Li t er at ur eandEcol ogy

Poet r y Langs t onHughes:TheNegr oSpeaksofRi ver s Rober tFr os t:ABr ooki nt heCi t y Geor geKenny:Suns etonPor t age

Pr os e Rachel Car s on:Si l entSpr i ng Wangar i Mat hai :Repl eni s hi ngt heEar t h

TheNegr oSpeaksofRi ver s

Poem

I ' veknownr i ver s : I ' veknownr i ver sanci entast hewor l dandol dert hant he f l owofhumanbl oodi nhumanvei ns . Mys oul hasgr owndeepl i ket her i ver s . I bat hedi nt heEuphr at eswhendawnswer eyoung. I bui l tmyhutneart heCongoandi tl ul l edmet os l eep. I l ookedupont heNi l eandr ai s edt hepyr ami dsabovei t . I hear dt hes i ngi ngoft heMi s s i s s i ppi whenAbeLi ncol n wentdownt oNewOr l eans , andI ' ves eeni t smuddy bos om t ur nal l gol deni nt hes uns et . I ' veknownr i ver s : Anci ent , dus kyr i ver s . Mys oul hasgr owndeepl i ket her i ver s .

Aboutaut hor Langs t onHughes ,i nf ul lJ amesMer cerLangs t onHughes ,( bor nFebr uar y1 ,1 902?, J opl i n,Mi s s our i ,U. S. —di edMay22,1 967,New Yor k,New Yor k) ,Amer i canwr i t erwho wasani mpor t antf i gur ei nt heHar l em Renai s s anceandmadet heAf r i canAmer i can ex per i encet hes ubj ectofhi swr i t i ngs ,whi chr angedf r om poet r yandpl ayst onovel s andnews papercol umns .

NOTABLEWORKS “ TheNegr oSpeaksofRi ver s ” “ Mul eBone” “ Har l em” “ Dr eam Var i at i on” “ TheWear yBl ues ” “ NotWi t houtLaught er ” “ ThePant herandt heLas h"

MOVEMENT/STYLE Har l em Renai s s ance

Summar y Thes peakercl ai mst hathehasknownr i ver sas“ anci entast hewor l d, ”ol dert hant he bl oodt hatf l owsi nourvei ns . Hi ss oul hasgr owndeep, j us tl i ket her i ver s . Hewr i t es aboutbat hi ngi nt heEuphr at esatt hebegi nni ngofci vi l i zat i on, andl at er , hebui l ta hutal ongt heCongoandl i s t enedt ot her i verashef el l as l eep. Hel ookedatt heNi l e andwat chedt hepyr ami dsr i s enear by;hehear dt hemuddyMi s s i s s i ppi s i ngwhen Abr aham Li ncol nt r avel edt oNewOr l eans . Her epeat st hathehasknown“ anci ent , dus kyr i ver s , ”andhi ss oul hasgr owndeepl i ket her i ver s .

ABr ooki nt heCi t y

Poem Thef ar mhous el i nger s , t houghaver s et os quar e Wi t ht henewci t ys t r eeti thast owear Anumberi n. Butwhataboutt hebr ook Thathel dt hehous easi nanel bowcr ook? I as kasonewhoknewt hebr ook, i t ss t r engt h Andi mpul s e, havi ngdi ppedaf i ngerl engt h Andmadei tl eapmyknuckl e, havi ngt os s ed Af l owert ot r yi t scur r ent swher et heycr os s ed. Themeadowgr as scoul dbecement eddown Fr om gr owi ngunderpavement sofat own; Theappl et r eesbes entt ohear t hs t onef l ame. I swat erwoodt os er veabr ookt hes ame? Howel s edi s pos eofani mmor t al f or ce Nol ongerneeded?St aunchi tati t ss our ce Wi t hci nderl oadsdumpeddown?Thebr ookwast hr own Deepi nas ewerdungeonunders t one I nf et i ddar knes ss t i l l t ol i veandr un— Andal l f ornot hi ngi thadeverdone Exceptf or gett ogoi nf earper haps . Noonewoul dknowexceptf oranci entmaps Thats uchabr ookr anwat er . ButI wonder I ff r om i t sbei ngkeptf or everunder ,

Thet hought smaynothaver i s ent hats okeep Thi snewbui l tci t yf r om bot hwor kands l eep

