Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Adolfo Costa, Miami, Florida. — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:41:14 GMT

We only hope that Maathai's dedication to preserve the trees will move each one of us to plant at least one tree or to patronize its planting. I guess it is becoming a moral ecological obligation to save the planet...

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

concerncitizen — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:21:47 GMT

Imagine there were at least ioo dedicated humanitarians Tree Lady as Ms. Mattaai it will be definitely hope for the world not to end as predicted .Scientifically , the few priviledge class with money , prestige and power will look for their haven in Mars or other celestial utopian homes .But the rest of us will just have to accept our fate...

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Bear Nolan, Willimantic, CT — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:02:57 GMT

One tree at a time. One tree per person. That's all it would take. Trees lower the temperature of a hot area, and actually bring rain, eventually.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

L.S. Valdosta, Ga — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:20:19 GMT

i really commend the "tree lady". My husband and I have made it a tradition to plant at least 2 trees (1 for each) in each place we have lived. Since we have now settled in for the long term, we have planted trees all over our property, and our children also follow along and have planted on places they live. Wonderful idea. Simple. Economical. Good for the Environment.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

S.L. Paxton, Reeds Spring, MO — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:14:57 GMT

I THINK THIS IS ONE VERY GREAT LADY. i WISH HER ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD. tHERE SHOULD BE PLENTY MORE PEOPLE LIKE HER EVERYWHEREIN THE WORLD INCLUDING MYSELF. GO WITH GOD'S SPEED "TREE LADY". AT LEAST YOU RECOGNIZE WHAT THIS EARTH NEEDS AND YOU GO AT IT. THANK YOU!

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Paula B. St. Petersburg Fl — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:29:13 GMT

I haden't heard of this courageous woman. Thank you for airing her story. If we would all LISTEN and do the same as she is doing, we could make a difference in how it will all turn out. "One" CAN make a difference!

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Elizabeth Anne, Queens, NY — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:40:42 GMT

Blessed be Professor Wangari Maathai.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

DAvid David Albany Or. — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:13:08 GMT

Trees, Trees, trees. Visit Oregon

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

P. R. Niceville, FL — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:13:48 GMT

We given trees as birthday presents to our kids. It was so much fun to go pick one out at a nursery and plant it as a family event. We have since moved 1000 miles away but when we are back on visits it is fun to go by and see "our trees" Keep planting, keep caring for our world!

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

George Kimani Muroki, Dayton, Ohio — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:24:36 GMT

Wangari Maathai is furthering God's work by planting trees. God created the universe, including all species of plants before putting man on it. Human survival depends on plants. It is common intelligence that governments should support and not kill such spirit. Kudos Wangari! be blessed in your mission to save God's creation.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Chloe Bodenhamer, San Angelo, TX — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:57:28 GMT

Being a conservationalist and an environmentalist, I really feel for the Tree Lady's efforts. I only wish that there were many more dedicated people like that all over the world. Maybe then, our cause would take root in the eyes of the world and make a bigger difference.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Karla Parker Pacific Junction, Iowa — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:04:12 GMT

Trees they were certainly multi-purposed by Jehovah God. I remember my father who worked as a reasearch forester for Crown Zellerbach(pre James River) for over 40 years--planted a Dawn Redwood in our front yard. My sister and I would always wait til fall to see this fantastic tree lose it's needles each year. Ther were a lot of people who didn't believe it wasn't dead-that it wouldn't come back to life in the spring--but it always did. And he also planted one redwood in the back yard I often wonder if the present owners of the house let that HUGE tree live--cause it was over 25 feet tall when my folks sold the house in 1968. If I lived closer to Washington state I could go see--oh well

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Kathy in Oregon — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:06:46 GMT

I had the incredible privilege of hearing Ms. Mathai speak at Willamette University's graduation 3 years ago. She is a radiantly beautiful human being and I treasure her words. She has a much richer history than you conveyed in your piece, and is a pioneering woman in education, science, and environmentalism, as well as empowering women to make their own money to provide for their families. She has overcome seemingly insurmountable cultural odds to achieve her present position. While her intellect is great, her message is simple. She told us that it takes 10 trees to sustain each person's life, and challenged us to find our 10 trees and nurture and nourish them. She also told her beautiful story about the hummingbird's efforts at putting out the forest fire - doing as much as he could to fight a seemingly impossible destructive force. She is a person of passion and intellect, and I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to see and hear her.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

karuri , dallas , tx — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:14:28 GMT

having come from kenya myself i have witnessed the wanton reckless deforestation , and its effects on climatic changes. Her efforts are noble and over the tears the changes are starting to come again. Kudos proffesor.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Sandra Badger St. Petersburg, Fl. — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:13:57 GMT

