In this clip, see how the green belt movement grew from a basic need for water and firewood, and how wangari maathai started it all. Hosted by terrence howard, the acclaimed series showcases powerful and. The vision of wangari maathai tells the story of kenyas green belt movement and follows maathai, the movements founder and the first environmentalist and african woman to win the nobel prize. Due to her excellent grades she received a scholarship to mount st. The vision of wangari maathai, considers the life work of the first african woman to win the nobel peace prize for her efforts at educating rural women. Taking root filmmaker remembers wangari maathai women. The vision of wangari maathai, the awardwinning film about the kenyan nobel peace prize laureate and creator of the green belt movement, released in 2008, is being rereleased in 12 languages by vermonts marlboro productions. View a short film about wangari maathai, the first african woman to win the nobel peace prize, and also the first environmentalist to win. Maathai began promoting the planting of trees to reverse deforestation and provide firewood for african women in 1976. This africentric historical inquiry introduces wangari maathai, 2004 nobel peace prize recipient, as a visionary adult educator and leader of the liberatory environmental movement known as the green belt movement. Wangari maathai delivers her nobel lecture after receiving the 2004 nobel peace prize in.
Best practices in teaching about human rights issues in africa inspiration for us and for our students to recommit to democratic values and practices right here. The vision of wangari maathai, a film by lisa merton and alan dater, tells the inspiring story of the green belt movement of kenya and its unstoppable founder, wangari maathai, who, in 2004, became the first environmentalist and first african woman to win the nobel peace prize taking root illustrates the development of maathais holistic worldview and model for sustainable. Here, lisa merton looks back on making the film in kenya and struggling to capture the sense of divinity and hope projected by the recently deceased nobel laureate. Around 1943, maathais family relocated to a whiteowned farm in the rift valley, near the town of nakuru, where her father had. Itvs community, the green belt movement, the nature conservancy and are proud to support taking root with community cinema screening.
Made during the last decade of her life, the film portrays how her act of planting trees, along with her commitment to education and the empowerment of women, grew into a nationwide movement for environmental and human rights. Pdf download san francisco, cais it really possible for one person to change the world. Taking root the vision of wangari maathai alan dater. The story of wangari maathai and the green belt movement in kenya teaching materials such as taking root documentary and seeds of change caba book reflect on. Produced by lisa merton and alan dater in 2008, talks about the personal journey of wangari maathai whose simple ambition of helping women in rural areas earn a living through tree planting became a nationwide movement to protect the environment, human rights and. Wangari maathai nobel peace prize winner wangari maathai, in a photo from the website of the green belt movement, the organization she founded in kenya. Did you ever think that planting trees could help democracy take root. Maathai was an ecologist who developed the greenbelt movement. The vision of wangari maathai is at once an environmental, historical and human rights documentary. Scholastica college now benedictine college in kansas from which she received her bachelors degree in 1964. Raised in the rural highlands of kenya, and educated in the united states during the 1960s civil rights era, nobel peace prize laureate maathai discovered the heart of her lifes work by reconnecting with the rural women with.
She was also understood as a femaless rights advocate and she got numerous awards. Yet with that simple act wangari maathai of kenya started down the path that helped to reclaim her countrys land from a century of deforestation while providing. Wangari maathais journey of planting trees in kenya during the repressive regime in the 1980s. This video gives an overview of the impact human rights activist and environmentalist wangari maathai had in kenya. Her family was kikuyu, the most populous ethnic group in kenya, and had lived in the area for several generations.
Taking root weaves a compelling and dramatic narrative of one womans personal journey in the context of the turbulent political and environmental history of her country. Despite constant threats from his regime, she never wavered from her mission. We were asked to make a short film about wangari maathai. The vision of wangari maathai 2008 the narrative of wangari maathais personal journey of planting trees in kenya during the repressive regime of daniel arap moi in the 1980s. Taking roottells the dramatic story of kenyan nobel peace prize laureate wangari maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into kenyas greenbelt movement a globally recognized movement for which this. Righteous leader of environmental and social change. Advocates for female empowerment take solace in success stories like maathais rise from a village girl to become a global icon of leadership. Taking root film notes handout for taking notes on dvd. Please download and install the latest version of adobe flash player. Taking root tells the dramatic story of kenyan nobel peace prize laureate wangari maathai 1 april 1940 25 september 2011 whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy a movement for which this charismatic woman became an iconic inspiration. Taking root the vision of wangari maathai alan dater, lisa merton. The vision of wangari maathai is broadcast tonight on pbs. Wangari muta maathai was born in nyeri, kenya, on april 1, 1940. She received a bachelors degree in biology from mount st.