Aboutaut hor Rober tFr os twasbor nonMar ch26, 1 874, i nSanFr anci s co, wher ehi sf at her , Wi l l i am Pr es cot tFr os tJ r . , andhi smot her , I s abel l eMoodi e, hadmovedf r om Penns yl vani a s hor t l yaf t ermar r yi ng. Af t ert hedeat hofhi sf at herf r om t uber cul os i swhenFr os twas el evenyear sol d, hemovedwi t hhi smot herands i s t er , J eani e, whowast woyear s younger , t oLawr ence, Mas s achus et t s . Hebecamei nt er es t edi nr eadi ngandwr i t i ng poet r ydur i nghi shi ghs chool year si nLawr ence, enr ol l edatDar t mout hCol l egei n Hanover , NewHamps hi r e, i n1 892, andl at eratHar var dUni ver s i t yi nBos t on, t hough heneverear nedaf or mal col l egedegr ee. Rober tFr os tl i vedandt aughtf ormanyyear si nMas s achus et t sandVer mont , and di edi nBos t ononJ anuar y29, 1 963.

Summar y Thi spoem i sabouthowamani sobs er vi ngahous ei nt heci t yt hathasaaddr es s numberandi sbui l tonapavedr oad. Her emember sf r om hi spas thowt hehous e wasaf ar mhous enextt oabr ooki nt hecount r y. Heus edt opl ayi nt hebr ookand f eel snos t al gi c. Her es ent st hatt hebr ookwasdes t r oyedandpavedover . At hemat i c s t at ementoft hi spoem i st hi s :Whenr ur al ar easar edevel opedi nt our banones , t he cons equencesmaynotbepos i t i ve. Thi st hemei sdevel opedt hr oughoutt hepoem by char act er i zat i onwhent heaut hordes cr i beshows i mpl eandbl i s s f ul l i f ewasi nt he daysoft her ur al br ook. I ti sal s odevel opedbyt hes et t i ngwhent heaut hordes cr i bes t henegat i veas pect soft henews et t i ng, l i kewhenhedes cr i best he" s ewerdungeon unders t one" . Thes et hi ngsmaket her eaderi nf ert hatt henar r at ordoes n' t appr eci at et heci t yasmuchanddoes n' tadvocat eur bani zat i on.

Suns etonPor t age

Poem t hewi nni ngs undi es l as t l y Ont hebl uel ogo Oft hebankofMont r eal . Fl uor es centandneonl i ght s , Man' scr eat i on Sur pl ant s God' st echnol ogy.

Aboutaut hor Geor geKenny( 1 952-) Kennywasbor ni n1 952i nt hevi l l ageofKej i ckBay, homet ot heLacSeul Fi r s tNat i oni nOnt ar i o. Memberoft heBearCl an, Kennywasr ai s edbyhi spar ent sunt i l hewass entt oPel i canLake Res i dent i al School i n1 958, wher ehes pentei ghtdi f f i cul tyear s . Des pi t e cons t antpr es s ur et oas s i mi l at e, Kennycar r i edhi sf ami l yt eachi ngsand s t or i esoni nt oadul t hood. I n201 7, whi l ehos t i ngaTr adi t i onsWor ks hop, Kennydr ol l yr emar ked:" Mys onandI ar ewr i t i ngas equel t oI ndi ans Don' tCr y. . . Thes equel i scal l edI ndi ansDoCr y. "I ndeed, t her ear ea s er i esofunpubl i s hedwor ks" pi l edupi n[ Kenny' s ]dr awer sathome" i ncl udi nganunpubl i s hedmemoi r( Ei genbr od1 79) . Wehopeoneday t heybecomepubl i cl yavai l abl e.

