A fitting recognition

In a refreshing departure from the usual, this year's Nobel prize for peace has been awarded to an environmentalist and, like last year's winner, a woman. The Norwegian Nobel committee's choice of Kenya's deputy environment minister, Wangari Maathai, is perhaps somewhat belated recognition of the fact that political leaders do not have an exclusive right to working for peace. It is also an acknowledgement of the essential link between peace, sustainable development and the right to a clean and livable environment.

Maathai beat 193 nominees for the prize, including apparent favorites Hans Blix and Mohamed Elbaradei. In the past, many winners were selected more out of political considerations or because they happened to be political leaders, and their selection tended to lower the credibility of the award. For instance, take the case of the 1994 award to Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin. Ten years hence, the Oslo peace accord they signed and for which they received the prize is more or less dead and peace in the Middle East is nowhere nearer than it was in 1994.

Thankfully, Maathai's contributions are proven and significant. She is credited with starting a mostly women-based movement in Africa which sought to preserve biodiversity and to educate people, especially women and girls, about their living environment and their rights. Dwindling forests mean not only a loss in habitat for animal and plant species but also have substantial adverse effects on humans.

In many poor countries, trees are a valuable resource not only for households, cooking, medicinal or heating purposes but also because they prevent desertification and infertility of soil. Hopefully, this year's award is a sign that people who use non- political and unconventional methods to promote peace in this world can expect due recognition of their efforts.

-- The Dawn, Karachi