Wangari Maathai named UN peace messenger
Daily Nation
December 15, 2009
Kenyan environmental campaigner and Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai is being designated today (Tuesday) as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
The honour will be conferred at the UN-sponsored climate talks in Copenhagen by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
“Professor Maathai's long record of achievement in environmental conservation and sustainable development makes her an excellent choice," Ban told reporters in New York on Monday prior to flying to Copenhagen.
Messengers of Peace are internationally known figures who work to raise awareness of UN ideals and activities. Prof Maathai will be focusing in this capacity on climate change and environmental conservation.
The event will be conducted at 5pm (Kenyan time) at the Bella Centre, the venue of the summit.
Also expected to grace the event are UN's top Climate Change official Mr Vyo De Boer and the United Nation's Environmental Programme's boss Mr Achim Steiner.
Prof Maathai will be recognised for her work in support of the environment, democracy and women’s rights.
With her new status, Prof Maathai will join eleven other UN messengers of peace who advocate on behalf of the UN.
They include Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan, Argentinean born/Israeli conductor and pianist Mr Daniel Barenboim, Actor and director George Clooney, Brazilian Author Paulo Coelho, actor Michael Douglas and Dr Jane Goodall.
Others are virtuoso violinist Midori Goto, Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and Grammy Award-winning songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder.
Messengers of peace are individuals who possess widely recognized talents in the field of art, literature, sport and entertainment, helping to raise worldwide awareness of the UN’s ideals and activities.
Through their public appearances and contacts with the international media and humanitarian work, they expand public understanding of how the UN helps to improve the lives of people everywhere.
Prof Maathai has been at the forefront of environmental conservation, not only in Kenya but abroad too. It is due to her exemplary work as an environmental conservationist that the Greenbelt movement founder was appointed goodwill ambassador for an initiative aimed at protecting the Congo Basin forest ecosystem.
In November 2006, she spearheaded the UN Billion Tree Campaign.
The honour will be conferred at the UN-sponsored climate talks in Copenhagen by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
“Professor Maathai's long record of achievement in environmental conservation and sustainable development makes her an excellent choice," Ban told reporters in New York on Monday prior to flying to Copenhagen.
Messengers of Peace are internationally known figures who work to raise awareness of UN ideals and activities. Prof Maathai will be focusing in this capacity on climate change and environmental conservation.
The event will be conducted at 5pm (Kenyan time) at the Bella Centre, the venue of the summit.
Also expected to grace the event are UN's top Climate Change official Mr Vyo De Boer and the United Nation's Environmental Programme's boss Mr Achim Steiner.
Prof Maathai will be recognised for her work in support of the environment, democracy and women’s rights.
With her new status, Prof Maathai will join eleven other UN messengers of peace who advocate on behalf of the UN.
They include Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan, Argentinean born/Israeli conductor and pianist Mr Daniel Barenboim, Actor and director George Clooney, Brazilian Author Paulo Coelho, actor Michael Douglas and Dr Jane Goodall.
Others are virtuoso violinist Midori Goto, Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and Grammy Award-winning songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder.
Messengers of peace are individuals who possess widely recognized talents in the field of art, literature, sport and entertainment, helping to raise worldwide awareness of the UN’s ideals and activities.
Through their public appearances and contacts with the international media and humanitarian work, they expand public understanding of how the UN helps to improve the lives of people everywhere.
Prof Maathai has been at the forefront of environmental conservation, not only in Kenya but abroad too. It is due to her exemplary work as an environmental conservationist that the Greenbelt movement founder was appointed goodwill ambassador for an initiative aimed at protecting the Congo Basin forest ecosystem.
In November 2006, she spearheaded the UN Billion Tree Campaign.