Summar y

Si l entSpr i ng

Aboutaut hor Rachel Loui s eCar s on Bor n:May27, 1 907i nSpr i ngdal e, Penns yl vani a Di ed:Apr i l 1 4, 1 964i nSi l verSpr i ng, Mar yl and Rachel Car s on, wr i t er , s ci ent i s t , andecol ogi s t , gr ewups i mpl yi nt her ur al r i vert own ofSpr i ngdal e, Penns yl vani a. Hermot herbequeat hedt oheral i f el ongl oveofnat ur e andt hel i vi ngwor l dt hatRachel expr es s edf i r s tasawr i t erandl at erasas t udentof mar i nebi ol ogy. Car s ongr aduat edf r om Penns yl vani aCol l egef orWomen( now Chat ham Uni ver s i t y)i n1 929, s t udi edatt heWoodsHol e Mar i neBi ol ogi cal Labor at or y, andr ecei vedherMAi nzool ogyf r om J ohnsHopki ns Uni ver s i t yi n1 932. Shewashi r edbyt heU. S. Bur eauofFi s her i est owr i t er adi os cr i pt s dur i ngt heDepr es s i onands uppl ement edheri ncomewr i t i ngf eat ur ear t i cl eson nat ur al hi s t or yf ort heBal t i mor eSun. Car s onr es i gnedf r om gover nments er vi cei n 1 952t odevot eher s el ft oherwr i t i ng. Shewr ot es ever al ot herar t i cl esdes i gnedt o t eachpeopl eaboutt hewonderandbeaut yoft hel i vi ngwor l d, i ncl udi ng" Hel pYour Chi l dt oWonder , "( 1 956)and" OurEver Changi ngShor e"( 1 957) , andpl annedanot her bookont heecol ogyofl i f e. Embeddedwi t hi nal l ofCar s on' swr i t i ngwast hevi ew t hathumanbei ngswer ebutonepar tofnat ur edi s t i ngui s hedpr i mar i l ybyt hei r powert oal t eri t , i ns omecas esi r r ever s i bl y. I nSi l entSpr i ng( 1 962)s hechal l engedt hepr act i cesofagr i cul t ur al s ci ent i s t sandt he gover nmentandcal l edf orachangei nt hewayhumanki ndvi ewedt henat ur al wor l d. Car s onwasat t ackedbyt hechemi cal i ndus t r yands omei ngover nmentasan al ar mi s t , butcour ageous l ys pokeoutt or emi ndust hatwear eavul ner abl epar tof t henat ur al wor l ds ubj ectt ot hes amedamageast her es toft heecos ys t em. Tes t i f yi ngbef or eCongr es si n1 963, Car s oncal l edf ornewpol i ci est opr ot ecthuman heal t handt heenvi r onment . Rachel Car s ondi edi n1 964af t eral ongbat t l eagai ns t br eas tcancer . Herwi t nes sf ort hebeaut yandi nt egr i t yofl i f econt i nuest oi ns pi r e newgener at i onst opr ot ectt hel i vi ngwor l dandal l i t scr eat ur es .

Summar y Theaut horbegi nsbydes cr i bi ngaper f ectAmer i cant own, wi t hbeaut i f ul veget at i on andcount l es svar i et i esofpl ant sandf r ui t s . Suddenl y, f r om t hes ky, comesawhi t e f i nepowderandi ndaysever yt hi ngbegi nst odi e:pl ant s , bees , t heyoungani mal s andevent her i ver sar epoi s oned. Manki ndhasdevel opedi nr ecentyear st he pos s i bi l i t yandpowert oal t ert heenvi r onmentbyus i ngchemi cal sandt echnol ogi cal advancement s . Thi showeverwasnotal waysi nman’ sf avorast hel ongt i meaf f ect s pes t i ci desandot herchemi cal shaveonnat ur ei snotyetf ul l yunder s t ood. Unt i l moder nt i mes , nat ur eandt heenvi r onmenthadenought i met oadaptt ot he appear anceofnewt hr eat sbutbecaus emanki ndpr oducedt hem ats uchan al ar mi ngr at e, nat ur edi dnothadt hechancet oadapt . Thous andsofnewchemi cal sar epr oducedeachyearandwhi l et heyar es peci f i cal l y des i gnedt oki l l oneani mal ori ns ects peci es , t heyaf f ectot herani mal saswel l . The gover nmentandf ar mer st endt oover dr amat i zet hepr obl emst heyhavewi t hpes t s ands omor ehar mf ul pes t i ci desar es ol dever yyear . Whati sevenwor s e, t he pes t i ci desevenf ai l edt oki l l t hepes t st heywer ei nt endedt oki l l i nt hebegi nni ng. The l ackofdi ver s i t ywhenf ar mi ngcanal s opr oducepr obl emsofi t sownasi tmakest he cr opmor evul ner abl et odi s eas eandpes t s . Anot herpr obl em i st hatnews peci esofi ns ect sandani mal swer ei nt r oduced acci dent al l yi nenvi r onment st heywer enoti ndi genoust o. Becaus et heyhadno nat ur al pr edat or si nt henewenvi r onment , t heani mal andi ns ects peci est hr i vedand caus edevenmor edamage. Humanki ndbegandevel opi ngmor eandmor epes t i ci des af t ert heendoft heSecondWor l dWarands t ar t i ngf r om t hatpoi nt , ever yl i vi ng or gani s m wasexpos edt opes t i ci desi ns omewayoranot her . Ar s eni ci scons i der ed asbei ngoneoft heol des tpes t i ci desus edf r om t heRenai s s ance. Ar s eni c, however , i sanyt hi ngbuthar ml es sandi twaspr ovent obeacar ci nogen. I n moder nt i mes , oneoft hemos tus edpes t i ci deswasDDT, as ubs t ancecons i der edas bei ngs af ewheni npowderf or m. Thehumanbodyhowevers t or est heDDTi ni t sf at cel l sandt henovert i mei tr el eas esi t , poi s oni ngt hebody. Thes ubs t ancei seas y t r ans mi t t edandi tcanpas sf r om pl ant st oani mal sandt ohumansi nas hor tper i od oft i me. I twasal s opr ovedt hatmot her scanpas sonDDTt ot hei rchi l dr enwhi l ei n wombort hr oughbr eas tmi l k. Thepes t i ci dest hatar es pr eadaer i al l yar eevenmor e danger ousandmanypeopl ewhower ei nvol vedi ns pr ayi ngt hechemi cal sendedup dyi ngaf t erbei ngexpos edt ot hehar mf ul s ubs t ances . Endr i ni sanot hers ubs t ance

