The Green Belt Movement Blog

Today's blog comes to you from our guest blogger Teresa Cafaro who is interning at the GBM Europe office for three months.

This remarkable video of the Kenyan Television NTV shows the concrete results of the efforts and the commitment of Professor Wangari Maathai in protecting and avoiding the deforestation of Karura Forest, which is a vital part of the city of Nairobi, in Kenya. “Situated on the edge of Nairobi, Karura Forest serves as the lung of the congested metropolis” (Wangari Maathai - Unbowed).

The fight to preserve this unique place begun in 1997, when the Green Belt Movement discovered that the public soil of Karura Forest was allotted to private companies. The project aimed to develop a compound of luxury buildings in the heart of the forest, which would led, as a result, to a consistent deforestation.

The battle to restore this place was long, risky and characterized dramatic events. During a peaceful demonstration, meant to plant some trees in the forest, GBM members were attacked with sticks and Wangari was seriously injured. But this episode did not discourage GBM and the people involved to give up their protest. Finally, in 1999, after two years of efforts and struggles, the developers decided not to continue with the construction of the buildings.

In 2010, after 13 years of restoration through threes plantations, Karura Forest is the amazing place you can see in these images.

“Today, that beautiful forest is still there, helping Nairobi breathe, and more trees are being planted to reseed what was lost and restore its biodiversity and beauty” (Wangari Maathai - Unbowed).

Enjoy the video!

On Friday, November 2nd Unbowed was recognized at the Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards in Washington, DC where it won in the non-fiction category! Although Prof was unable to attend and accept the award onstage at the National Press Club, the judges spoke very highly and said that her book should make her feel “warrior proud!” Indeed, news of the award has made all of us at GBM feel proud and grateful for the public appreciation of Prof’s memoir!

In accepting this distinguished award Prof wrote, “Working on Unbowed was a wonderful journey for me… tracing my past and especially honoring those who made such a difference in my life. I believe it is critical for our positive stories to be told to inspire the next generation. Thank you for your recognition of this journey.”

Friends near and far have been contacting our GBM offices this week to congratulate her on the award. Since 1990 the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award is the first national award presented to published writers of African descent. It is sponsored by Borders Books & Music and consists of prizes for the highest quality writing in the categories of Fiction, Debut Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry. Another wonderful milestone for Unbowed!

Wangari Maathai's U.S. book tour for the paperback edition of Unbowed is complete, and the stats are in. In Seattle on September 19 as part of the Seattle Arts and Lectures series, Prof. spoke to 2,328 people -- that's more than the population of many U.S. towns. In San Francisco and Sacramento, on September 20 and 21, Prof. addressed a combined audience of 1,600. Heading east, Prof's next stop was the bustling (and quite green) metropolis of Chicago. On September 23 at the Windy City's Humanities Festival, 1,300 people turned out on a not particularly windy Sunday evening to hear Wangari.

Continuing east and south, the next stop was the U.S.' capital, Washington, DC. On September 24, in a sold out lecture sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, 700+ people turned out to hear Prof. and buy copies of Unbowed. Final stop, the Big Apple, aka New York City, where the auditorium at the Museum of Natural History held an enthusiastic crowd of 900+. (Alas, friends of this blogger couldn't get in to the events in DC or New York, "sold out" messages greeted them...although that offers yet another reason, if one's needed, to read the book). Numbers for media interviews are still coming in, but Wangari did many while on tour, with national, regional and some local newspapers and TV and radio programs, magazines and Web-based publications. They'll be posted on the Website when they become available, so be sure to check back. Links to several interviews are already up (see Articles section).

Two days after the tour ended came the satisfying news that the hoped-for objective of all this travel, speaking and signing had been realized. Unbowed will be on the New York Times' paperback non-fiction book bestseller list for the first week of October. Wonderful news that so many book buyers, and readers, are out there across the the U.S. Prof. greeted the news with delight, toasting the occasion with a glass of New York City tap water (a cup of hot tea wasn't far away).