The vision of the wangari maathai foundation is a t world in which individuals acknowledge their capacity to be a force for positive transformation like wangari maathai was. The vision of wangari maathai premieres tuesday, april 14 on independent lens, a weekly series airing on pbs. The awardwinning film follows the remarkable life of wangari maathai of kenya as she launches a green belt movement in the 70s to plant trees in. How does the simple act of planting trees lead to winning the nobel peace prize.
The first woman in east and central africa to earn a doctorate degree, maathai became chair of the department of. Maathais genius is in recognizing the interrelation of local and global problems, and the fact. Wangari maathai nobel lecture nobel lecture, oslo, december 10, 2004. In 1963 britian gives kenya its independence and a leader kenyaytta takes over. Taking root follows nobel peace prize laureate wangari maathai, who died in 2011, in her quest. Beginnings i was born the third of six children, and the first girl after two sons, on april 1, 1940, in the small village of ihithe in the central highlands of what was then british kenya. Taking root tells the dramatic story of kenyan nobel peace prize laureate wangari maathai, whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracya movement for which this charismatic woman became an iconic inspiration. Wangari muta maathai was born in nyeri, kenya, in 1940. Taking root tells the dramatic story of kenyan nobel peace prize laureate wangari maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide. Wangari maathai dedicated to addressing the roots of social and environmental issues, wangari maathai has been a groundbreaking figure in both her work and in her personal life. Taking root tells the dramatic story of kenyan nobel peace prize laureate wangari maathai, whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracya movement for which this charismatic. Planting trees for fuel, food and timber is not something that anyone would imagine as the first step toward. Maathai discovered her lifes work by reconnecting with the.
Because maathai didnt listen, today kenya has 30 million more trees, all planted by village women. The vision of wangari maathai, which premieres tonight as part of independent lens, this campaign began modestly, in response to kenyas deforestation, soil erosion. She was awarded a kennedy scholarship in 1960 and traveled to the united states to study abroad. She obtained degrees in biological sciences, and pursued doctoral studies in germany and the university of nairobi, before obtaining a ph. The vision of wangari maathai taking root tells the dramatic story of kenyan nobel peace prize laureate wangari maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into the nationwide green belt movement dedicated to safeguarding the environment, protecting human rights, and. We went to interview her at the yale school of forestry, where she was. Maathai received the 2004 nobel peace prize for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy, and peace, includ. The vision of wangari maathai is the story of a woman whose stand for peace and justice was as strong and immovable as the trees she planted. It is the people who must make their leaders change.
In unbowed, wangari maathai offers an inspiring message of hope and prosperity through selfsufficiency. Opinion the genius of wangari maathai the new york times. For an enhanced browsing experience, get the imdb app on your. In the case of wangari maathai, the answer is a resounding yes. Wangari muta maathai, 2004 nobel peace prize winner. Wangari maathai has 25 books on goodreads with 19197 ratings. The vision of wangari maathai general facts about kenya the mountain was the inspiration of the people. An excellent documentary in its entirety, taking root tells the story of one of the worlds most successful and empowering ecological restoration efforts, led by nobel peace prize winner wangari maathai 19402011, as well as the impacts of britains ruthless colonization of kenya, 18801900 i cant recommend this documentary strongly enough to any person looking to understand. Wangari mathaai taking root tells the dramatic story of kenyan nobel peace prize laureate wangari maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a.
The vision of wangari maathai, directed and produced by alan dater and lisa merton, is an indepth film about kenyan nobel peace prize laureate wangari maathai. Taking root tells the story of the late wangari muta maathai, a remarkable and inspiring woman whose efforts to help the women of kenya have had farreaching environmental, social, and political effects. Maathai was born on 1 april 1940 in the village of ihithe, nyeri district, in the central highlands of the colony of kenya. Thereafter she obtained a masters degree at the university of pittsburgh, also in biological sciences.
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