When a Sapling is Planted by Wangari Maathai (Detailed summary) (Plus Two)

When a Sapling is Planted

Wangari Maathai

Detailed summary

          Wangari Maathai is the first African woman to receive the Nobel Prize in 2004. She got the Nobel Prize for peace. She was born in rural Kenya. She is the founder of the Green Belt Movement which promotes tree planting, environmental conservation and women's rights. “When a Sapling is Planted” is the Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech which she delivered at Oslo, December 10, 2004.

          In the beginning of the speech, Wangari Maathai tells that she accepts  Nobel Prize for Kenyans and whole people of the world. She hopes that her actions will motivate women to raise their voices and come forward as leaders. She tells that she got inspiration to protect the environment from childhood experiences and by keenly looking at rural Kenya. But when she grew up, she saw deforestation and introduction of the commercial plantation which destroyed local biodiversity and the water holding capacity of forests.

          The Green Belt Movement was started in 1977. At that time, Wangari Maathai was trying to solve the problems which were posited by rural women such as lack of firewood, clean drinking water, balanced diets, shelter and income.

          In Africa, the important positions which women hold are: “caretakers”, farming and looking after their families. Hence they easily understood the deterioration of the environment. They also found out that with the introduction of the commercial plantation in Africa, they got menial income for the household food crops because they were unaware of the international market economy.

           Wangari Maathai understands that if people destruct the environment, it will “undermine” the quality of their life and the future generation. That is why she and others start to plant trees. Also, by planting trees, one will get food, fuel, shelter and income. Beyond that tree planting is “simple, attainable and guarantees quick, successful results”. It maintains “interests” and dedication.

          At first, Africans are unaware that environmental degradation will lead to the  depletion of natural resources which

         

At first, the Green Belt Movement focused on planting trees. Soon Wangari realized that democracy and peace are necessary for environmental protection. So she and others made the tree as the symbol for “democratic struggle in Kenya”. Under her influence, many people revolted against power, corruption and environmental degradation. Later tree symbolized “peace” and “conflict resolution”.

When tree began to symbolize “peace”, it tried to maintain African tradition. For instance, the elder in the Kikuyu community had a staff which was made from the “thigi” tree. When people quarreled with each other, the elders put this staff which prompted the people to stop quarreling.

Even though the “Green Belt Movement” had started thirty years before, Wangari and others could not protect the environment. People around the world were facing so many environmental problems such as climate change, economic crisis, lack of natural resources and poverty.

Wangari believes that only through equitable development, people can attain peace. Likewise, people can protect the environment through sustainable development. So she calls the youngsters and citizens of a society, whom she believes to have creativity and energy, can give a new world where people can enjoy rich biodiversity and ecosystem.

As Wangari is about to conclude her speech, she reminds one of her childhood experiences. In her childhood, she used to collect water from a stream. In the stream, she used to see “strands of frogs eggs” which amused her. But today that stream is no more. In the end, she tells that it is the duty of today’s generation to “bring back our children a world of beauty and wonder”.