The Unbowed paperback book tour arrived in New York City -- the Big Apple -- on Tuesday after stops in Seattle, Sacramento, San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, DC where Wangari Maathai addressed packed houses, received numerous standing ovations, spoke to national and local media, and, nearly every day, got close to the Earth by planting a tree or two, with schoolchildren, community leaders and citizen-activists. What else would you expect from Prof?

For the book tour's final stop, New York City rolled out a welcome mat in the shape of a beautiful early fall day: warm, blue sky, trees still full of leaves and very green. To reach the venue for Prof's talk at the American Museum of Natural History, the audience walked under a vast wooden canoe crafted by some of America's first peoples and through a exhibition hall filled with artifacts from the lives of Native Americans. It was hard not to feel excited, both being inside a museum after hours and following the large, animated crowd make its way to the LeFrak theater. Inside, nearly all the seats were filled; outside, people were being turned away. Yet another sold out book tour event.

In her speech, Wangari didn't disappoint, ranging over the founding of the Green Belt Movement, the importance of indigenous tress and biodiversity vs. monocultures of tree plantations, the links between resources and conflict (the crowd cheered several times, and especially loudly when Prof said that the world's resources have to be shared more equitably now and in future), the global challenge of climate change and how all of us could play our part. Prof wrapped up by reading a section from Unbowed that described the walk she took with her cousin to her first day of school -- after her glasses, which she'd forgotten, were kindly brought up onto the stage (that got a cheer, too).

Many more people rose to ask questions than time would allow. Carbon offsets, the story behind African names, politics and the environment and education were on people's minds. The final questioner, a young girl probably no more than nine, asked about whether the Green Belt Movement would be interested in planting trees in Sierra Leone where, she said, she was from and still had many family members. Absolutely, Prof said, have your parents or family members get in touch and we'll follow up. The young girl smiled and the crowd rose to its feet, the lecture ended on a grace note.

But the evening wasn't over. The line to buy and get copies of Unbowed signed was long, extending past a number of the hall's glass display cases. As Wangari signed her name with a felt tip pen, the kind she prefers, old friends and those who'd just heard her for the first time passed by. And being in New York for Prof is like an "old home week" with lots of friends and colleagues and supporters around. Peg Snyder, the first director of UNIFEM and an early supporter of the Green Belt Movement, was there. So was a woman who, nearly 50 years ago, had helped get the Kennedy Airlift of African students off the ground (an episode in Wangari's life chronicled in Unbowed). Prof embraced and thanked her and the late President Kennedy for his visionary ideas.

The last book wasn't signed until 10:15 or so, 6:15 a.m. Nairobi time. A nearly full moon shone down on New York as Prof made her way back to the hotel. Let's hope she got a good night's sleep. One chapter closes, another opens: the Unbowed tour completed, Wangari's off today to the third annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative. Over a thousand activists, philanthropists, business people, NGO representatives and others will attend. More on that later in the week.

The paperback version of Wangari Maathai's autobiography, Unbowed, will be published in the United States on September 4, 2007, by Vintage/Anchor, a division of Random House. The paperback comes with a new afterword in which Wangari Maathai tells readers what she's been doing since winning the Nobel Prize and of the overwhelming and positive response of people to the hardcover, published by Knopf in September 2006. To purchase your copy, click here.

We arrived in the little Welsh village of Hay-on-Wye to glorious sunshine and herds of book lovers there to hear their favourite writers, and soak in the atmosphere of one of the biggest literary festivals in the world. This was a special year for Prof to be invited to speak at Hay as it celebrates its twentieth anniversary, and two of the major themes were Africa and the environment.

After being interviewed by the Guardian for one of their Haycasts with Tony Juniper, director of Friends of the Earth, and hearing about efforts to reduce the festival's carbon footprint, it was time for Prof to speak to a packed out auditorium.

