"Dr. Jane Goodall was awarded the 2020 Tang Prize for her contributions to sustainable development."

Dr. Jane Goodall's conservation efforts aim to achieve a sustainable future by addressing key factors that lead to deforestation, including poverty, non-ecological lifestyles, corruption, and population growth.

Jane Goodall believes individual actions can collectively make a significant difference in conservation, encouraging people to take daily actions to help animals, plant trees, or support causes they care about.

Dr. Jane Goodall urges for immediate action to address biodiversity loss, warning of a bleak future for the next generation if politicians fail to act.

Jane Goodall aims to expand her Roots and Shoots program to every school in every country, emphasizing the importance of conservation and protecting endangered animals and plants.

If biodiversity loss is not addressed, it will lead to ecosystem collapse, resulting in a bleak future for upcoming generations.

Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots program is currently implemented in 65 countries, focusing on nurturing young people, which is a key aspect of her continuing impact on global conservation issues.

Jane Goodall will be speaking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison about the importance of hope in conservation.

Jane Goodall supports the Roots & Shoots program for conservation, which is a part of the Jane Goodall Institute and focuses on community-led conservation and empowering children.

Jane Goodall's program to empower young people is called Roots & Shoots, which operates in 65 countries.

Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots program operates in 68 countries.

Dr. Jane Goodall participated in COP15, a global biodiversity summit, where she warned of a bleak future if action is not taken to address conservation issues.

Dr. Jane Goodall warns that approximately one million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation efforts.

"Dr. Jane Goodall was awarded the 2020 Tang Prize for her contributions to sustainable development."

Title:

