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Environmentalist Activist Receives Praises

An environmentalist from Kenyan named Wangari Maathai and also last year?s Nobel Peace Prize Winner, has received some harsh criticism over the years. Those who side with her actions refer to her as brave and outspoken. Her detractors call her crazy, stubborn, and brash - particulary when she is doing stuff like leading a group of women to strip off their clothes during one protest.

In all her years she has never been called a peacemaker - until last year. Ever since the Nobel commission chose her last year, some have grumbled that a person best known for planting trees isn`t quite worthy of the prestigious award. Yet the choice, observers say, symbolizes a broadening notion of what constitutes a peacemaker in today`s world - and a widening definition of peace itself.

In fact, the upper echelon Nobel club is gradually evolving beyond politicians like Mikhail Gorbachev or Nelson Mandela to include people like Ms. Maathai and Iranian rights activist Shirin Ebadi. It highlights a growing recognition that women, civil society, and issues like human rights and the environment are crucial to creating peace, observers say.