
In
a world fractured by the effects of environmental degradation, political
turmoil, and economic crises, it is easy to forget that cultures of peace
depend on good governance and equitable management of our natural resources.
Sustainable development from the grass-roots up can only happen if these three
core issues are addressed. Furthermore, the connection between environmental
challenges and local conflicts cannot be assessed separately. They must be
understood and acted upon not just by academics, but by as many different kinds
of people as possible – bustling city-dwellers, hard-working villagers and
farmers, children, poets,...

Stephen
Njoroge is sipping a mango juice, dressed in a blue school uniform like any
other boy his age. Mango trees are his favourite — but as an environmentalist,
Njoroge loves trees of all varieties. And at just 12 years, he has planted over
10,000 of them — and made it to the UN history books. Last Friday, his efforts
to create a sustainable future for Kenya were honoured at the UN International
Day of Peace. Kenya’s most eminent conservationist, the late Prof. Wangari Maathai, once said
tree planting was “her little thing”. Three years ago, Njoroge decided to
make it his big thing — and has been working to keep Kenya’s forests healthy
ever...