It is wonderful when you don't have the fear, and a lot of the time I don't ... I focus on what needs to be done instead. Wangari Maathai More Quotes by Wangari Maathai More Quotes From Wangari Maathai I know there is pain when sawmills close and people lose jobs, but we have to make a choice. We need water and we need these forests. Wangari Maathai pain jobs people As I swept the last bit of dust, I made a covenant with myself: I will accept. Whatever will be, will be. I have a life to lead. I recalled words a friend had told me, the philosophy of her faith. "Life is a journey and a struggle," she had said. "We cannot control it, but we can make the best of any situation." I was indeed in quite a situation. It was up to me to make the best of it. Wangari Maathai journey struggle philosophy People need open space. People need to bring their children into an area where they can play without restriction." And I was told, "This is development." And I said, "That is not development, definitely not sustainable development, definitely not responsible development. People need fresh air. They can do without buildings. They can do without concrete. But they cannot do without fresh air. Wangari Maathai air play children Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, you haven't done a thing. You are just talking. Wangari Maathai nature talking water There are opportunities even in the most difficult moments. Wangari Maathai difficult moments opportunity Anybody can dig a hole and plant a tree. But make sure it survives. You have to nurture it, you have to water it, you have to keep at it until it becomes rooted so it can take care or itself. There are so many enemies of trees. Wangari Maathai tree water enemy You have to know yourself, and that once you know yourself, then you cannot be bound by - because sometimes we are bound by other people's thoughts, because we are not sure about ourselves. But once you know yourself... I guess it is really an expression of the biblical statements that the truth will make you free! When you know, then you are free, your mind is free. Wangari Maathai free-your-mind biblical expression There is no reason why a company like Monsanto, for example, that is pushing GMOs, cannot go to Kenya, partner with the university, partner with the research institutions, and try to promote - in a responsible way - advanced techniques to help farmers. But this should be done in such a way that the farmers' livelihoods are not undermined because the government is irresponsible or careless, or because it is compromised. Wangari Maathai gmos government trying We all share one planet and are one hummanity, there is no escaping this reality. Wangari Maathai escaping humanity reality I definitely hope to relax when I get back hope. I will disappear into the forest and be rejuvenated by the beauty of the mountains. Wangari Maathai mountain relax forests In a few decades, the relationship between the environment, resources and conflict may seem almost as obvious as the connection we see today between human rights, democracy and peace. Wangari Maathai future vision rights We’re constantly being bombarded by problems that we face and sometimes we can get completely overwhelmed. [But] we should always feel like a hummingbird. I may feel insignificant, but I don’t want to be like the other animals watching the planet go down the drain. I’ll be a hummingbird, I’ll do the best I can. Wangari Maathai bombarded-by may animal It gradually became clear that the Green Belt Movement's work with communities to repair the degraded environment could not be done effectively without participants embracing a set of core spiritual values. Wangari Maathai community done spiritual Those of us who have been privileged to receive education, skills, and experiences and even power must be role models for the next generation of leadership. Wangari Maathai role-models generations skills In Kenya women are the first victims of environmental degradation, because they are the ones who walk for hours looking for water, who fetch firewood, who provide food for their families. Wangari Maathai environmental degradation water I don't believe [Africa] is ready to shift - and she needs to shift. So she needs to get the technology and she can only get that technology from the developed world. Wangari Maathai technology believe needs Why do we have to have people come from afar to come and grow food for us, or to grow food to sell to us? It is partly because we are almost becoming used to people doing things for us. Like somebody else is going to solve that problem for us. And that to me is very disempowering system. Wangari Maathai afar becoming people If you make mistakes that is alright because we all make mistakes and we learn from those mistakes. You gain confidence from learning, failing and rising again. Wangari Maathai rising gains mistake When I went back home, I was constantly being reminded, I'm an African woman, and so there are certain things I shouldn't do, certain ambitions that I should not entertain. That was a problem for me because I had never thought of myself as an African woman, never thought of myself as a woman to begin with. For me the limit was my capacity, my capability. Wangari Maathai limits ambition home It is important to nurture any new ideas and initiatives which can make a difference for Africa. Wangari Maathai differences important ideas