us edandmanychi l dr enandhous ehol dpet sdi edaf t ert heycamei nt ocont actwi t h s ur f acest r eat edwi t hEnder i nbyt headul t si nt hehous e. Unwant edr es ul t soccurwhenaper s oni sexpos edt ot wodi f f er entchemi cal sandi n t i met hes ai dchemi cal sr eactvi ol ent l yi nt hecar r i er ’ sbody. Thi scancaus es er i ous s i deef f ect si mpos s i bl et ocont r ol andt hatof t enr es ul ti nt r agi cacci dent . But pes t i ci desar enott heonl ys ubs t ancest hatar edanger ousandher bi ci desar e ment i onedaswel l . I ns omecount r i es , t heyar ebannedcompl et el ybuti nt heU. S. f ar mer sar ef r eet ous et hem ast heys eef i t . Anot herpr obl em i st hatr i ver sandot herbodi esofwat erbecamei nf ect edaswel l andchemi cal shavebeenf oundi nt hewat erevenaf t eraper i odofei ghtyear saf t er t hear eas t oppedbei ngt r eat edchemi cal l y. Speci esofbi r dsdi s appear edcompl et el y f r om cer t ai nar easbecaus et heyat ei nf ect edf i s handt henovert i met heydi ed. Whati sevenwor s t , t hes ubs t ancest henwer epas s edont ohumanswhoal s o becamei nf ect edbyt hechemi cal si nt hewat er . Thes oi l andot heror gani s msi nt he s oi l t hathavet hepur pos eofbr eaki ngdownbi ol ogi cal andveget al mat t eri nt o nut r i ent shaveal s obeenaf f ect ed. Thechemi cal sus edcanhavet heoppos i t eef f ectf r om whatt hef ar mer sexpect ed andi ns omecas est hes peci esaf f ect edwer enott heonescons i der edasbei ngpes t s butt hes peci est hatpr eyedont hepes t sandhel pedcont r ol t hem. Far mer sus ea l i mi t ednumberofdomes t i cat edpl ant sandt hos et heys eeasbei ngus el es st heyt r y t oel i mi nat e. Theaut horment i onst hes agebr us hf r om t heWes tandhowf ar mer s t r i edt oer adi cat ei t . Whatt hef ar mer sdi dn’ tr eal i zedi st hatcer t ai nani mal sand bi r dsus edt hes agebr us hf orf oodands hel t erandwhenar eashavebeencl eaned f r om s agebr us h, t hos eani mal s peci esdi s appear ed. I nt heus eofher bi ci des , ot herpl ant sar edes t r oyedi nt hepr oces sandi tcaneven af f ectl i ves t ockt hatcons umet hos epl ant s . Car s onar guest hatabet t eral t er nat i ve woul dbei mpor t i ngf r om ot hercount r i esnat ur al pr edat or st ocont r ol t hei nvas i ve s peci es . Thi swoul dmeanl es spol l ut i onandl es shar mf ul chemi cal st oaf f ectt he pl ant sandani mal sus edbyhumans . I n1 959, t heMi dwes twass pr ayedwi t hal dr i nt o t r yt ocombatapes tpr obl em butt hequant i t yus edwass oenor moust hatt he pes t i ci deaccumul at edonr oof sasi fi twass nowi ng. Soonaf t er , pet sbegandyi ng, bi r dsvi r t ual l ydi s appear edf r om t hear eaandhumansbegans howi ngs i gnsof pes t i ci depoi s oni ng. Des pi t et hi s , t hepes t i ci dewass pr ayedagai nandt hi sr es ul t edi n mas s i vewi l dl i f el os es . I r oni cal l y, i not herpar t soft hecount r y, wher epes t i ci deswer e notus ed, t heJ apanes ebeet l eswer eer adi cat edmuchf as t erandwi t hl es sdamage t hani nt heMi dwes t .

