Nobel Peace Prize 2004 goes to NLH Honorary Doctor Prof. Wangari Maathai

Joanna Boddens-Hosang

Prof. Dr. Wangari Maathai (Kenya), best known as the founder of the Geen Belt Movement in Kenya, received an honorary doctorate from NLH in 1997.

Wangari Maathai har fått årets fredspris. Foto: yale.edu

One of Africa's best known environmentalists, and currently Kenya's Assistant Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Wildlife, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from NLH in 1997. Her name was put forward by Noragric's former director Thor Larsen and the honorary doctorate was bestowed upon her by former NLH rector Roger Abrahamsen during a visit to Kenya that year.

Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement (GBM) in 1977, in her home country Kenya. The GBM is a grass-roots environmental non-governmental organisation focusing on environmental conservation, community development and capacity building. The GBM concept spread throughout Africa and many countries launched similar initiatives.

Dr. Maathai is internationally highly recognised and holds many awards. In June this year, she received the Sophie Prize in Oslo. NLH rector Knut Hove congratulates Prof. Maathai, "We are particularly pleased that Dr Maathai has won the Nobel Peace prize. Her relentless efforts towards the environment and the development of democracry in Africa is of great importance". Prof. Maathai becomes the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace prize.

Prof. Maathai will receive the Nobel Peace prize 2004 during an official ceremony in Oslo on December 10th.

Read more here for further information on Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement.



Updated: 05.11.04
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