[embed width="560"][/embed]

Kenya's Nobel Laureate, Wangari Maathai, a champion of environmental protection, women's rights, and political activism, among many other things, has passed away in Nairobi at the age of 71 while undergoing cancer treatment.

Maathai started the Green Belt Movement in Kenya in 1977 to combat deforestation by planting trees. The BBC writes:

"Her unique insight was that the lives of Kenyans - and, by extension, of people in many other developing countries - would be made better if economic and social progress went hand in hand with environmental protection."

This was an amazing effort by a woman who was ostracized by her government, including president Daniel arap Moi - seen in the video above referring to her as "a certain woman." Nonetheless, she battled on and left a mark of bravery, and a genuine legacy of leadership. She will be missed.