This year Hay had writers from over 54 countries and in keeping with this international spirit, the talk was sent out live to the Madrid book fair where the Spanish version of the book is being launched. Prof greeted the city with an enthusiastic "Buenas noches!". The journalist and feminist Rosie Boycott introduced the talk and asked questions to create a riveting dialogue. As always, Prof. spoke passionately about her life and work. The response from the audience was tremendous—a standing ovation no less! Later, from the shop where the book signing took place, we heard the rhythms of the Sengalese singer Baaba Maal echoing around the festival site.

The next morning we were off bright and early, driving along the winding lanes of Wales into England, green hills and sheep flashing by, then onto Heathrow to wave Prof goodbye...her next stop the Caritas Internationalis General Assembly in the Vatican City.

One of Prof’s favourite stories is the story of the hummingbird that she first heard in Japan. This is a story about a little hummingbird in the middle of a raging forest fire - doing the best it can. BGCI hosted a lecture by Prof in London and have placed a clip of Prof telling the hummingbird story on YouTube. So if you need a little inspiration on this Friday afternoon- have a look. This story always brings a smile even for those of us who have heard it a few times. Have a happy weekend!

The Times of London, perhaps not known for its leading role as an arbiter of what's hip and fashionable, has nevertheless under the rubric of "Coolhunter" published on March 10, a list of twelve things that can be considered cool.

After Boucheron hedgehog rings, and the TV show Grey's Anatomy, teaching AIDS and soccer skills to South African kids, and Joshua Radin who is, apparently, the new Art Garfunkel, comes the coolest book. And, you've guessed it, it's Unbowed by Wangari Maathai. Coolhunter's advice? "Read it and rise up." Solid, insurrectionary advice.

Prof’s final day in the UK was spent in Oxford to launch the the Billion Tree Campaign, the Earth Charter in the UK and the new Oxford / CISDL Sustainable Development Law Guest Lecture Series.

The rain started to fall heavily as we drove out of central London, adding to our worry that we would not be able to find our way through Oxford's famously complicated one-way system to Exeter College in time for the day’s events. So it was with some relief when we arrived early, in time to join the international delegation in their final discussions for the closed session.

Prof has had a long history with the Earth Charter which she calls a “Living Charter”. Prof was a part of the group of environmentalists who developed it, and its principles are even more pertinent now than when it was first drafted for the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Today Prof is still member of the Earth Charter Steering committee.

The depth of thought and reasoning that went into its principles were revealed through the various perspectives given by the panel of international experts including Julia Marton-Lefévre the newly-in-post Director General of the IUCN, Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger & Ashfaq Khalfan, Directors of CISDL, Bianca Jagger, noted human rights leader and activist, and chaired by Frances Cairncross, Rector of Exeter College.

It was a delight for Prof to see long time friend and champion of the Earth Charter Steven Rockefeller. And to make new friends including Jeffrey Newman, Director of the new UK Earth Charter, Alan AtKisson, CEO of the Earth Charter International, and others.

After the speeches there was an energetic procession with Turl St Jazz band through various college courtyards- ending up in the 700 year old Exeter college garden where Prof planted a walnut seedling, to replace one of the ancient trees that had died. A centuries old tradition in Oxford is that trees cannot touch when they reach over courtyard walls- if they do then rival college boats’ will also touch, bump each other in the annual boat race.

As we celebrated the tree planting, the sun finally peeked out after days of cold and snow. And Prof led a final rousing round of “for she's a jolly good fellow” for Frances Cairncross who agreed to be the first patron of the UK Earth Charter.

Protect the Earth
The Earth Charter ... is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society for the 21st century. Created by the largest global consultation process ever associated with an international declaration, endorsed by thousands of organizations representing millions of individuals, the Earth Charter seeks to inspire in all peoples a sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the human family and the larger living world. The Earth Charter is an expression of hope and a call to help create a global partnership at a critical juncture in history.