Content: The 4th Tang Prize Ceremony Ended Successfully
Tang Laureate ’ s outstanding achievements and impact are witnessed by a global audience
TAIPEI, Nov. 20, 2020 / PRESS RELEASE – Xinwengao.com / — “The Fourth Tang Prize Award Ceremony ” was held online at 2: 00 p.m. today, November 20, 2020. Eight Tang Prize winners from seven countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Bangladesh, Colombia and Lebanon, received congratulations and applause from the global audience. Share this honor and joy to witness the outstanding achievements and world influence of the eight Tang Prize winners who are regarded as pioneers of the times.
The 4th Tang Prize Ceremony Ended Successfully
Chen Zhenchuan, CEO of the Tang Prize Education Foundation, said that the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has affected the planned activities of the Tang Prize. However, Dr. Yin Yanliang, founder of the Tang Prize Education Foundation, has been looking forward to inviting the fourth winners to Taiwan to receive awards and participate in a series of activities. The winners of the fourth edition of the Tang Prize have made outstanding achievements and contributions to the world. At the same time, I would like to thank the Convenor of the Jury Committee, the members of the Jury Committee, and all the experts and scholars who participated in the selection process.
Dr Jane Goodall, Tang Prize Laureate for Sustainable Development
Jane Goodall, who received the award from the British Home Connection, said in her speech that today ’ s achievements are due to the efforts and companionship of friends, especially the International Jane Goodall Education and Conservation Association.
At present, the world is facing many difficult problems, such as climate change, the loss of biodiversity, the new coronavirus epidemic, etc., and local associations are also working to solve global issues.
In particular, Dr. Jane Goodall affirmed the achievements and achievements of the Taiwan Jane Goodall Association, and said that the prize money won will be used for the Association's programs, especially the "Roots and Shoots" program, which is implemented in 65 countries and nurtures young people.
Dr. Charles Dinarello, winner of the Tang Prize in Biotechnology and Medicine.
Charles Dinarello received the award from his workplace, University of Colorado, USA. In his acceptance speech, he said that he was honored to witness the development of IL-1 and the effectiveness of disease treatment, and took the opportunity to pay tribute and thank other scholars in the field, whether they are blocking cell hormones or developing innovative therapies.
He encouraged young scholars to maintain positive beliefs, uphold research ethics and maintain a cautious attitude, and continue to work hard to achieve results, and scientific research has no limits.
Dr. Mark Feldman, winner of the Tang Prize for Biotechnology and Medicine.
Marc Feldmann, who received the award from an outdoor garden link in his home in the UK, said that when he learned of the award last year, it was at a time when the COVID-19 epidemic was ravaging the world and claiming many precious lives.
He also said that receiving the Tang Prize allows him to look back on his life once again, and thanks to the support of many teams, colleagues and family members, he has the opportunity to change the world and bring benefits to millions of patients.
Tsunami Kishimoto, winner of the Tang Prize in Biotechnology and Medicine
Tadamitsu Kishimoto received the award from the Immunology Pioneer Research Center of Osaka University, Japan, for his lifelong commitment to IL-6 research, the use of tocilizumab in more than 100 countries, and the treatment of more than 1 million patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the impact of which was recognized and recognized by the Tang Prize.
Professor Wang Gung-wu, winner of the Tang Prize in Sinology
Wang Gungwu, who received the award from the University of Singapore, said that there is still much to explore in Sinology. He hoped that through the Tang Prize, more people will pay attention to the value of Chinese civilization and improve the situation of mankind.
Ms. Shaida Rezwana Hassan, representative of the Bangladesh Association of Environmental Lawyers, three non-governmental organizations, representatives of the Tang Prize for Rule of Law Award.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Achieving Justice: Recipient of the Center for Law, Justice and Society, Professor Vivian Newman Ponte.
Vivian Newman Pont, the recipient of the Legal Practice Process Award, Ms. Jida Farangiya,
Ghida Frangieh, from personal home or organization office connection, all three of them jointly mentioned that the recognition of the Tang Prize is more encouraging to non-governmental organizations, and will continue to strive to defend the principle of the rule of law for social and environmental justice, vulnerable groups, judicial independence and other issues.
The fourth award ceremony of the Tang Prize was held online for the first time, successfully concluded with the blessing of the global audience, and it is hoped that when the world resumes order in 2022, the award ceremony can maintain the tradition of the Tang Prize since 2014, and be held in Taipei as scheduled.
The Tang Prize Educational Foundation invites you to review the winners' demeanor and touching moments at the awards ceremony YouTube subtitles: https: / / youtu.be / lN0ADXBNT-Q; YouTube subtitles: https: / / youtu.be / 56GwDm3EL0g
The 4th Tang Prize Presentation Ceremony Successfully Ended [Xinwengao.com]
Source: Press Releases Network Partners – Xinwengao.com

Dr. Jane Goodall's conservation efforts aim to achieve a sustainable future by addressing key factors that lead to deforestation, including poverty, non-ecological lifestyles, corruption, and population growth.

Title:

