Wangari Maathai's Inspiring Message

"The planting of trees is the planting of ideas. By starting with the simple act of planting a tree, we give hope to ourselves and to future generations."
-Wangari Maathai

What an honor it was to interview Wangari Maathai today. In 2004, Maathai became the first African woman and first environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Through her work with the Green Belt Movement, Maathai has mobilized more than 100,000 women to plant 30 million trees across Kenya since 1977. What began as a grassroots tree planting program to address the challenges of deforestation, soil erosion and lack of water is now a vehicle for empowering women. The act of planting a tree is helping women throughout Africa become stewards of the natural environment.

It was refreshing to hear such a positive inspiring message rather than the negative fear-mongering we've become so used to hearing from our dear leaders.

Listen to the interview here.