"When we're afraid, we lose all sense of analysis and reflection.
Our fear paralyzes us. Besides, fear has always been a driving
force behind all dictator's repression."
Marjane Satrapi
The Green Belt Movement was founded by Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) who was the first African American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She promoted "ecologically viable social, economic and cultural development. By empowering women to become active in social change 30 million trees were planted. Although she helped defeat Kenya's corrupt president, she was beaten and imprisoned multiple times in her efforts to blaze a new path to ecological resilience.
There appeared to be a strong connection between the nation's welfare and healing the broken relationship between economy and ecology. Maathai's passion for change was met with strong resistance from the president who pitted tribe against tribe to utilize isolation to defeat her cause. Wangari Maathai succeeded in her efforts by building a bridge over the separation by offering tree saplings as peace offerings.
When we are persistent in our cause, no matter how great or small, we will experience forward movement even if it is simple baby steps. Dominating leaders throughout history have tried to manipulate by using fear and isolation. It is through the efforts of joined compassion and kindness in spite of deception and persecution that change prevails.
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