Peace to me, doesn’t only mean no fights, wars and disagreements. To achieve peace we also have to think outside the box. I think that we can also achieve peace by helping our home: Earth. We usually think about “more important things” such as school, work, a car, a big house, an enormous TV. But what good would this do if you had nowhere to put it? Most of the time we take Earth for granted. We pollute and trash and overpopulate, but we keep thinking that it’s going to be okay. It is not. Global warming has been threatening the lives of many animals as well as humans. This effect has caused droughts, floods, heat waves and many other natural disasters.
For me, Wangari Maathai is a peace activist. Fortunately, we have people like her in the world. What makes her so great? Well, she has done myriads to help our planet. Dr. Maathai became the first African woman to received a Noble Peace Prize for ‘her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.‘ She received this prize after founding the Green Belt Movement. This movement started because in Kenya, she had heard complaints in which she was told that the women didn’t have logs to make bonfires, the soil was eroding away and harvesting was poorer. She started by giving poor women in Kenya seeds for them to plant and paying them. This would later on prevent soil erosion, create shadows, provide wood for bonfires, and serve as a source of food. Until now, 40 million trees have already been planted. This has not only helped with soil erosion, but has also given poor women in Kenya and many other countries the opportunity to earn money. Because of the increase in trees, there has also been an increase in fauna which has currently attracted many tourists. This has helped developed Kenya’s economy and has encouraged Kenyans and many other people around the world to try and restore what was once found among the flora.
I believe that to change the world people have to know some facts first. Most of us know there isn’t much peace around, but we don’t usually know what causes this. We have seen in the news the assassinations of people and the massacres caused by wars. But there is much more to wars than just fights between countries. There are child soldiers. Today, there are more than 300,000 children under 18 that serve the government as soldiers or make part of rebellious groups. Some of these children are even eight years old! These are kids that have a whole life to live. Imagine eight year old using guns to fight against something they might not even understand! There are more than 33 countries that use child soldiers. Some of these countries include Iraq, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Ethiopia, Turkey, Sudan, and Uganda among many others. Children are more vulnerable to these violent acts because of physical and emotional immaturities. They are easily convinced because many times they do not know the implications and the dangers they will be facing. Children that are poor and have limited access to education are most likely to become child soldiers. In many cases, children are pressured into becoming child soldiers. If this isn’t the case, it can also because they believe they will have an easier access to food and security. As I did before I know about this, you probably think most of the child soldiers are boys. This is false. It was actually proven that in many countries such as Ethiopia and Uganda most of the child soldiers are girls. Girls are often raped or given to commanders as “wives.” Because of lack of experience, strength, and strategies; children are often sent in the front lines to protect older and more experience soldiers. They are also sent first into the minefields; that way, if they cross safely older soldiers know where to step. In society, child soldiers aren’t usually recognized. There are very few governments that inform their use of child soldiers. Because of this, many people don’t even know that this exists.
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to make a change. I always thought about accomplishing something big; accomplishing something that would change humanity. This change would probably be headed toward peace. I feel that there is too much grief in this world. I feel that it should change. I want for it to change. I think about this, and how I would like to be out there doing….something! While I am sitting here writing on my computer, there are people dying because of hunger, thirst and violence.I would love to know that all this became history. I would love to feel that I have made an impact. To let the world know that I care, and that I can make a change! But what can I do? I realize that I might not be the only one that feels this. But if I’m not, how come we haven’t changed anything? I know why, because we are all waiting on the world to change. I keep telling myself that it will happen. The world will change. But when?! Maybe I am making a change by stoping and thinking. If everyone stoped to think, wouldn’t that make a difference? But for me thinking is not enough. I really want to do something. I believe that the reason why there are no changes is because we are all waiting. We do not know a way to change thigns so we just wait until someone changes them for us. It would be a relief to know that there has been a chance, but if we all think the same way there is not going to be any change. I feel that we all have to get out there and act. If we do not know how to make a change by ourselves… well, together we could make a difference. A greater difference. “Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope some day you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.” (John Lennon) Lets not wait on the world to change. Lets change the world ourselves!!!
“The Tree Mother of Africa” 