Content: Jane Goodall is a British ethologist, primatologist and anthropologist, UN Peace Ambassador, and an honorary member of the Council for the Future of Peace (a German non-profit foundation created with the goal of passing on a healthy planet with a just and peaceful society) to the next generations.
On February 4, the author of the Telegram channel “Voice of Mordor ” (41,000 views at the time of writing this analysis) specifically for the TV channel“ 360 ” (72,000) published a column about the proposed proposal of the scientist.
In the text, the blogger clarifies: Goodall made such a statement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which was held in mid-January 2024.
"It turns out that solving the climate issue is quite simple - you just need to reduce the population of the Earth by... 90%.
Of course, Jane doesn ’ t suggest directly killing 90% of the people on Earth, ” says the text, which is still titled “Kill 90% of the world ’ s population ” on the 360 website.
The environmental agenda has driven the West crazy. ”
Moreover, at the beginning of the material it is separately said: “Biologist Goodall is ready to kill 90% of earthlings for the sake of climate ” .In the Telegram channel of the leading“ First channel ” Olesya Loseva (25,000 views) the following quote is given: “If we reduce the population by 90%, we can reach zero level of climate change ”.
At the same time, the post clarifies: “Although she said (Goodall – Approx. ed.) it is a long time, but the essence does not change. ”
As proof, Loseva cited a screenshot of a December news article by Slay News — this ultra-conservative English-language resource systematically disseminates disinformation and conspiracy theories, including fakes about the WEF.
The online edition, in turn, referred to a tweet swirling in September 2023 with a 15-second recording of Goodall ’ s performance, which scored almost 2 million views.
Similar publications appeared in the Telegram channels Banksta (107,000 views), Anatoly Nesmiyan (64,000), Fund for Strategic Culture (24,000) and Zapashny (12,000).
For example, in May 2023 about the “assumption ” of the scientist that“ all problems of mankind will be solved if the population of the Earth will decrease by 90% ”, wrote the Telegram-channels “Militarist ” (98,000 views),“ Zhirinovsky ’ s Notes ” (55,000), “What ’ s happening? ” (55,000),“ Bad news ” (47,000), “Freshness ” (25,000), Lomovka (19,000) and others.
In December 2022, businessman Elon Musk commented on one of the similar posts that appeared then on Twitter: “This philosophy is the death of humanity. ”
However, the most popular video was back in July 2022, but then the publications quoted another quote: “We can ’ t hide from the growth of the human population, because you know that this is at the heart of all the problems.
Such records were placed by Telegram-channels “Russia Now ” (248,000 views),“ Special Operation Z ” | Yuri Podolyaka + “(199,000), Voblya (150,000), MediaPost (102,000),“ RIA Katyusha ” (92,000), “Skeptic ” (92,000)“ Buyan – What ’ s in the World? ” (73,000), “DPR Info ” (71,000), TG Team Russia (63,000),“ Patron ” (60,000), “First Kharkiv ” (59,000),“ Andrey Fursov ” (55,000), “Saffron ” (24,000),“ Ukraine. (24,000), Zapashny (21,000), Kuchera (18,000) and Yana Poplavskaya (11,000).
Among the media, the alleged Goodall proposal was reported by the Public News Service, Morning South (it is specified that the scientist made a statement at the WEF 2022), Tsargrad, as well as Shari.net.
Former State Duma deputy Valery Rashkin wrote in his column on the CPRF party ’ s website that Goodall “publicly advocated a 90 percent reduction in the world ’ s population ” from the rostrum of the WEF on July 28, 2022.
In addition, the news has become popular in “Vkontakte ” (examples here, here and here).
In 2022, the World Economic Forum was held not in the summer, but in the spring - from May 22 to 26, but the viral video was not filmed during this event.
In fact, the Network is distributing a video recorded at the Davos summit in January 2020.
The public discussion with the participation of the British scientist was devoted to ensuring a sustainable future for the countries of the Amazon.
A 40-minute recording of the discussion was published on the official YouTube channel of the WEF, and at 31: 37, Goodall utters the phrase from the viral video:
We cannot hide from population growth because it is at the root of many other problems.
All these things we are talking about would not be a problem if the world ’ s population was the same as 500 years ago.
Neither in this quote, nor during the entire discussion, did the scientist state or suggest that the population of the Earth should be reduced by 90% and that this would solve all the world's problems.
She only noted that, together with population growth, people face the challenges associated with this process.
The authors of most of the above publications either misunderstood Goodall ’ s words or deliberately misinterpreted them, even when quoting her correctly.
In addition, there is another error in the misinterpretation of the quotation.
According to the UN, in November 2022, the world population reached 8 billion people and is expected to grow until the last quarter of the 21st century.
That is, 10% of the current level is slightly more than 800 million people.
According to various studies, 500 years ago, that is, at the beginning of the XVI century, the number of people on the planet was in the range of 400 – 600 million – about 5 – 7.5% of the 8 billion.
That is, to return to the level of the population 500 years ago, the number must be reduced by 92.5 – 95%.
During the discussion, BBC journalist Mishal Hussein asked the scientist about the 1t.orgproject to restore and grow a trillion trees, whose ambassador is Goodall: “How important is it that planted trees are valuable enough to do everything possible and make sure they are not cut down by local communities or large corporations? ”
In her response, Goodall spoke about the importance of forest conservation and the goals of the project, and listed four “dark things ” that need to be“ mitigated ” — factors that lead to deforestation:
1.
poverty, as poor people need more space to grow food;
2. non-ecological way of life and consumer behavior of non-poor segments of society;
3. Corruption, which should be eliminated by politicians;
4.
population growth because natural resources are limited.
Goodall spoke about these issues, in particular the fourth point, in her earlier speeches and interviews.
At the same time, she never proposed to forcibly reduce humanity, but advocated measures to gradually slow down population growth.
Among them, in her speech at the Population Matters conference in 2019, she called for improving education as well as empowering women.
It should be noted that some studies confirm the relationship between increasing the level of education of women and declining fertility in developing countries.
In an interview with CBS News in July 2020, Goodall stressed that the changes should take place on a voluntary basis:
Population problems are politically sensitive, so I am talking about voluntary population optimization.
So it's okay, it's voluntary, it's your choice.
You optimize it for your financial situation.
People are desperately trying to educate their children, and they can no longer educate the eight.
Therefore, they love family planning, and women can so increase the intervals between the birth of their children to be able to take care of them.
Thus, Jane Goodall never called for or proposed to solve all the world's problems by destroying more than 90% of humanity.
Posts containing this statement are the result of manipulation, or at least incorrect interpretation of the real words by the scientist, which were taken out of context.
Goodall, indeed, spoke many times about the problem of overpopulation of the planet, but in fact proposed only to slow down population growth by improving women's access to education.
Bottom line: Not true
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What did Dr. Goodall say needed to be addressed to avoid deforestation?

