Wangari Maathai Wangari Muta Maathai was a renowned environmental activist.

In 2004 she became an internationally recognized figure by becoming the first black woman and the first environmentalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize She was born in Nyeri, Kenya (Africa) in 1940. Maathai's academic career was successful. In 1960, she gained a scholarship to study in the US where she obtained a bachelors degree in Biological Sciences from Mount St. Scholastica College, Kansas (1964). She subsequently obtains a Ph.D. (1971) from the University of Nairobi where she also taught veterinary anatomy. She was the first woman in East Africa to earn a doctorate degree. Wangari Maathai was active in the National Council of Women of Kenya in 1976-87. She founded the Green Belt Movement in the 1976 seeking to promote environmental conservation in Kenya and Africa. However, through the Green Belt Movement she has assisted women in planting more than 30 million trees on their farms and on schools and church compounds. So far some countries have successfully launched such initiatives in Africa (Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, etc.). In September 1998, she embarked on new challenges, playing a leading global role as a cochair of the Jubilee 2000 Africa Campaign, which seeks cancellation of the unpayable debts of the poor countries in Africa by the year 2000. In December 2002, Wangari Maathai was elected to parliament with an overwhelming 98% of the vote. She was subsequently appointed by the president, as Assistant Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Wildlife in Kenya's ninth parliament. Maathai died internationally environmental Peace Prize in peace." in 2011 from complications arising from ovarian cancer. She was recognized for her persistent struggle for democracy, human rights and conservation. She became the first African women to receive the Nobel 2004 for "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and

Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela is a South African political activist, who spent more than 27 years in prison for his opposition to the apartheid regime. He was born in Qunu, South Africa on July 18, 1918. He gained a full education, studying at the Union College of Fort Hare and also in the University of Johannesburg. Nelson was a good student and qualified with a law degree in 1942. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1947 as Young League Secretary. In 1952 he was elected Deputy Head of the ANC and engaged in resistance against the ruling National Party's apartheid policies. He was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour. In 1963, when many fellow leaders of the ANC and they were arrested, Mandela was brought to stand trial with them for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. His statement from the dock received considerable international publicity. On June 12, 1964, eight of the accused, including Mandela, were sentenced to life imprisonment. During his years in prison, Nelson Mandela's reputation grew steadily. He was widely accepted as the most significant black leader in South Africa and became a potent symbol of resistance as the anti-apartheid movement gathered strength. He consistently refused to compromise his political position to obtain his freedom. Nelson Mandela was released on February 11, 1990. This day was a huge event for South Africa and the world. His release symbolizes the impending end of apartheid. After his release, he plunged himself wholeheartedly into his life's work, striving to attain the goals he and others had set out almost four decades earlier. In 1991, at the first national conference of the ANC held inside South Africa after the organization had been banned in 1960, Mandela was elected President of the ANC. In April 1994, South Africa had its first full and fair elections. The ANC with 65% of the vote were elected and Nelson Mandela became the first President of the new South Africa. As President, he sought to heal the rifts of the past. Despite being mistreated he was magnanimous in his dealing with his oppressors. His forgiving and tolerant attitude gained the respect of the whole South African nation and considerably eased the transition to a full democracy. He retired from the Presidency in 1999. Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his work in helping to end racial segregation in South Africa. Since then he has also campaigned to raise money for childrens charities.