Sounds like the "Tree Lady" has the right ideals. More people need to follow her lead. More people need to understand that "Global Warming" is caused not only emmisions of fossil fuels ect, but a great deal by asphalt, concrete, steel & glass. When so many buildings are sitting vacant & could be fixed & re used, new ones are going up & new parking lots for them & more roads for the traffic they create. To do this, forrest, greenlands, lakes, swamps are being destroyed. All of this building of the afore mentioned means that heat is soaked up by these & therefore warms up our planet even more. There has to be a better way. Bring back rail travel, more & better mass transit that is improved to be ecologicaly friendly. PLANT not only trees, but all kinds of plants native and aclumated to your area. If we all give it a fair ty & pressure the people in charge to do better, we might be able to reverse "Global Warming".

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

JAH from Holland MICHIGAN (formerly Nairobi Kenya) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:38:54 GMT

The article was very refreshing. If only more people in Kenya can see the importance of planting more trees and vegetation. I remeber the time when she was beaten and put into the hospital. Even corruption seems to get in the way of simple things such as planting some trees in Kenya. Fortunately there is an advocate for the greener things in life in Kenya. Just think if the world had more people like her in every country. Kenya is not alone when it comes to deforestation. Thanks for the work! Ms. Maathai.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

S Nimblett — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:42:34 GMT

Prof Wangari Maathai is an incredible roll model for us all. She is part of the company I am with, Shaklee Corp, who has been "GREEN" for 51 years. Together they have vowed to plant 1 billion trees....how awesome. What an inspiration to be a part of this movement.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

K. Ellerby — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:44:21 GMT

I always enjoy the "American" response to tardiness abroad. Only in America (perhaps a few other places as well) does eight o'clock actually means eight o'clock (or really, five-til). Our sense of time is not universal, so if tree lady said she would be there then do not doubt it, but rather realize what we consider "late" in the States is not late elsewhere. I am sorry that was the focus of this piece- how much work do you do abroad?

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

T. Dunlap[ — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:07:48 GMT

Planting trees has always been the right thing to do. J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day in the United States said that other celebrations are based on the past, tree planting celebrates the future.

For all of my life I've worked as an arborist. It is VERY important that people understand the value is saving and maintaining trees that are already growing. The mortality rate for newly planted trees is staggering. The carbon sink that growing, mature trees represent is not as evident to people as it should be.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Painter, Lionville, PA — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:17:33 GMT

Congratulations on perservering and landing the interview and sharing it with us.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Marsha, Crestview, FL — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:43:58 GMT

I wish that the article would have focused a lot more on the "tree lady's" accomplishments rather than all about how long they waited for her interview. It seems as though we need about a billion more "tree ladys" in our world. There is too much policitics and money involved BEFORE we can accomplish saving our planet.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Kathleen — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:52:11 GMT

Hongera mweshimiwa Maathai.

Mungu akubariki

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

W. Glenn Howells, Albany, California — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:08:42 GMT

To S. Nimblett,

Yes and Shaklee's Basic-H used to contain formaldehyde - one of the most notorious carcinogens known.

W. Glenn Howells, Ph.D.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Josh P, Las Vegas, NV — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:22:50 GMT

Her vision is creative and has already been effective, but isn't this the same lady who said, after winning the peace prize, that AIDS was created by the US to keep African nations in poverty? Just wondering.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Brandon, Temecula, Ca — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:01:08 GMT

I love trees have planted a lot of them at my home. I love them most because they work great for my tree stands. Makes it so much better then sitting on the ground when I am out shooting deer. I do love my trees. Funny Dems talk about Global warming, Free health care, and letting all the illeagls in our country, While the gop talks about war, keeping the illegals out, and not raising taxes. You are all a bunch of fake liers. Time for me to go back to my tree I hear a deer a coming

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Kathryn Peoples, Dublin, VA — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:06:27 GMT

If everyone would pay attention when Arbor Day comes around, many localities have places that will donate up to ten trees to be planted. All you have to do is go and pick them up! They make a good border around your property. Depending on the type of tree, you may even have a wind break or a privacy "fence" of trees. She is doing a wonderful job and if she is late, she is probably planting trees somewhere!

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Chris, Chicago, Il — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:18:19 GMT

What a wonderful person this lady must be to try and save this planet of ours from global warming. Our current administration could stand to learn a lot from her before it's too late!

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Chris, Chicago, Il — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:19:12 GMT

What a wonderful person this lady must be to try and save this planet of ours from global warming. Our current administration could stand to learn a lot from her before it's too late!

