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The marginalised have a right to be listened to: Wangari Maathai

Gargi Parsai

Nobel Peace Prize winnerWangari Maathaion the equitable distribution of resources and the importance of civil society groups in good governance.

— Photo: S. Subramanium

Wangari Maathai: "When privatisation of resources that are vital for life happens, it will undermine our food security and livelihoods. Corporations are now telling us what kind of food to eat."

On the first day of her first visit to India, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Muta Maathai had a busy schedule. She called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The former 60-plus Kenyan Assistant Minister addressed women engaged in saving indigenous seeds at Navdanya and delivered a lecture at the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. In between she found the time to speak to The Hindu. Excerpts:

What finally brought you to India?

I am here on the invitation of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to deliver memorial lectures on linkages between environment, governance, and peace.

This is to say that...

This is to say that in giving the Nobel Peace Prize to me the Nobel Prize Committee prioritised environment and biodiversity. It gave the message that it was important to manage our resources in a responsible way and to share them equitably in order to pre-empt the root cause of conflict and war. If you look at many wars, be it regional or international, they are over access and control to resources. Those who are denied, discriminated against and marginalised are trying to seek justice through whatever means — you may call them terrorists, thieves or militants... If we want to live in a peaceful world, we must add issues of resource management, governance and equity which are important ingredients for peace.

In this context there is a controversy in India over setting up Special Economic Zones on farmlands.

At the moment in my own country we are shooting people because we suspect them to be thieves. That is to me a violation of human rights. People who feel aggrieved, marginalised have a right to be listened to. They cannot be stopped or oppressed because they are poor. Sometimes governments have to make difficult decisions for the benefit of the country. But too often we make decisions that are expedient because we do not want to make the difficult decisions of protecting the weak and the vulnerable from the powerful. That is everywhere.

You are now working on protecting indigenous seeds?

One of our most important resources is seeds because all of us need to eat. India is an old civilisation and has developed seeds for thousands of years. Suddenly laws are being changed and corporations are working hard to ensure that they have control over resources so that those who cannot pay have to die. In India farmers are dying because the seeds they were used to are not available. When privatisation of resources that are vital for life happens, it will undermine our food security and livelihoods. Corporations are now telling us what kind of food to eat, whereas in my constituency, Tetu, doctors are now telling HIV/AIDS patients to go back to indigenous foods to improve their immune system.

What is the common problem developing countries face today?

The biggest challenge developing countries face is to have the capacity to deal with the competition they get from the developed world because it tends to force its political agenda on the developing countries. And because these developing countries need these developed countries they give in or they have to face sanctions in research, military power, and in the capacity to access and control resources.

Do you feel globalisation is marginalising women?

Globalisation will marginalise anybody who cannot compete especially people who are poor and do not have the skills and knowledge, the majority of who may be women.

As a leader of the Green Party you contested elections and joined the National Rainbow Coalition Government led by President Mwai Kibaki in 2003. Then you resigned your position as an Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources. What difference did you bring to governance?

Today we are caught in a development paradigm that is causing de-development, going backwards. We, on our part, focussed on the issues of growing trees, saving indigenous seeds, producing nutritious foods, rainwater harvesting, and against privatisation of natural resources. It was due to our efforts that 2.5 per cent of the national revenue was sent directly to villages for development. Later I resigned to bring together two warring groups in this 15-party coalition.

Will you contest the coming elections in July?

I don't know. My hands are full. It is too early to decide.

Do you think civil society groups can be effective outside or by joining the government?

It is important for individuals in social movements who feel they can make contributions to decide on their own. As a social activist, you can only critique. As a member of the government you can make changes and bring laws that can make a difference.

Those who have interest, passion and conviction should become part of governance.

The Nobel Peace Prize Committee has recognised two grassroots individuals in quick succession — you in 2004, and Mohammad Yunus of Bangladesh in 2006. What is the message?

The message coming out of the Nobel panel is that we cannot have peace in a world where there is inequality, poverty that is ignored by those who can do something. We must have socio-economic justice and we must manage resources responsibly and share them.

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The marginalised have a right to be listened to: Wangari Maathai

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