Friends and partners of the Green Belt Movement gathered at the Royal Institutes of British Architects’ (RIBA) Florence Hall (lovely ballroom!) for the UK launch of Prof. Maathai's autobiography, UNBOWED. At an event co-hosted by The GBM International – Europe, Random House (UK), WOMANKIND worldwide and The Gaia Foundation, Prof was in a great mood. She thanked the many friends and supporters in the UK, some of whom were there - including members and friends of the Gaia Foundation, Tudor Trust, Comic Relief, Women of the World, WOMANKIND worldwide and Restore UK for the support to GBM activities in Kenya over the years.

After a lovely introduction from Gail Rebuck (CEO, Random House), Prof made brief remarks, indicating that this journey of many years included some of the people in the room and that she hoped they would see their footprints in the pages as they read. The highlight of the evening was when Prof read from the book – she picked the story on Page 58, which starts “I spent four years at St Cecilia’s….” In that story she talks about a girl who had written a letter that was intercepted by one of the nuns (it is funny so read it if you haven't already!)

At the end of the reading she indicated that the girl who had written the letter was in the room - Dolly Wanjira Coffey (she was known as Doris Wanjira at St Cecelia’s). Dolly could hardly sit still as Prof read – she was laughing hysterically. It was a priceless moment when Prof identified Dolly and called her to come up onto the stage. Later I met Dolly’s son and daughter. We all laughed as we imagined what the situation must have been like at St Cecelia’s. Tears flowed-- but tears of joy. A lovely evening indeed.

A book signing followed the event – the books sold out almost immediately…

We crossed the road into the building that houses Radio 4 studios and it was clear this would be a different kind of interview. Prof was humming the songs that would be part of her interview on Desert Island Discs. We did not even notice what a chilly morning it was in London as Prof sang Eric Wainaina’s hit song “Ritwa Riaku” (kikuyu for “your name“).

Desert Island Discs is one of Radio 4’s most popular programmes. Now over 60 years old the program is absolutely refreshing – “it was a lot of fun –like no other interview I have ever done“

Guests choose 8 songs they would like to take with them to a desert island. The interview (on UNBOWED in this case) is flawlessly punctuated by the records chosen by the guest. The host Kirsty Young did a great job of it. What music did Prof choose?

Not lacking in diversity – Ritwa Riaku (Eric Wainaina), Day-o (Harry Belafonte), Malaika (Angelique Kidjo), I can’t complain (Patti Labelle), Joan Baez (We shall overcome), Eyes on Tomorrow (Miriam Makeba), Moon River (Frank Sinatra) and Ave Maria (All Angels). It was a lovely mix of music and dialogue. With each song, Prof explained why she chose it or the artist – each had touched her at different times in her life. Some of the songs were new renditions of songs that were deeply nostalgic – it was all good.

Through out the day we reflected on what a creative program this was — still singing some of the songs as we made our way to the next location —an interview with David Frost on his program “Frost Over The World”. A gracious host and a classy show - it was a fitting way to end the day. As we walked out of the studio after the interview, we saw an severe weather warning appear on the screen above. It read: “heavy snow fall expected in London”. If anyone would know, it would be Sir David... it will be "Frost over London" at least for tomorrow.

Prof spoke tonight in the packed auditorium of the Royal Institute of British Architects. It was a most wonderful setting. This was the first of a new lecture series for RIBA: International Dialogues: Architecture and Climate Change.

Introduced by Maggie Baxter (good friend of Prof’s and board member of GBM International – Europe) Prof was energetic and delivered her core message: that the environment, democracy and peace are inextricably linked. That resources, wherever they are, must be used responsibly and sustainably. And that they must be shared more equitably. She brought it closer to home for this audience by narrating how The Kenya Association of Architects (KAA) had helped influence a critical advocacy campaign to save Uhuru Park from a 62-storey “white elephant”. The park is the only green space in the sprawling city of Nairobi where citizens enjoy rest and relaxation. It was their (KAA) courage and willingness to raise their voices, when they did not have to, that gave the campaign much needed impetus. She challenged professionals, and in this case architects, to take any opportunity they can to use their knowledge and power to show leadership in addressing injustices that come to their attention. Following Prof’s lecture award-winning architect David Adjaye delivered a response to her lecture. His was a personal reflection. Visibly moved, he encouraged the audience to continue what he termed a revolution to reflect nature’s wisdom in all we do. A book signing followed the event.

