JAPAN CONFERS THE HIGHEST DECORATION TO PROFESSOR WANGARI MAATHAI
for her contribution in the environmental field
Date of Conferment: April 29, 2009
Today, the Government of Japan has announced the conferment of its highest Decoration, “the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun”, to Professor Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2004) and Founding Chair of the Green Belt Movement, in honor of her significant contribution for raising people’s awareness of environmental protection in Japan as well as for enhancing the Japan’s global status.
Professor Maathai has played an immense role in the promotion of Japan’s environmental diplomacy through various activities such as the implementation of grassroots programs via the Green Belt Movement, and the substantive contribution to the discussion at the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICADⅣ) held in Yokohama on May 2008. Professor Maathai is quite popular among the Japanese people, especially through her “Mottainai” campaign, which stresses four concepts of R’s – reduce, reuse, recycle and repair – for environmental protection, which she initiated in conjunction with Japanese private sector. In the course of this activity, Professor Maathai has also contributed to strengthen the relations between Kenya and Japan.
This is the first official Decoration ever conferred to Kenyan citizen by the Government of Japan and in commemoration of this historic event the ceremony of conferment will be held in due course.
It is the sincere expectation of the Government and people of Japan, that this Decoration will further solidify the cordial relationship that exists between Kenya and Japan.
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