been living with monkeys from time immemorial, others say it was a curse from God, but I say it cannot be that.”

Has Beens Doubt Aids Curse Monkeys Hiv World Aids Day

Author:Wangari Maathai