Poverty
Unsustainable lifestyles
population growth

Jane Goodall believes individual actions can collectively make a significant difference in conservation, encouraging people to take daily actions to help animals, plant trees, or support causes they care about.

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Content: ×

The work of legendary ethnobiologist, conservationist and activist Jane Goodall has already inspired people to care for endangered species and the environment for decades — but the doctor’s latest endeavor continues her work in motivating the next generation.

Apple TV+’s mission-driven children’s series “Jane” harnesses the power of TV, with Emmy-winning creator J.J. Johnson (“Endlings,” “Ghostwriter”) using Goodall’s teachings to motivate kids to take a stand for endangered species and care for the environment. “Jane,” from the Jane Goodall Institute and Johnson’s company Sinking Ship Entertainment, premiered on April 14, with 10 episodes now available on Apple TV+.

“Jane” features eager 9-year-old environmentalist Jane Garcia (Ava Louise Murchison) — who is inspired to help save the planet, following in the footsteps of her role model, Goodall — along with her friends David (Mason Blomberg) and a chimpanzee named Greybeard. Each episode focuses on a different endangered species, such as Apis mellifera (Western honey bee) and Panthera tigris (tiger). Blending live action and CGI — and featuring an epic theme song “One Step Closer” written by Diane Warren, and sung by Leona Lewis — the show depicts the friends taking a stand for the species and the environment, and getting into occasional trouble along the way. The episodes all end with the friends video-chatting with real-life animal experts, particularly highlighting women and people of color.

While Goodall’s years of dedication to great apes research and advocacy have made her a household name in the 21st century, she began her work at age 26 in 1960 studying chimpanzees. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, which fosters research, advocacy as well as community-led conservation, and it empowers children — particularly through its youth program Roots and Shoots, which was founded in 1991.

A United Nations Messenger of Peace and a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE), Goodall’s research on chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania helped change scientists’ understanding of humans’ relationship to animals. The research continues in Tanzania through the Jane Goodall Institute Gombe Stream Research Center, and it is the world’s longest-running chimpanzee study.

Also a prolific author, Goodall has adult and children’s literary works such as “The Book of Hope,” “In the Shadow of Man” and “Rickie and Henri: A True Story.”

