In a poverty-free world, the only place you would be able to see poverty is in the poverty museums. When school children take a tour of the poverty museums, they would be horrified to see the misery and indignity that some human beings had to go through. They would blame their forefathers for tolerating this inhuman condition, which existed for so long, for so many people.
If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere, what would it say and why?
Question
What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you have ever made — of money, time, or energy?
Money & investment
Question
What is something everyone in your world agrees about that you think is wrong?
Values & belief
In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other. That time is now.
Oslo City Hall, The Nobel Foundation, 10 December 2004 source ↗
Others on this question
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Muhammad Yunus
Founder of Grameen Bank; Nobel Peace Prize laureate, 2006
Recorded
Nobel Peace Prize lecture, Oslo City Hall, The Nobel Foundation, 10 December 2006
source ↗
Malala Yousafzai
Education campaigner; co-founder of the Malala Fund; United Nations Messenger of Peace
Why is it that countries which we call strong are so powerful in creating wars but are so weak in bringing peace? Why is it that giving guns is so easy but giving books is so hard? Why is it, why is it that making tanks is so easy, but building schools is so hard?
Angela Merkel
Chancellor of Germany, 2005–2021; Leader of the Christian Democratic Union 2000–2018
Tear down walls of ignorance and narrow-mindedness, for nothing has to stay as it is.
Recorded
Tercentenary Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, The Harvard Gazette, Harvard University, 30 May 2019
source ↗
Marcus Rashford
England international footballer
We know there are over 380,000 children across the UK today that have never owned a book, children that are in vulnerable environments. That has to change. My books are, and always will be, for every child, even if I have to deliver them myself. We will reach them.
Recorded
Statement on the launch of the Marcus Rashford Book Club, Sky Sports, 16 November 2020
source ↗
More from Wangari Maathai
View profile →Tree planting became a natural choice to address some of the initial basic needs identified by women. Also, tree planting is simple, attainable and guarantees quick, successful results within a reasonable amount time. This sustains interest and commitment.
Initially, the work was difficult because historically our people have been persuaded to believe that because they are poor, they lack not only capital, but also knowledge and skills to address their challenges. Instead they are conditioned to believe that solutions to their problems must come from 'outside'.
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