Kenyan ecologist wins Nobel prize

2004年诺贝尔和平奖在10月8日揭晓，肯尼亚环保主义者马塔伊因在可持续发展方面的贡献获此殊荣。马塔伊主要成就是领导了“绿色带运动”，在非洲栽下3千万棵树，她也是首位获得和平奖的非洲妇女。

Wangari Maathai is the first African woman to win the prize(Agencies)

Kenyan environmentalist and human rights campaigner Wangari Maathai has won the Nobel Peace Prize. She is the first African woman to be awarded the peace prize since it was created in 1901.

A surprised Mrs Maathai broke the news to reporters minutes before the official announcement.

The prize committee says Mrs Maathai, Kenya's Deputy¹ Environment Minister(助理环境部长), is an example for all Africans fighting for democracy and peace.

The delighted 64-year-old professor said the award was completely unexpected.

"This is extremely encouraging to the people of Africa and the African woman," she told the BBC.

"It is a recognition² of the many efforts of African women, who continue to struggle despite all the problems they face."

In the late 1970s, Mrs Maathai led a campaign called the Green Belt Movement to plant tens of millions of trees across Africa to slow deforestation(采伐森林) .

The movement grew to include projects to preserve biodiversity, educate people about their environment and promote the rights of women and girls.

Known as "The Tree Woman" in Kenya, Mrs Maathai celebrated³ by planting a Nandi flame tree(凤凰木) in her home town of Nyeri, in the shadow of Mount⁴ Kenya.

She said she was delighted that the vital role of the environment had been recognised.

"The environment is very important in the aspects of peace because when we destroy our resources and our resources become scarce, we fight over that".

"I am working to make sure we don't only protect the environment, we also improve governance," she added.

The committee says she has combined science with social engagement⁵ and politics, and has worked both locally and internationally.

The professor was the 12th woman peace laureate since the first award was first made in 1901.

A spokesman⁶ for the Kenyan government said his country was honoured.

"This is a great moment in Kenyan history. To us this shows that what Wangari Maathai has been doing here has been recognised," Alfred Mutua said.

"We're very proud of her and she deserves all the credit."

Mrs Maathai beat a record 194 nominations⁷, including former chief United Nations weapons inspector⁸ Hans Blix and the head of the UN energy watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, to win the prize.

Mrs Maathai is the second woman in a row to be awarded the peace prize, which last year went to Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi for her work for the rights of women and children in Iran.

The award, which includes 10 million Swedish kronor ($1.3m) is awarded in Oslo on 10 December each year.