Nobel Peace Prize (2004)

Wangari Maathai was awarded the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize

for her "contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace".

She had received a call from Ole Danbolt Mjos, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee,

on 8 October informing her of the news.

She became the first African woman, and the first environmentalist,

to win the prize.

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Maathai stood up courageously against the former oppressive regime in Kenya.

Her unique forms of action have contributed to drawing attention

to political oppression—nationally and internationally.

She has served as inspiration for many in the fight for democratic rights

and has especially encouraged women to better their situation.

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Election to parliament

Upon her return to Kenya, Maathai again campaigned for parliament in the 2002 elections.

(this time as a candidate of the National Rainbow Coalition)

On 27 December 2002,

the Rainbow Coalition defeated the ruling party Kenya African National Union,

and in her constituency Maathai won with an overwhelming 98% of the vote.

In January 2003, she was appointed Assistant Minister

in the Ministry for Environment and Natural Resources and served in that capacity

until November 2005.

She founded the Mazingira Green Party of Kenya in 2003

to allow candidates to run on a platform of conservation as embodied

by the Green Belt Movement.

the Green Belt Movement

Maathai moved into a small home she had purchased years before,

and focused on the NCWK while she searched for employment.

In the course of her work through the NCWK,

she was approached by Wilhelm Elsrud, executive director of the Norwegian Forestry Society.

He wished to partner with the Green Belt Movement

and offered her the position of coordinator.

Employed again, Maathai poured her efforts into the Green Belt Movement.

Along with the partnership for the Norwegian Forestry Society,

the movement had also received "seed money"

from the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Women.

These funds allowed for the expansion of the movement,

for hiring additional employees to oversee the operations,

and for continuing to pay a small stipend to the women

who planted seedlings throughout the country.

It also allowed her to refine the operations of the movement,

paying a small stipend to the women's husbands and sons

who were literate and able to keep accurate records of seedlings planted.

In 1985, the UN held the third global women's conference in Nairobi.

During the conference, Maathai arranged seminars and presentations

to describe the work the Green Belt Movement was doing in Kenya.

She escorted delegates to see nurseries and plant trees.

The conference helped to expand funding

for the Green Belt Movement and led to the movement's

establishing itself outside of Kenya.

In 1986, the movement expanded throughout Africa and led to the foundation

of the Pan-African Green Belt Network.

Forty-five representatives from fifteen African countries travelled to Kenya

over the next three years to learn

how to set up similar programs in their own countries to combat desertification, deforestation, water crises, and rural hunger.

The attention the movement received in the media led to Maathai's being honoured

with numerous awards.

The government of Kenya, however,

demanded that the Green Belt Movement separate from the NCWK,

believing the latter should focus solely on women's issues,

not the environment. Therefore, in 1987,

Maathai stepped down as chairman of the NCWK and focused her attention

on the newly separate non-governmental organization.