"Taking Root," Much More Than Planting Trees

On Mon., Nov. 14, International Week kicked off here at Plymouth State University with the commencement of the Parade of Nations. This event was followed by numerous others in support and recognition of the various ethnicities represented on Plymouth's campus. One event in particular, which rounded out the first day of International Week events, was the screening of the documentary "Taking Root."

 Directed by Alan Dater and Lisa Merton, this documentary chronicles the life and accomplishments of native Kenyan, Wangari Maathai. Maathai was a professor, activist, conservationist, a member of Parliament, and most recognizably, a Novel Peace Prize recipient. 

These accomplishments, among her many other strong and inspiring qualities, gave her world recognition and established her as a very influential world citizen. Though having recently passed on Sept. 25 of this year, her legacy lives on.

Professors Katherine Donahue, Sheryl Shirley and International Student Fellow Jane Barry were the hosts of this event and sought to open the minds of the students attending to international affairs, as is a goal of International Week. In addition, this documentary enables the viewer to reflect on the life of an incredibly inspirational woman, and to really contemplate what one can do, against all odds, to bring about change in their own country.

This documentary is being viewed all over the country in the hopes that it will, "encourage communities to get together and discuss the film," says Shirley. Donahue adds, "We're part of a big movement." Donahue and Shirley then dim the lights, take their seats, and the documentary begins. 

This film opens with an interview of Maathai in which she describes the most beautiful place in the world to her, a great fig tree and a fresh stream in which she used to collect water as a child. After traveling to the United States to receive an education, she returned to pursue her PhD at the University of Nairobi. Upon her return, she found her favorite tree cut down, and the stream from her childhood dried up. 

Concerned about the prominent deforestation of Kenya, Maathai decided to start a movement. This movement, which began with teaching local women how to plant trees, would in 1977 transform into "The Green Belt Movement."

The government never took Maathai's actions seriously because the participants were woman. From there, Maathai's followers grew in number and even included men, as she led a protest against the building of the Times Tower Complex in the location of Nairobi's only park. Maathai's protests gained opposition as they grew because she was, according to a colleague, "disobedient at a time when disobedience was not tolerated."

When sons of the protesters were imprisoned, the protesters added to their qualms the release of the men. Their place in the park then became known as the "Freedom Corner."

Maathai was beaten during the times the police got involved and even fell into a short coma. This never once, though, deterred her convictions and dedication to Kenya. Her efforts focused on the people, for whom she organized civic and environmental seminars to teach the proper responses to police opposition and to continue fighting against deforestation. 

"The little, little grassroots people," said one of Maathai's followers, "they can change this world."

"There was a progression in the movement she had," says Donahue, acknowledging that "she was quite controversial."

In 2002, Maathai was elected to Parliament with 98% of the people's vote. In 2004 she won the Nobel Peace Prize, and to date, the Green Belt Movement communities have planted nearly 47 million trees.