Independent Lens

Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai

How does the simple act of planting trees lead to winning the Nobel Peace Prize? Ask Wangari Maathai of Kenya. In 1977, she suggested rural women plant trees to address problems stemming from a degraded environment. Under her leadership, their tree-planting grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, defend human rights and promote democracy, earning her the Nobel Peace Prize.

Wangari Maathai Sees the Forest for the Trees

3m 4s

How does the simple act of planting trees lead to winning the Nobel Peace Prize? Ask Wangari Maathai of Kenya. In 1977, she suggested rural women plant trees to address problems stemming from a degraded environment. Under her leadership, their tree-planting grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment and to promote democracy, earning Maathai the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

  • Kenya & Wangari Maathai: Taking Root: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Kenya & Wangari Maathai: Taking Root

    S10 E19 - 7m 47s

    This educational module from the Women's Empowerment Curriculum examines how Kenya’s history as a colonized nation has contributed to their challenges with deforestation. Identify how this environmental degradation is related to other social, political and economic problems that affect the country’s marginalized citizens.

  • Taking Root: The Greenbelt Movement: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Taking Root: The Greenbelt Movement

    S10 E19 - 7m 44s

    This educational module from the Women's Empowerment Curriculum examines the community organizing/civic action steps that the Green Belt Movement took to address Kenya’s deforestation and investigates the strategies that other “change makers” and organizations use to address specific issues.

Similar Shows

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.