Tamu Kijani Harakati

摘要

The Fall season of 2011 is a remarkable period for African women. By now, you may have already read severalobituaries written about Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai, leader of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, winner of the 2004Nobel Peace Prize, and first president of the African Union's Economic, Social and Cultural Council. Within two weeksof her death, the Nobel committee announced that the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to two African Women, Ms.Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, and Leymah Gbowee, also of Liberia, both cited along with the thirdrecipient, Tawakkul Karman of Yemen "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights tofull participation in peace-building work." The spirit of the Nobel Peace Prize captures Dr. Maathai’s profound statementthat “It’s the little things citizens do.” All four women started with little things that became very big indeed.Dr. Maathai’s little thing is “planting trees,” but the trees have provided shelter and nourishment for the blossoming ofideas associated with development and conflict resolution. Upon learning of being awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize, sheissued a statement that presaged the next Nobel Prize for African women1:.