Wangari Maathai (1940-2011)

“We cannot tire or give up. 
We owe it to the present and future generations of all species to rise up and walk!”

Professor Wangari Maathai died yesterday, at the Nairobi Hospital, after a prolonged and bravely borne struggle with cancer. Like the millions of people she never met, Professor Maathai was a source of personal inspiration for me. 

She propelled the Green Belt Movement out of obscurity and called upon women to improve their livelihoods by increasing their access to resources like firewood for cooking and clean water. She blossomed as an advocate for better management of natural resources and for sustainability, equity, and justice. 

By any measure this was an inspiring woman. Her sense of conviction was clear. Her commitment and passion were obvious. I had looked forward to sitting audience to her lecture this Thursday as part of the EN Thompson Lecture Series. Instead of an audience, I suppose the task at hand is to mourn her passing, celebrate her accomplishments, and then put our hands to work creating a world she helped us envision.