Goodall is no stranger to the screen, however, as the subject of dozens of films including “Chimps, So Like Us,” “Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees” and “Jane Goodall: The Hope” — as well as Brett Morgen’s 2017 Emmy-nominated documentary, also called “Jane.” While Goodall did not create this “Jane” for Apple TV+, her life’s work and teachings inspire the show’s protagonist who idolizes her, and if Goodall had not approved the show’s concept when it was in development, it would not have moved forward.

Goodall, who turned 89 earlier this month, spoke with Variety over Zoom about how she hopes “Jane” inspires the youngest generation, and what she hopes to accomplish next in her career.

How do you hope viewers, especially children, react when they see “Jane”?

I hope that it will encourage them to actually think more about endangered species — to think about the fact that if we’re not careful, many of these species will disappear. I hope it also will encourage young people to join our Roots and Shoots program, which is in 68 countries. It’s about young people choosing projects to help — animals, people and the environment — deciding what they want to do, working out what they can do, rolling up their sleeves and taking action.

So if this Jane Garcia encourages real-life activities, it’ll be great. I hope it will encourage young people to join in the effort to make this a better world, to choose projects that will help to save the environment before it’s too late.

Talk about environmental issues often creates anxiety in children and young adults, but it is still obviously important to learn about — how do you, through this show or beyond, hope to inspire the next generation without causing anxiety?

That’s my entire program Roots and Shoots, it’s all about taking action. If young people get together and work on projects, which is the same sort of thing with Sinking Ship Entertainment, then it’s all about positive change. We need to know that many species are close to extinction, but that we have to stop that from happening. And therefore we have to work together to find out ways of saving the animals that are moving toward extinction. We need to know about the doom and gloom — I talk about it all the time. But at the same time, it’s desperately important to give people hope, especially young people, because, yes, we can make a difference.

So “Jane” shows young people how they can get together and solve the “doom and gloom” effectively?

Yeah, hopefully. The goal is to try and get young people involved and taking action, and stepping on beyond that to do more. It’s young people getting really worried, but then working together with older people who are also wanting to try to save the species. So it’s a complete mixture.

How do we inspire the next generation to create change, without placing blame on children for a situation they didn’t create?

There are major problems and, yes, all sorts of things have led to unfortunate decreases in numbers of endangered species. But the whole emphasis is on working together to create change. Let’s get young people involved, talk about what can be done to make a difference and then, as I say, roll up their sleeves and work out what they can do. And taking action is going to be different with different species. And, basically, I hope that this program will have enough fun in it, as well as understanding the problem, that young people will be pushing toward saving a lot of these animals. Many animals on the very brink of extinction have been given another chance.

What’s an example of a species that was pushed toward extinction, but human intervention reversed the course?

My favorite one is that little black robin that was reduced to just two individuals, one male and one female. That was it. And through some very clever work, there are now about 500 of them. They’re all genetically identical, of course, but they’re being spread into four different islands. So, hopefully, there will be some genetic change so they’re not all identical, since that’s not very healthy. There are many, many stories like that.

What message do you have for people who feel hopeless, or that they alone cannot make a difference?

People have to realize that every single one of us can make a difference. We could just say, “Oh well, I know that animals are becoming extinct. There’s nothing I can do about it.” That’s really going to be the end of us. But if you decide, “I will try and make a difference, I will do something every single day,” then we can make a difference. We can choose what we can do: Some of us can help animals, some of us can help planting trees, some of us can help whatever it is that we care about. And if we all choose projects to make the world better, then it’s going to make a major difference. We don’t all give up and say, “Well, it’s just me, there’s nothing I can do.” If we give up, then the future is not very good, is it? We all have to do our bit to try and persuade other people. We’re in the middle of a pretty bad, dark space. So for young people to join in and feel, “Gosh, if I do this, I will be making the world a better place,” that’s really important.

You’ve done so much in your life and in your career — what else do you look forward to accomplishing?

