Watch TAKING ROOT Tonight on Independent Lens

How does the simple act of planting trees lead to winning the Nobel Peace Prize? Ask Wangari Maathai of Kenya. In 1977, she suggested rural women plant trees to address problems stemming from a degraded environment. Under her leadership, their tree-planting grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, defend human rights and promote democracy and brought Maathai the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

“Lisa Merton and Alan Dater’s Kenyan TAKING ROOT… attests to the seismic changes wrought by women of different religions and ethnicities working together. [A] Lucid, lovingly crafted pic, which won the audience award at Hot Docs,” Daily Variety

Check out the trailer below:

TAKING ROOT: The Vision of Wangari Maathai airs tonight at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings)