Prime Minister and Environmentalist : Gro Harlem Brundtland

Summary

In 1981, Gro Harlem Brundtland became the first woman to be elected Prime Minister of Norway. Her political career has been marked by a zest for social reform and an active role in changing the sta...

In 1981, Gro Harlem Brundtland became the first woman to be elected Prime Minister of Norway. Her political career has been marked by a zest for social reform and an active role in changing the status of women in Norwegian politics. A Harvard educated physician by profession, Brundtland has also been a prominent environmentalist throughout her political career. In this program with Bill Moyers, she speaks to the sense of environmental urgency facing policymakers today and introduces the concept of "sustainable development." Brundtland also talks about the increasingly important role of women in politics. She says, "If both sexes are not equally involved in building society, in making an impact on society, making political decisions, then you don’t have a democracy." (30 minutes)

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