I want our Roots and Shoots program to be in every school in every country. But I always say, “If you try and aim for the stars, you might reach the moon. If you aim for the moon, you might reach the head of Mount Everest,” for example. So that’s the same for the stars — and at least we can reach the moon and help to protect the various animals and plants that are facing tremendous danger. The young and old alike in different countries need to really, really work hard to save these creatures. We’ve got to do it now.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

At the Proctor & Gamble 2022 summit on regional sustainability, what did Dr. Jane Goodall emphasize?

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Dr. Jane Goodall urges for immediate action to address biodiversity loss, warning of a bleak future for the next generation if politicians fail to act.

Title:

Content: Leading conservationist Dr Jane Goodall warns next generation faces a 'bleak future' without action

COP15, the once-in-decade global biodiversity summit, began in Montreal on Wednesday. Ahead of the conference, ITV News spoke to one of the world's most famous and inspiring conservationists, Dr Jane Goodall.

With an estimated one million plant and animal species facing extinction, the scale of the issues being grappled with by nations at COP15 in Montreal could hardly be greater.

Entire ecosystems face collapse if we do not act, so how best to overcome this challenge?

Dr Jane Goodall has spent a lifetime trying to understand, protect and educate others about the natural world. She’s witnessed devastating habitat loss but also examples of where, given time, nature returns.

She paints a dark picture of what happens if politicians fail to rise to the occasion, saying the “price of failure is condemning our children, our children's children, to a very, very bleak and grim future.”

Talking to ITV News in Parliament, where she was marking a significant moment in the campaign to ban trophy hunting, she explains how we need to view nature.

“I would say how important it is to realise that we are actually not separate from the natural world. We are part of it and more than that we depend on it. We depend on it for food, water, everything," she said.

"We depend on healthy ecosystems. An ecosystem is made up of an interrelated mix of animal and plant species living in that ecosystem. And as more and more animals and plants become extinct in that area, so the ecosystem eventually will collapse.”

Decades of witnessing animals, such as primates, up close has forged her understanding of our world. It was notable in a room full of animal welfare campaigners just how quiet it was when she spoke.

In Montreal, the world faces a choice but it’s complicated. Delivering change includes finding a way of maintaining wealth. Making people poorer while saving plants and animals won’t work, but Dr Jane Goodall sees options that will.

She concluded: “We need nature for our own physical and psychological well-being. That's proven again and again. We must not let these ecosystems collapse, we have this window of time, we have the tools, we know how we can do things. But will we?”

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Jane Goodall aims to expand her Roots and Shoots program to every school in every country, emphasizing the importance of conservation and protecting endangered animals and plants.

What difference does Dr. Goodall believe every individual is capable of?

What would letting children get close to nature help cultivate?

If biodiversity loss is not addressed, it will lead to ecosystem collapse, resulting in a bleak future for upcoming generations.

Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots program is currently implemented in 65 countries, focusing on nurturing young people, which is a key aspect of her continuing impact on global conservation issues.

What would letting children get close to nature help cultivate?

Jane Goodall will be speaking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison about the importance of hope in conservation.

Title:

Content: Jane Goodall wants University of Wisconsin-Madison students to walk away with one message Sunday: Do not give up hope.

It’s a strategy the world-renowned ethologist and conservationist has found effective in spurring action, even as headlines catastrophizing climate change inundate people with a sense of doom.

“I don't agree with scientists who say the tipping point has already reached the point of no return with climate change and loss of biodiversity,” Goodall told the Cap Times. “We still have a window of time. But if we lose hope, fall into apathy and don't take action, then we're doomed.”

Goodall is best known for her groundbreaking work in the early ‘60s as a primatologist. At 26, she began studying chimpanzees in Tanzania, becoming the first to observe that the animals make and use tools. Now part of the world’s longest-running study of wild chimpanzees, her findings have forever changed scientific understanding of primates and humans’ relationship to them.

Goodall’s legacy also endures through her activism. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, a global conservation nonprofit. One of the organization’s programs, Roots & Shoots, educates young people in over 60 countries to work on environmental, conservation and humanitarian issues.