Ther obi nswer et hemos taf f ect edbi r ds peci esi ns omear easandal mos t90%oft he r obi npopul at i ondi eddur i ngt het i mewhenDDTwasus edasapes t i ci de. Theeagl e wasal s oi ndangerandt henumberofeagl esdr oppeddr as t i cal l y. Ther eas onwhy t hebi r dswer eaf f ect edwasbecaus et hei rr epr oduct i ves ys t em wasat t ackedand t heynol ongerr epr oduced. Thes al monandt r outi nt her i ver shaveal s obeen af f ect edbecaus es ubs t ancesl i keDDTki l l edt hel ar vaeandot heror gani s mt hef i s h f edon. Thi shappenedi nCanadai n1 954, Mai nei n1 955, Br i t i s hCol umbi a, Al abama, t hePhi l i ppi nes , Col or adoRi veri n1 961andt heI ndi anRi veri n1 955. I ns omeoft her i ver s , s omes peci esoff i s hdi s appear edcompl et el yandt he cont ami nat edf i s hr eachedt hes easwher et heycont ami nat edot herl ar gef i s hs uch ass har ks . Ther eas onwhyt hef i s hwer et hemos taf f ect edi sbecaus ei ns omewayor anot her , ever ychemi cal mayonedayr eachawat ers uppl yandt henbecar r i edi nt o r i ver s , s t r eamsandot herbodi esofwat er . Fi s har eknownt obeweakert hanot her ani mal sandt heydonothavet hes amer es i s t ancemammal shavewheni tcomest o s ynt het i cchemi cal s . Becaus eoft hi s , s omes peci esoff i s hhavebeener adi cat ed compl et el yi ncer t ai npar t soft hewor l dbecaus et hef i s hpopul at i onwasaf f ect edby pes t i ci desandher bi ci des . Somepes t sappear edi ncer t ai nar easbecaus et heyhavebeeni nt r oduced acci dent al l ybyf or ei gnvi s i t or sorwhennewcr opsnotnat i vet oacer t ai nar eawer e i nt r oduced. Thi swast hecas ef ort hegyps ymot handf i r eantt hatappear edi n Amer i caatt heendoft he1 860s . Thegover nmentt r i edt oer adi cat et hepes t sby us i ngDDTbutwer euns ucces s f ul andcowswer ei ns t eadaf f ect edi nt hepr oces s . Chemi cal sar es ol di never ys hopands oi ti shar dt odet er mi nej us thowbadt he gener al publ i cwasexpos edt ochemi cal s . Ther ei snocl earwayt odet er mi neas af equant i t yofchemi cal si nt hepopul at i on’ s ever ydayf oodandt hes t at ehasnowayofcont r ol l i ngt heamountofpes t i ci desand her bi ci dest hatendupi nt hef i el dsever yyear . I f1 00year sagos oci et ywas concer nedwi t hhows mal l poxandot herdi s eas eaf f ect edt hepopul at i on, nowadays , t hebi gges tt hr eati sr epr es ent edbyt heunr egul at edus eofpes t i ci desandher bi ci des . Thef actt hathumansar eexpos edt omor et hanonechemi cal makest hes i t uat i on evenwor s tbecaus ei ti shar dt odet er mi nehowt wochemi cal swi t hr eactwi t hone anot her . Thepes t i ci desar eknownt oaf f ectt hener vouss ys t em, l i verandt hes ys t em t hatpr oducesener gyi nt hehumanbodybydi s r upt i ngt heoxi dat i onpr oces s . The chemi cal si nt hehumanbodymayal s ocaus emut at i onswhi chcanbedanger ousf or anunbor nchi l d, mut at i onst hatwoul dappearnat ur al l yonl yaboutoncei nacoupl e ofhundr edyear s .