It was a nice end to a long day of publicity for UNBOWED.. but Prof did take a bow or two to acknowledge the warm gratitude from a gracious audience.

On her recent U.S. speaking tour, which ended February 2nd, Wangari Maathai spoke to a number of radio and print media about Unbowed and her recent work. Among them: Plenty, a new environmental magazine, the venerable Ms. Magazine, the magazine of leading human rights organization Amnesty International, and Public Radio International's lively program on the global environment, "Living on Earth." Check out the news section for the interviews and articles as they become available.

Prof. also braved some seasonal, very cold Midwest weather, including snow and ice, and various delays in scheduled flights. Through it all she kept her usual cool, although was heard to say there must be a better time to come to these parts of the U.S. than the dead of winter. Wangari left for the U.K. this morning and will be there for a week for the launch of the British edition of Unbowed. Forecast: a warming trend.

Wangari Maathai's autobiography, Unbowed, is now available in Italy, and published by Sperling & Kupfer. With the title "Solo il vento mi piegherà," which can very be roughly translated as "Only the wind will make me bow," the book is subtitled "My life, my struggle."

Currently, the book is being translated into Finnish and German and Greek editions of the book are promised soon.

Our last stop of the tour, nearly a month after it began: the university town of Bloomington, Indiana. We flew from LA and arrived in Indianapolis late in the evening Indiana time. We then had an hour or so drive (no traffic) to Bloomington. By the time we arrived, unloaded our luggage and checked into the hotel, it was nearly 1 a.m. It wasn’t only that the time had changed traveling west to east: so had the weather. Bloomington was crisp—the temperature in the wee hours of the morning right around the freezing point. In the morning we saw real evidence of the calendar: lots of multi-colored leaves and here and there a nearly bare tree. We weren’t in California anymore! Also unlike LA, this is a real walking and biking town. It’s where the classic 1979 film “Breaking Away” about underdog cyclists was set and filmed (we learned it was based on a true story). There’s also a small, classic town square around the city hall where I took an afternoon stroll. In the sun, it wasn’t too cold.

That evening, we were surrounded, again, by accomplished women—about 100 graduates of Indiana University (IU) who gather each year on campus for a weekend Colloquium organized just for them by the Indiana University Foundation. It served as Wangari’s host. (Her keynote speech was also made possible by Johnson Controls, a giant in automotive interiors and, increasingly, energy efficiency. A key Johnson Controls staffer is also, as it happens, an IU grad and Colloquium attendee.) Wangari signed copies of Unbowed at a pre-dinner reception. At the keynote, held after dinner, Prof was introduced in part as “the absolutely unstoppable Wangari Maathai.” She likened the founding and growth of the Green Belt Movement to an onion. “I was peeling one layer and then found another one, and another,” she told the group.

After the speech she took questions. One of them echoed a query that followed Prof around the country: how did you keep going despite all the obstacles? How did you stick with your work? Noting that many of the women in the room were pioneers in business or education or even philanthropy, Wangari said: “Those [of us] who are in the forefront have to make sacrifices so that those who come after have the steps to follow in.”

The next morning—the final event of the tour—Prof joined a panel at IU focused on HIV/AIDS attended by participants in the Colloquium and IU students, scholars, and faculty members, including from the School of Medicine. The other two panelists, a doctor/professor and a medical student, described their work and experiences in Kenya as part of a joint program IU has with Moi University to provide treatment and care for 30,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. Prof spoke last. On the theme “the power of one,” she described how national level efforts in Kenya to diagnose, treat and care for people living with HIV or AIDS have been translated to on the ground work in her parliamentary constituency. In particular, she described the work of one woman, Anne, who is living with HIV, to organize other HIV+ women and men to outflank the stigma under which they live.

