In the wake of the death of Wangari Maathai, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her stance on rights of women and protection of Kenya’s environment, the Nobel Committee has awarded the prize to three women: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia — the first woman to be elected president in modern Africa — her compatriot, the peace activist Leymah Gbowee, and Tawakkol Karman of Yemen, a pro-democracy campaigner (see full NY Times article here). This selection was made with the intention of focusing on the important role of women in the promotion of peace and democracy worldwide. Hear an interview about the reason and timing of decision below. For more on the legacy of Wangari Maathai follow this link.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPAkgIEj9OE&feature=relmfu[/youtube]