I ti sal s os ugges t edt hatmaybet her i s ei nt heus eofpes t i ci desandher bi ci desi s whatcaus est her api dl ygr owi ngcas esofcancer . Nowadays , canceri snot s omet hi ngf oundonl yi nadul t sbuti nchi l dr enaswel l . Whatus edt obe50year sago adi s eas eas s oci at edwi t hcer t ai npr of es s i ons , nowbecames omet hi ngi nevi t abl e. Leukemi abecamemos tas s oci at edwi t hpes t i ci deexpos ur ebutCar s ont r i est o r emai npos i t i veands ugges tt hatj us taswei nt r oducedt hes eel ement si nt oourl i f e, wecanal s oel i mi nat et hem. Car s onendsherbookbyconcl udi ngt hatnat ur ei smor e t hancapabl eofr egul at i ngt heani mal popul at i on, andal l wehavet odoi sl etnat ur e t akei t scour s e.

Char act er s

Rachel Car s on Rober tFr os t Char l esDar wi n Dr . Mal col m Har gr aves Rober tCus hmanMur phy

Themes  Notawar eoft her i s ks  Ever yt hi ngi sconnect ed  Des t r uct i ves peci es

Repl eni s hi ngt heEar t h

Aboutaut hor Wangar i Maat hai wast hef ounderoft heGr eenBel tMovementandt he2004Nobel PeacePr i zeLaur eat e. Sheaut hor edf ourbooks :TheGr eenBel tMovement ;Unbowed: AMemoi r ;TheChal l engef orAf r i ca;andRepl eni s hi ngt heEar t h. Aswel l ashavi ng beenf eat ur edi nanumberofbooks , s heandt heGr eenBel tMovementwer et he s ubj ectofadocument ar yf i l m, Taki ngRoot :t heVi s i onofWangar i Maat hai ( Mar l bor o Pr oduct i ons , 2008) . Wangar i Mut aMaat hai wasbor ni nNyer i , ar ur al ar eaofKenya( Af r i ca) , i n1 940. She obt ai nedadegr eei nBi ol ogi cal Sci encesf r om MountSt . Schol as t i caCol l egei n At chi s on, Kans as( 1 964) , aMas t erofSci encedegr eef r om t heUni ver s i t yofPi t t s bur gh ( 1 966) , andpur s ueddoct or al s t udi esi nGer manyandt heUni ver s i t yofNai r obi , bef or eobt ai ni ngaPh. D. ( 1 971 )f r om t heUni ver s i t yofNai r obi , wher es heal s ot aught vet er i nar yanat omy. Thef i r s twomani nEas tandCent r al Af r i cat oear nadoct or at edegr ee, Pr of es s or Maat hai becamechai roft heDepar t mentofVet er i nar yAnat omyandanas s oci at e pr of es s ori n1 976and1 977r es pect i vel y. I nbot hcas es , s hewast hef i r s twomant o at t ai nt hos epos i t i onsi nt her egi on. Pr of es s orMaat hai wasact i vei nt heNat i onal Counci l ofWomenofKenya( 1 976– 1 987) andwasi t schai r man( 1 981 – 1 987) . I n1 976, whi l es hewass er vi ngi nt heNat i onal Counci l ofWomen, Pr of es s orMaat hai i nt r oducedt hei deaofcommuni t ybas edt r ee pl ant i ng. Shecont i nuedt odevel opt hi si deai nt oabr oadbas edgr as s r oot s or gani s at i on, t heGr eenBel tMovement( GBM) , whos emai nf ocusi spover t y r educt i onandenvi r onment al cons er vat i ont hr ought r eepl ant i ng. Pr of es s orMaat hai di edon25Sept ember201 1att heageof71af t erabat t l ewi t h ovar i ancancer . Memor i al cer emoni eswer ehel di nKenya, NewYor k, SanFr anci s co, andLondon