“Anne decided she wouldn’t die in silence of AIDS,” Prof said. She’s now working with others in the community to encourage those living with HIV or AIDS to come out of their houses, and care for themselves and each other, including through cooking and sharing nutritious foods. A VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) post has been established, and nearly 300 people meet each month as a support and action group. Anne is, Wangari concluded, “an excellent example of what one person can do. I would never have been able to do it alone.”

Soon after, we returned to the hotel for a few, final minutes of packing. Then we headed for the airport along a tree-lined highway: that afternoon, more leaves were off the trees than on. Once we arrived, Prof and Wanjira headed in one direction and the rest of us in another. They flew to Chicago and from there to London and then Nairobi, returning home, finally, on the 5th (Sunday) night. They then plunged right into the climate change negotiations (see News items). Some stamina! As for me, I flew home to New York City. My plane was small, and there were only 15 of us on board. I could see that the landscape underneath us as we headed east had definitely become more wintry since we’d been on the road. Time had passed. But as I sat back in my seat, it was hard to believe that it was all over—at least for now. It had been an extraordinary time.

Just as there were shades of green—ecological consciousness—as we traveled around the U.S., there were wildly different shades or types of “green rooms.” A green room is where a featured speaker or guest on a radio or TV program waits before they go on. I’m not sure where the name comes from. Perhaps from the “green” traffic light that indicates, “go.” No matter the origin, Wangari and her small team were, over the past month, in some stellar, and less than, green rooms. To get to one room, we took the service elevator and then walked through the custodian’s closet, past his bucket and mop. When we arrived, the room—the building manager’s office—was so cold on that chilly evening that one member of the team suggested, only half-jokingly, that we light a candle we saw to get some heat!

One of the more “grassroots” green rooms was at a radio station on the West Coast where we found a volunteer stuffing envelopes for the station’s upcoming pledge drive. When introduced to Wangari as a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, he replied, “Cool,” as if riffing on the temperature of the room we’d been in a few nights before. (He kindly got Prof a cup of hot water…sadly, it really wasn’t hot.) Another green room was more like a barn—with storage—and a loudly clanging door. Not the most comfortable of places.

Among the best green rooms we experienced was at the studios of KCET, the public television station in Los Angeles, where Tavis Smiley tapes his program. It wasn’t the most luxurious, but it was probably the most professional. And that’s what matters. Wangari’s name was on the room’s door (as were the other guests taping that day—on their own rooms—actor John Lithgow and former Iraq arms inspector Scott Ritter). Inside we found a couch, a few chairs, a restroom, a table, and a small plate of fresh fruit. The temperature, like the air outside, was comfortable, and we had some elbow room. Green rooms, however, are very temporary homes. After a few minutes, we were in the studio and the taping was underway. The room we’d left would soon be “re-greened” for whoever came next.

Who would have thought that a large fig tree would live at the intersection of Beverly Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard in the heart of Beverly Hills? Well, one does and we saw it, unexpectedly, on Friday morning. It immediately reminded Prof of the huge fig tree she had known as a child and from which, as she writes in Unbowed, she was instructed never to gather firewood. The fig was the tree of God. Its cousin, the fig tree in Los Angeles (probably a descendent of the fig trees Cortez is said to have introduced to Mexico that reached North America by 1790) was sturdy and broad. It was perhaps 30 feet tall with a canopy of green leaves about 15 feet across. Wangari recalled the fig tree she had known as bigger, with a thicker trunk and greener leaves. Her fig tree also had lots of undergrowth, which the LA tree didn’t have, and many roots extending into the Earth from its branches.

As we got closer we could see that this tree’s hanging roots had been pruned—or perhaps “manicured”—after all, we were still in “Hollywoodland,” as the original Hollywood was known. (Our hotel had several exotic birds in cages—manicured in a way too, since, as Prof observed, “those wings were made to fly.”) Still, it was great to see that tree on our last day in California. It looked venerable and healthy, and it’s in a prime location. There’s no doubt: on that corner, not far from the legendary Beverly Hills Hotel, that fig tree is the star attraction.

