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Nobel Peace Prize Winner Wangari Maathai Dies At 71



When Wangari Maathai joined Mike Cuthbert of AARP's Prime Time Radio to talk about peace and the environment a few years back, we knew we were in the presence of a force of nature. Maathai was funny and charming, and colorful in every way, including her trademark sky-high wrapped head scarf.

Admirers around the world were sad to learn that she had died of cancer Sunday at age 71. We remember her with this video excerpt, in which she tells the story of the momentous news she received in 2004, when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the first African woman, and first environmentalist to be so honored.

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