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I nourmoder nwor l di ti seas yt of eel di s connect edf r om t hephys i cal pl anetwel i ve on. Nobel l aur eat eWangar i Mat t hai hass pentdecadeswor ki ngwi t ht heGr eenBel t Movementt ohel pwomeni nr ur al Kenyapl antands us t ai nmi l l i onsoft r ees . Wi t h t hei rhandsi nt hedi r t , t hes ewomenof t enf i ndt hems el vesnewl yempower edandat homei nawayt heyhaveneverbef or eexper i enced. I n2002Maat hai wasel ect edt oKenya' spar l i amentandi n2003s hewasappoi nt ed deput ymi ni s t erf ort heEnvi r onmentandNat ur al Res our ces . Shewasawar dedt he Nobel PeacePr i zei n2004. Shei saCat hol i c, educat edi nt heUni t edSt at esatSt . Mar y' sUni ver s i t yi nKans as . Mat t hai ' sbookexpl ai nst hes pi r i t ual i t yt hatunder l i esher wor ki nt heGr eenBel tMovement . Shewr i t est hatal ovef ort heenvi r onmenti s demons t r abl ei none' sl i f es t yl e. I tmot i vat esonet ot akeact i onsf ort heear t h, s uchas pl ant i ngt r eesandnur t ur i ngt hos et hatar es t andi ng. Shewr i t est hatt hes pi r i tof s er vi ceandvol unt eer i s mi satt hef or ef r ontoft heGr eenBel tMovement . I ti st he gi vi ngofs el ft hatchar act er i zespr ophet s , s ai nt sandl ocal her oes . Shewr i t esatl engt haboutt hepoweroft het r ee, document i ngt hei mpor t anceof t r eesi nAf r i canr el i gi onandi nt hewi derwor l d. " I nf act , s ci ent i s t sar eonl ynow begi nni ngt ounder s t andt hevas tr angeofs er vi ces-nat ur al , s oci al , ps ychol ogi cal , ecol ogi cal andeconomi c-t hatf or es t sper f or m:t hewat ert heycl eanandr et ai n;t he cl i mat epat t er nst heyr egul at e;t hemedi ci nest heycont ai n;t hef oodt heys uppl y;t he s oi l t heyenr i ch;t hecar bont heyent r ap;t heoxygent heyemi t ;t hes peci esoff l or a andf aunat heycons er ve;andt hepeopl eswhos ever yphys i cal exi s t encedepends ont hem. " Sheconcl udest hebookwi t hanes s ayonact i vi s mf ort heenvi r onment . " Myf i nal pi eceofadvi cei sver ypr act i cal :l ookatt hepr obl em i nf r ontofyouandt r yt os ol vei t . Don' tpeert oof ardownt her oadandas k, WhatcanI dot hen?' f oryour i s kbei ng over hwl emed. I f i r ml ybel i evet hatmos tpr obl emsweencount erhaveas ol ut i on. Al t houghadaymayar r i vewhenyoucomeacr os sapr obl em youcannotaddr es s , mos toft hem youwi l l beabl et omakeacont r i but i ont os ol vi ng. " Pr of es s orMaat hai ar guest hatt hekeyt os el f empower mentandcons er vat i onl i esi n t r adi t i onal s pi r i t ual val ues :l ovef ort heenvi r onment , s el f bet t er ment , gr at i t udeand

r es pect , andacommi t mentt os er vi ce. Thes ear et heval uest hathaveani mat edt he Gr eenBel tMovement ’ swor k. Whi l eeducat edi nt heChr i s t i ant r adi t i on, Maat hai dr awsi ns pi r at i onf r om manyf ai t hs , cel ebr at i ngt heJ ewi s hmandat et i kkunol am ( “ r epai rt hewor l d”andr enewi ngt heJ apanes et er m mot t ai nai ( “ don’ twas t e” ) . Thr oughr ededi cat i ont ot hes eval ues , s hebel i eves , wemi ghtf i nal l ybr i ngabout heal i ngf orour s el vesandt hepl anet .