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Leslie Halls — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:36:00 GMT

Great idea. There are also trees being planted in S. America as renewable resources for harvesting wood. The use of wood as cooking fuel in 3rd world countries is denuding forests along roadsides, but if you have ever been to any of these places, it's pretty clear why this is happening. People need fuel. Planting trees is still something of a longterm project, which perhaps is why it isn't happening in places with less stable governments. On the other hand,if people had stakes like this in their local areas, it might encourage stability literally from the ground up. Thanks for an interesting story.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Lyn - Alpharetta, GA — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:43:27 GMT

I agree with K. Ellerby there is so much more to know about 'The Tree lady' and 90% of the article was focused on her timeliiness. Have you ever heard of the phrase 'All in God's timing'? The children who waited, the sapling that was planted the inspiration she gave to others far out weigh her tardiness.The article was good and it did spark interest for me to do further research so it served a good purpose, but there is so much more.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

andrew Morabu — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:46:42 GMT

THE ONLY BAD THING IS THAT PRESIDENT KIBAKI GAVE HER A VERY JUNIOR POSITION IN THE GOVERNMENT:ASSISTANT MINISTER,AFTER WINNING THE NOBEL PRIZE. SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE A FULL MINISTER. YOU GUYS DID A GOOD THING IN HIGHLIGHTING THIS STORY AFTER WAITING SO LONG!

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Wairimy — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:44:10 GMT

Wangari Maathai has certainly beaten the odds to continue doing her work even when there was no recognition and indeed the govt was after her for criticising their reckless disregard for our environment for short-term self serving reasons.
Wangari makes me proud to call her one of my people. Hongera Wangari, mimi pia najuvunia kuwa Mkenya!!

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Thumbi, Milton, Georgia — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:09:02 GMT

Thanks Proffessor Wangari, being of Kenyan and having lived more than half my life away from there, I always feel great hearing of other Kenyans fulfilling their God-given roles worldwide and you are always there with the best of them.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

CONSTANCE SHIRLEY,WATSONTOWN PENNA. — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:13:47 GMT

I ONLY PRAY THAT OUR CHILDREN WILL SEE THE WORTH IN NURTURING OUR BLESSED PLANET. WHAT WAS ONCE A BEAUTIFUL GREEN EARTH HAS BEEN SCARRED BY OUR GREED.
I AM FILLED WITH A FEELING OF SORROW EACH TIME I SEE LAND BEING CLEARED FOR ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT.PLEASE HELP SAVE OUR EARTH BEFORE WE ARE DOOMED.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Denise Erbe, Pomona, CA — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:24:36 GMT

MAGNIFICENT ARTICLE! Prof. Maathai is doing all she can to pass the word, and by doing that she may be unable to keep to a timetable. But that was not the point the author was trying to convey. I believe the author was only "hoping" that her busy schedule would give them the opportunity to write the story. Unfortunately, even though the rest of the world may NOT keep to a timetable, the airlines DO! But a higher power was looking over all, and made the interview possible.
Thanks to the author and his associates for not "giving up". And many blessings to the professor, may she be able to keep up her good works!

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

rudolph,columbia,south carolina — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:42:55 GMT

keep planting those trees sister mother earth!

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Njogu Gioche — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:13:07 GMT

The article is leaning more on Prof. Wangari's "lateness" than the actual story. Wangari I guess is a busy woman bearing in mind her status in the world. To go to Kenya and think of meeting her without an appointment is absurd.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

videlis nyambane anchorage, alaska — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:45:20 GMT

i was shocked to see this afican Queen make the headlines on msnbc web page. having been raised in kenya i realised how hard it was for men to listen to a woman's view on saving the enviroment through planting trees. Thanks Wangari and may kenyans and the whole world flow your foot steps.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Nairobi Kenya — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:44:37 GMT

An inspiration to all!!

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

K. E. San Diego, CA — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:08:14 GMT

I wrote to her many years ago, before she was famous. I was looking for a research setting. She wrote me back a positive response, but I didn't go to Kenya. I wish I had kept her letter.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Tracy Hendry — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:42:00 GMT

She deserves every honor bestowed upon her. She has taken on a huge task, even in the face of resistance. But, more importantly, she has continued to follow through with her commitment, despite that resistance.

The US Congress should follow her lead in this worldwide, majority-minded effort to save the planet that sustains us.

Ultimately, we save ourselves.

Waiting for Kenya’s Tree Lady

Gerry Isaacks, Windhoek, Namibia — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:42:19 GMT

If one person plants one tree, it makes a difference, just imagine the magnitude of positive difference it will make if each oneof us plants just one tree?
I must applaud the tree lady for her tireless efforts in this regard. U r trylu amazing...