Jain Spirit 2005 06 No22

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

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n 10 December 2004, Kenya's Professor Wangari Maathai became the first African woman
T NEW!
BOOK ON COSMOLOGY
KENYAN WINS NOBEL PRIZE
of 194 nominations for the prize this year, including the former chief United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix. In the context of this world renowned award, what is the relationship between peace and the environment? Prof. Maathai says "...many wars are fought over resources which are becoming increasingly scarce across the earth. If we did a better job of managing our resources in a sustainable way, conflicts over them would be reduced. So protecting the global environment is
"SO, ON THIS WONDERFUL OCCASION, I CALL ON ALL KENYANS AND THOSE AROUND THE WORLD TO CELEBRATE BY PLANTING A TREE WHEREVER YOU ARE." directly related to securing peace."
Professor Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, 2004.
to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and the first environmentalist whose name was put by the prestigious award. Prof. Maathai beat a record
The heir to an ancient Jain dynasty has re-published a book on Jain cosmology, first published by a French scholar 40 years ago.
Photo: Wangari Mathaai
Colette Caillat, one of France's most esteemed experts on ancient India and Jainism, first wrote the book almost 40 years ago when she came to India to do research at the universities of Delhi, Patna, Varanasi, Madras and Kolkata.
Now Ravi Kumar, who hails from a Digambara Jain family that has its origin
Professor Maathai introduced the idea of planting trees when she served on the National Council of Women in 1976. She subsequently established the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots organisation of women planting trees to raise environmental awareness in Kenya. In 1998, Professor Maathai launched the Jubilee 2000 Africa Campaign, which seeks the cancellation of debts of the world's poorest countries. Her work has been marred by occasional imprisonment and violence against her.
In December 2002, Professor Maathai was elected to the Kenyan Parliament and she is now Assistant Minister for the Environment, Natural Resources and Wildlife.
For more information about the Green Belt Movement, Wangari Maathai and the Nobel Peace Prize see: www.greenbeltmovement.org or nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/2004/⚫
ANOKHEE SHAH