Using trees as a symbol of peace is in keeping with a widespread African tradition. For example, the elders of the Kikuyu carried a staff from the thigi tree that, when placed between two disputing sides, caused them to stop fighting and seek reconciliation. Many communities in Africa have these traditions.

Wangari Maathai

You can make a lot of speeches, but the real thing is when you dig a hole, plant a tree, give it water, and make it survive. That's what makes the difference

Wangari Maathai

future differences real

In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other. That time is now.

Wangari Maathai

leadership peace thinking

You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they must protect them.

Wangari Maathai

empowering helping people

You cannot enslave a mind that knows itself. That values itself. That understands itself.

Wangari Maathai

values mind knows

When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope.

Wangari Maathai

climate plant tree

No matter who or where we are, or what our capabilities, we are called to do the best we can.

Wangari Maathai

do-the-best capability matter

Every one of us can make a contribution. And quite often we are looking for the big things and forget that, wherever we are, we can make a contribution. Sometimes I tell myself, I may only be planting a tree here, but just imagine what's happening if there are billions of people out there doing something. Just imagine the power of what we can do.

Wangari Maathai

tree peace people

Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come... Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own - indeed, to embrace the whole of creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder.

Wangari Maathai

support-systems ideas thinking

Sometimes we become bound by other people's thoughts because we are not sure about ourselves.

Wangari Maathai

not-sure sometimes people

The little grassroots people can change this world.

Wangari Maathai

littles people world

Education, if it means anything, should not take people away from the land, but instill in them even more respect for it, because educated people are in a position to understand what is being lost. The future of the planet concerns all of us, and all of us should do what we can to protect it. As I told the foresters, and the women, you don't need a diploma to plant a tree.

Wangari Maathai

land mean people

It's the little things citizens do. That's what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.

Wangari Maathai

citizens differences tree

I want to do the right things - I want to plant trees, I want to make sure that the indigenous forests are protected because I know, whatever happens, these are the forests that contain biodiversity, these are the forests that help us retain water when it rains and keep our rivers flowing, these are the forests that many future generations will need.

Wangari Maathai

rain rivers water

Human rights are not things that are put on the table for people to enjoy. These are things you fight for and then you protect.

Wangari Maathai

fighting rights people

We can love ourselves by loving the earth.

Wangari Maathai

earth

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

Wangari Maathai

generations giving-up earth

When you know who you are you are free.

Wangari Maathai

who-you-are knows

We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own - indeed, to embrace the whole creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. This will happen if we see the need to revive our sense of belonging to a larger family of life, with which we have shared our evolutionary process.

Wangari Maathai

diversity earth needs

African women in general need to know that it's OK for them to be the way they are - to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence.

Wangari Maathai

success inspiring happiness

I’m very conscious of the fact that you can’t do it alone. It’s teamwork. When you do it alone you run the risk that when you are no longer there nobody else will do it.

Wangari Maathai

risk teamwork running