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Wangari Maathai named UN peace messenger
Kenya's Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai delivers her speech in front of Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) at the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, south of Tokyo May 29, 2008. Photo/FILE
Posted Tuesday, December 15 2009 at 15:04
Kenyan environmental campaigner and Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai is being designated today (Tuesday) as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
The honour will be conferred at the UN-sponsored climate talks in Copenhagen by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
“Professor Maathai's long record of achievement in environmental conservation and sustainable development makes her an excellent choice," Ban told reporters in New York on Monday prior to flying to Copenhagen.
Messengers of Peace are internationally known figures who work to raise awareness of UN ideals and activities. Prof Maathai will be focusing in this capacity on climate change and environmental conservation.
The event will be conducted at 5pm (Kenyan time) at the Bella Centre, the venue of the summit.
Also expected to grace the event are UN's top Climate Change official Mr Vyo De Boer and the United Nation's Environmental Programme's boss Mr Achim Steiner.
Prof Maathai will be recognised for her work in support of the environment, democracy and women’s rights.
With her new status, Prof Maathai will join eleven other UN messengers of peace who advocate on behalf of the UN.
They include Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan, Argentinean born/Israeli conductor and pianist Mr Daniel Barenboim, Actor and director George Clooney, Brazilian Author Paulo Coelho, actor Michael Douglas and Dr Jane Goodall.
Others are virtuoso violinist Midori Goto, Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and Grammy Award-winning songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder.
Messengers of peace are individuals who possess widely recognized talents in the field of art, literature, sport and entertainment, helping to raise worldwide awareness of the UN’s ideals and activities.
Through their public appearances and contacts with the international media and humanitarian work, they expand public understanding of how the UN helps to improve the lives of people everywhere.
Prof Maathai has been at the forefront of environmental conservation, not only in Kenya but abroad too. It is due to her exemplary work as an environmental conservationist that the Greenbelt movement founder was appointed goodwill ambassador for an initiative aimed at protecting the Congo Basin forest ecosystem.
In November 2006, she spearheaded the UN Billion Tree Campaign.
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Submitted by baby09Posted December 20, 2009 05:57 PM
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Submitted by flkiranga
Kenyans must realise that truth will ever prevail.Despite abuses and beatings by Nyayo government, she held her sway by relentlessly fighting for Uhuru Park and Karura forest which had been earmarked for allocation.This would have compounded the evictions judging by the Mau cotroversy.
Posted December 15, 2009 06:57 PM -
Submitted by coldcase
Thank you Wangari for this! one piece of positive news from our country!!
Posted December 15, 2009 06:52 PM -
Submitted by umoyaplan
Congratulations professor, we may not give you much attention back at home, but does it really matter? Afterall you are doing all this for God and the weak. Bravo again! L.G. MWACHARO
Posted December 15, 2009 05:32 PM -
Submitted by wamaragua
How absolutely delighted that she has been recognized yet again! She is the only activist who walks the talk. How many PHDs would carry a pail of water on their heads to water seedlings ringed by armed guards, how many would join illiterate mothers on hunger strike and risk jail terms and beating to save Uhuru park! I am only sad that we have not produced many more Maathais. Congratulations Mama Kenya, you deserve it.
Posted December 15, 2009 05:20 PM
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Am proud of her,keep up da good work.