Do you know the green belt movement? This movement is a community-based group in Kenya. It was set up to help protect the environment, mainly through planting trees. Over the past 40 to 50 years, large numbers of trees have been chopped down in Kenya. Most of them have never been replaced. The green belt movement aims to grow trees from seeds, and plant them on farms and other open spaces where they are needed. The green belt movement was started in 1997 by Wangari Maatai. She was the head of the veterinary department at Nairobi University, but she was also interested in community and environment. In 2004, she won the Nobel Peace Prize. This is a very important prize given to one person each year that has done something outstanding for world peace. Giving the prize to Wangari showed that peace doesn't just mean stopping wars. It can also mean making the world a better place to live in. The green belt movement has done so well in Kenya because many people have joined in and worked hard to improve their environment and lives. However, if it had not been for the ideas and the drive of just one woman Wangari Maagari who is none of this many have happened.
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Reference
Reilly, G. (2007). The Green Belt Movement. Australia: Nelson Australia.
