Death of Wangari Maathai announced.

September 26, 2011 4:21 PM

I am sorry that Wangari Maathai, inspiring Nobel Peace Prize winner famous for tree-planting programme, has died.
posted by maiamaia (28 comments total)

She is one of my personal heroes.

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posted by Elly Vortex at 4:34 PM on September 26, 2011

Mine too. 71 isn't a bad run though. I'm glad she won the Peace Prize for all her tireless work.

Thanks for posting this.
posted by yoga at 4:40 PM on September 26, 2011

I was so sad to hear about this. Dr. Maathai's work to start the Greenbelt Movement was truly inspiringm and leaves a pretty impressive legacy: reforestation, environmental advocacy, and connecting environmentalism with peace, women's rights, and good governance in Kenya. Asante sana, Mwalimu Maathai!
posted by ChuraChura at 4:47 PM on September 26, 2011

Her death is a loss for all of us.
posted by Cranberry at 4:48 PM on September 26, 2011

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posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 4:54 PM on September 26, 2011

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posted by ramix at 5:30 PM on September 26, 2011

"I can do something about this fire. I'm not going on the side to watch the forest burn."

I had the privilege of meeting her, albeit briefly, during a troubled time in my life, for which I will always be grateful. May the joys she planted among us outlive us all.

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posted by Kinbote at 5:33 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

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posted by oneironaut at 5:33 PM on September 26, 2011

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posted by infini at 6:11 PM on September 26, 2011

What a wonderful woman she was. Thank you, Ms. Maathai, for everything you did for me and my planet. I really appreciate it.

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posted by lazaruslong at 6:23 PM on September 26, 2011

Deep bow

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posted by Jikido at 7:02 PM on September 26, 2011

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posted by lord_wolf at 7:41 PM on September 26, 2011

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We'll make sure to add some thought of her during our next tree planting season here as urban foresters.
posted by drowsy at 8:02 PM on September 26, 2011

Thank you Dr. Maathai for your work, your smile and your hope.
posted by Jezebella at 8:53 PM on September 26, 2011

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posted by bicyclefish at 9:00 PM on September 26, 2011

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posted by jammy at 9:13 PM on September 26, 2011

I remember researching an article that I was writing on her at Wikinews when she won the Nobel prize. Sad to hear of her passing.
posted by haykinson at 9:16 PM on September 26, 2011

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posted by bjgeiger at 9:25 PM on September 26, 2011

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posted by ursus_comiter at 10:22 PM on September 26, 2011

I had never heard of her before until we attended the big 2007 ESRI User Conference. Inspiring talk about how planting trees helped her countrywomen.

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posted by Seboshin at 11:01 PM on September 26, 2011

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This world needs more people like her.

"...She is survived by two daughters, Wanjira and Muta, and a son, Waweru, as well as her granddaughter, Ruth."

This struck me as entirely odd when I read it tucked in as a small note at the end where it should be. Is it just me or are obituaries suddenly in the last few months a lot less gender bigotted in terms of impotence given to parental roles?
posted by Blasdelb at 11:36 PM on September 26, 2011

Terrific woman. Plant a tree in her memory. One tree planted does a hell of a lot more for the world than a thousand comments on any internet site.
posted by joannemullen at 11:42 PM on September 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

Thank you.

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posted by gomichild at 2:41 AM on September 27, 2011

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posted by dlugoczaj at 7:16 AM on September 27, 2011

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This interview with her is really inspiring.
posted by gauche at 7:51 AM on September 27, 2011

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posted by ahimsakid at 9:00 AM on September 27, 2011

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posted by adamvasco at 5:06 AM on September 28, 2011

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posted by hasna at 8:55 AM on September 28, 2011