Description: This book explores and honors the rhetorical legacy of Dr. Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Each chapter provides an analysis of Maathai's public advocacy as she attempted to persuade the world to provide greater protection of earth's habitats.
Brief description: Ahmet Atay is Professor of Global Media and Communication at the College of Wooster, USA. His research focuses on diasporic experiences and cultural identity formations; British and US soap operas, the usage of new media technologies in different settings; and the notion of home; representation of gender, sexuality, and ethnicity in media; queer and immigrant experiences in cyberspace, and critical communication pedagogies.
Review Quotes:
"The Rhetorical Legacy of Wangari Maathai is a beautiful tribute to this Nobel Peace Prize winner and the idea that one person--or even one fabled hummingbird--can make a powerful difference. After completing this book, the reader will never think the same way about the importance of trees, our relationships with the earth, and the roles of rhetoric, culture, and spirituality in environmental justice movements. Specifically, this book makes important contributions and can be useful in courses that consider the intersections of environmentalism, feminism, and human rights; the role of rhetoric in social movements; intercultural communication; environmentalism as a "justice" issue; and the role of spirituality and religion in environmental justice work." --Navita Cummings James, University of South Florida
"What a gift! We need to have the words of this wise woman to guide us as we navigate a tumultuous time. Wangari Maathai advocated environmental activism as a path for healing on multiple levels. This book helps us to better understand that passion and her world view connecting nature and indigenous communities with the social--and social justice. Thank you to the editors for crafting a project that recognizes critical importance her vision and for giving voice to an African woman's lived experience." --Karla D. Scott, St. Louis University