random samplings of a restless mind scanning life's canopy
Professor Wangari Muta Maathai, first African woman and environmentalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, lived the life of that hummingbird she talks about here: struggling all her life with great energy, trying to turn the tide against the deforestation of Africa by planting over 30 million trees, inspiring many others to join in the cause of restoring environmental balance and justice to a planet engulfed in "development".
The above clip comes from the documentary "Dirt! The Movie". The animated sequence accompanying Maathai's story has won awards on its own and is a strikingly inspirational moment in the film. Although, as an avian ecologist (and a pedant), I have to say I would be even more worried about the state of our planet if said little hummingbird had to fly past elephants to put out the forest fires: for the two creatures do not naturally occur on the same continent! Sunbirds would be more likely in the African jungle than hummingbirds in that role... but hummingbirds, I suppose, make for a more romantic hero to inspire us all! And inspire us all she did.
Alas, the real life "hummingbird" telling us the story is herself no more: Wangari Maathai passed away yesterday at the age of 71, after a struggle with cancer. May her work continue to remind more of us to do everything we can to put out the fires...
I'm a reconciliation ecologist studying the responses of wildlife to human influences through an evolutionary lens. I seek ways to apply evolutionary ecology towards reconciling biodiversity conservation with human development. Also a father of two girls; photographer; birdwatcher; bookworm; cinephile; and explorer of the internets.
I'm a reconciliation ecologist studying the responses of wildlife to human influences through an evolutionary lens. I seek ways to apply evolutionary ecology towards reconciling biodiversity conservation with human development. Also a father of two girls; photographer; birdwatcher; bookworm; cinephile; and explorer of the internets.
Theme created for Posterous by Obox