A "tree" was also born that day in LA. A painting of a tree, that is, which Wangari did in just a few minutes after an hour-long interview at KPFK for the series, "Profiles in Peace." KPFK is the local Pacifica radio network station. The station will auction the painting, along with others, for its fundraiser. Who knew Prof was so handy with a paintbrush? Perhaps the fig tree we'd passed inspired her. You can see the completed canvas here (right).

Strangely enough, we were in two epicenters of adult Halloween celebrations on Tuesday, San Francisco and LA. Both cities host huge parades that often turn into all-night parties. Of course, we don’t have much time for reveling, but we did see pumpkins and ghouls and spider webs in urban front yards. (And in San Francisco, Wangari was even given a small pumpkin.) Yesterday morning, we began seeing people in costumes: two cheerleaders with very blue hair. In LA last night, it was the adults that captivated our attention (the kids must have finished their trick or treating and were home preparing for bed). Men and women dressed like nuns, nurses, warlocks, and witches strolled the streets of West Hollywood. At Real Food Daily, a great vegan restaurant, staff members dressed as a flapper and Little Bo Peep. I even ate a pumpkin entrée. It was all something to see. By this morning, the revels all had ended—or had they? After Prof taped Tavis Smiley’s PBS television show we drove by a house in Beverly Hills where a bevy of cloth ghosts and huge cobwebs still festooned the grass. We also passed a woman walking, dressed in purple from head to toe. Purple sandals and socks. A purple skirt and blouse. And a purple hand bag. “Halloween,” Wangari remarked from the car. “Or,” she said, not missing a beat, “Hollywood.”

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It was a homecoming of sorts. Wangari Maathai spoke to and signed copies of Unbowed for those she called “fellow travelers” in the environment, women’s, peace and pro-democracy movements—many hundred of them—Monday evening in Berkeley, California. The speech and book signing were organized by Cody’s, Berkeley’s venerable, independent bookseller celebrating its 50th anniversary. Because the event was so large, it was held at another venerable Berkeley institution, the First Congregational Church. It wasn’t Sunday, but the pews were filled. Wangari spoke from the pulpit and the spirit caught her, as it did the community. An original song written in her honor was sung by the composer. “Wangari” was the chorus and with just a little encouragement many people harmonized. It was impressive that most could really sing (not me: I can’t hit a note so I stayed quiet).

Prof recounted the Biblical story in Acts of two disciples extending their hands to a downcast beggar. Instead of giving him alms they urged him to rise up and walk. She got a laugh when she related how the African Union had asked her to help them, the heads of state, organize African civil society. “Am I hearing right?” she said she asked herself. After the speech and Q & A, the line to get Unbowed signed stretched well into the nave. Many old friends were there: long-time environmentalists, peace activists, forest advocates, and even, earlier in the evening, the Mayor of Berkeley, Tom Bates. Much news was exchanged, along with many hugs and photos and a few gifts.

Around 10:45 p.m., three hours after the event had started, all the books signed, we climbed back into our author escort’s bright red Prius hybrid. We had a basket of fresh persimmons brought by a fellow traveler with us. Via the long span of the Bay Bridge, we left the “Republic of Berkeley” for San Francisco with many invitations to return, and soon.

Early Friday morning, the 27th, we left cool, rainy Pittsburgh for Los Angeles, which, true to form, was sunny and warm. Wangari spoke at a luncheon at a private home with a leafy backyard. Perhaps taking inspiration from the setting, Prof talked about how a flower blooms no matter what mood it might be in or who is viewing it. The flower always gives its best—as we can, too, she said, including to the Earth. Service, she said, gives us the greatest happiness in life, while we often experience great sadness when we are too involved in our own selves. Actor Forest Whitaker, now starring as Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland” (a performance that has been lauded by critics), and his wife, stopped by the lunch. On the drive back to the hotel, we saw the iconic Hollywood sign from the back window.