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A Simple Suggestion That Can Change A Life
In this complex world, it can be hard to imagine that one idea can affect many people's lives. Wangari Maatha, the 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate did just that. In the late 1970's she returned to her native country of Kenya to find the women concerned with lack of resources such as no firewood, little water and soil erosion, which left their children malnourished. With a simple suggestion to plant trees to provide the wood, food, reduce erosion and rebuild and maintain the water tables, the Green Belt Movement (GBM) was born. The women began by teaching each other how to plant trees to preserve their families and villages. In time, they developed communities of women empowering each other to plant trees to sustain the environment and their people. Through the nurturing disposition of these women and the belief that people need to take care of their world, the movement grew to a point where it exposed Kenya's corrupt government in leading the devastation of Kenya's vital resources. Wangari and her supporters were threatened, beaten, and imprisoned for their efforts to steward their land. Amazingly, their peaceful efforts brought forth progress in Kenya that encouraged the end to the corrupt leadership of Kenya in 2002 and broadened the GBM's efforts to international initiatives. The organization's efforts continue today with four main goals that they promote on the Green Belt Movement Website: - To strengthen and expand the Green Belt Movement in Kenya - To share the Green Belt Movement's program with other countries in Africa and beyond - To empower Africans, especially women and girls, and nurture their leadership and entrepreneurial skills - To advocate internationally for the environment, good governance, equity and cultures of peace A simple suggestion by a person who had the ability to take control of a situation started a movement that has helped countless lives in Africa and around the world. To learn more about Wangari and the Green Belt Movement visit www.greenbeltmovement.org. Many of us may not have the chance to have that right idea at the right time. However, we all can emulate the principles that Wangari and GBM live by: To Strengthen - To Share - To Empower - To Nurture - To Advocate Your beliefs and actions can make a world of difference to a person. I suggest you visit AndreaTadlock.com, where I believe we all can change lives for the better with the right support. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com |
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