Yes we can!
Although popular after the election of President Obama, this statement has been the inspiration for many in the world to demand the right of respect for people, their culture and our nature. Taking Root, is the stunning documentary of the vision of Wangari Maathi. She demonstrates to us to act on the thought yes I can. Taking Root tells the story of the Green Belt Movement of Kenya and its founder Wangari Maathi, the first environmentalist and first African Woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. The documentary is part of the Forest film festival in Paramaribo, which has started this week and will be running every thursday in the month of June
The story takes you through 30 years of struggle byMaathi and her women in Kenya, starting with taking care of the causes of deforestation. Planting a simple tree proves to be the root for justice, freedom and human rights. As women were seen as unimportant lives, they could just carry on with their movement untill it became clear how succesfull they were in creating a better life by themselves with only one thought, they could do it. For years and everywhere in the world we see these examples of women taking their lives in their own hands, deciding their own destiny by taking action, by building, not destroying, by speaking, not standing quiet.Maathi 'Living with the forest is an understanding of the forest. Never in your mind it will occur to you that 'living with' can transform in 'breaking down'. Cause how can you live with something which you yourself destroy, only a sick mind, whith no respect for other human beings will do this.' Indeed sick minds have destroyed. The English colonizer, thereafter the governement of Kenya untill the new elections of 2003.
The documentary is more then about trees, it shows us that the fundament of relations of respect is rooted in our respect for nature, a basis for the relationship between people. The documentary is a mix of footage, news items and interviews. Maathi believes that the soil carries our souls. 'When you take nature away from its people you take out the soul of people.' It took Maathi a journey of thirty years to fight for the soul of the people of Kenya. Her spirit gives us the argument to prove.. 'yes we can'.
Documentary by Lisa Merton and Alan Dater.
www.greenbeltmovement.org
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