Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Box 5.3
The Green Belt Movement in Kenya
The Green Belt Movement (GBM) is a community-based, development and environ-
mental organization focused on community mobilization and empowerment. Its vision
is to create a society of principled grassroots people who consciously work for
continued improvement of their livelihoods. This goal is achieved by mobilizing
thousands of women's groups, who establish tree nurseries and plant indigenous
trees on their farms and public lands, including forests, to prevent soil erosion, and
generally protect, rehabilitate and conserve the environment. For those tree seedlings
that survive, women's groups receive a financial token of appreciation, making the
initiative an income-generating activity. The income earned by the women is mostly
used to supplement domestic needs.
In the course of the past thirty years, the GBM has evolved a procedure that is
effective at mobilizing action and has produced 30 million trees, transforming the
landscapes and lives of families and communities, which are very appreciative of
their achievements. One of these achievements with long-lasting impact has been
the inculcation of a culture of tree-planting and environmental care. Additionally,
communities have internalized the linkages between their basic needs and a healthy
environment. The GBM was founded in 1977 by Wangari Maathai, who nurtured it
under the auspices of the National Council of Women in Kenya (NCWK). Over the
years, GBM programmes have expanded to include civic and environmental education,
advocacy and networking, household food security, Green Belt Safaris and Women
for Change (capacity-building for self-sufficiency).
Communities are organized into groups and networks, which engage in activities
that promote primary environmental care. These activities provide communities with
basic services like food, firewood, building and fencing materials, and fodder. Com-
munities also provide themselves with security and responsible parenting by ridding
themselves of illegal alcohol and drugs. This protects children, especially girls.
The mission of the GBM is to mobilize community consciousness for self-
determination, justice, equity, reduction of poverty, and environmental conservation,
using trees as the entry point. The overall vision of the GBM is to inculcate in our
communities values such as volunteerism for the common good, love for a greener
environment, action for self-betterment, accountability, transparency and community
empowerment.
Source: The Green Belt Movement (2003).
Green reason
It is a common assumption that instrumental reason has been a major determinant
of humankind's disregard for the environment. Nature is there to be used, quelled,
dominated and subordinated to the needs of human welfare and emancipation.
Ecologists of various descriptions, but particularly those of the deep green variety,
have sought to replace this instrumental reason with something else - usually some
form of holistic consciousness and spirituality. For John Dryzek (1990) this is not
really appropriate for an environmental ethic and a political practice that needs
