Emily Barker's video: Emily Barker - The Woman Who Planted Trees lyric video

From the album "A Dark Murmuration of Words" out now - https://smarturl.it/eb-words “It’s a matter of life and death for this country. The Kenyan forests are facing extinction and it is a man-made problem.” Wangari Maathai Kenyan activist, Wangari Maathai founded The Green Belt Movement in order to reforest degraded land to provide food and empower women in her community. Since its establishment in 1977, over fifty million trees have been planted in the region, and over thirty thousand women trained in forestry, food processing, beekeeping and other trades that provide an income as well as protect and nurture the environment. In 2004 Professor Maathai became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize which was awarded for her “contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace". Though she passed away at the age of 71 in 2011, her legacy lives on with seeds and saplings planted years ago now towering as mature trees above the people in the community. I saw a short documentary about her which included interviews with her daughter, Wanjira Mathai, as she walked through the beautiful forests planted by her mother and friends. In the desperate context of our times, we can look to people such as Wangari Maathai and The Green Belt Movement for inspiration, knowledge and instruction. ========================================= The Woman Who Planted Trees (Music and lyrics by Emily Barker) I can tell my age By the height of trees By the years they’ve stood Growing over me When I was a girl You planted seeds And cast your love Forever over me When the land was dry No food to eat When the soil was sick And the river weak You took a spade Bare hands, bare feet And sowed your love Roots down deep In the cool, dark shade Leaves sing your name Wild green tongues glisten in the glade Your branches warp, my fingers weft Weave me through this gift you left From a prison cell You dreamt of trees Blood dried black Upon your cheek You didn’t know Around the world People listened People learned Water returned Soil healed Hope restored with every yield Trees grew high Bones grew strong Enough for everyone In the cool, dark shade Leaves sing your name Wild green tongues glisten in the glade Your branches warp, my fingers weft Weave me through this gift you left I can tell my age By the height of trees By the years they’ve stood Growing over me ========================================= Stay in touch: Sign up to my newsletter: https://smarturl.it/eb-Newsletter https://emilybarker.com https://facebook.com/emilybarkerhalo https://twitter.com/emilybarkerhalo https://instagram.com/emilybarkerhalo Subscribe to this channel for more videos: https://smarturl.it/halo-youtube