In 2021, Goodall additionally published “The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times,” which details her hope in the world’s ability to make change despite its environmental challenges.

Goodall will speak Sunday at 7 p.m. in UW-Madison’s Memorial Union for the Wisconsin Union’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Tickets for the event sold out among students within 90 minutes, but the public can still register to watch the online livestream.

In a virtual interview with the Cap Times, Goodall spoke from the Edgewater Hotel about climate deniers, how she remains optimistic and what the audience can expect from her on Sunday.

Will you have time to explore Madison this weekend, or will you mostly be working?

It’s all working. Not mostly — all. But the hotel has a lovely view overlooking the lake with all the ice. My life turns out to be work, meeting lovely people and just having an occasional moment to walk in a bit of nature.

What can people expect to learn from you on Sunday?

I hope they take away the message that every single one of them makes a difference every single day of their lives, and they can choose what sort of difference they make. I think that’s the most important message that anybody can have — that they, as an individual, matter and have a role to play.

Your platform revolves around this message of hope. What might be the harm in catastrophizing?

It makes people lose hope. If you’re told that nothing you can do will avert the planet heating up to a point where life is no longer possible and that we’re destroying the ecosystems on which we depend, then why bother doing anything?

The important thing is to realize we still have time, but we have to take action. We have to each do our bit. It may seem small, but billions of small, ethical actions make change.

Much of your work focuses on involving young people within conservation efforts. What inspires you about the attitudes of younger generations toward animals and the environment?

They are much more aware, which isn’t surprising. When I was young, "environmentalism" wasn’t even a word.

Young people are surrounded by doom and gloom. The radio’s full of it, the internet's full of it, the television's full of it, the press is full of it, and so they're much more aware. Fortunately, there are enough people saying it's not too late, and that inspires them and galvanizes them into action.

Do you think those attitudes are much different from older generations?

They are different because older generations either didn't understand what was happening because of ignorance, or they don't want to understand because they want to carry on with business as usual. They want to go on making money in the short term at the expense of future generations.

Sometimes I don’t think they’re thinking like that. I don't think they're deliberately understanding that they're harming the future for their children and grandchildren. But they're simply not thinking in the way that we should be thinking today.

Is it still worth trying to change their minds?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! How to change the minds of the older people? Through storytelling, not through pointing fingers, not through making people angry, not by telling them they're bad, but by reaching into the heart. I’ll give you one example.

This CEO of a huge international corporation told me he was working to get his company ethical for three reasons. One, because we're using our nature's finite natural resources faster than nature can replenish them. Second, consumer pressure — people are beginning to demand ethically produced products.

But what really tipped the balance, he said, was his little girl of 8. She came back from school one day and said, “Daddy, they're telling me that what you're doing is hurting the planet. That's not true, is it, Daddy? Because it's my planet.” That reached his heart. That's the way you change people.

When did you realize this approach of storytelling could persuade people?

I think it was probably part of my nature. I'm not confrontational. I'm fighting for change, yes, but not by confronting. People must change from within. I don't believe you can change them by hammering them with facts that they don't want to listen to.

When I first went to the medical research labs where the scientists kept chimps in 5-foot by 5-foot cages, it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I came out shaken, trying not to cry. I was taken into a room with the top people from the National Institute of Health in the department of animal experimentation. I realized they were waiting for me to speak.

I said, “I imagine all of you are caring and compassionate people, and maybe feel just as I did about what's going on in there.” When you think of it, that was very clever. They couldn’t admit they weren’t caring and compassionate, could they?

Instead of telling them they were bad people, I showed them pictures of the chimpanzees in the wild, making their nests, playing, lying around. In their minds, they could contrast it with the cages where these very social beings were kept for 30 to 40 years. I know it did get into some of their hearts because they told me so. It made some labs completely change the way that they operated.

When you meet somebody, or a group of people, you may not realize that you've made a difference — but you may have planted seeds that will grow and cause change in some of the hearts.

What mistakes did you make early on in your career that emerging activists and young people can learn from?

I was saved from making mistakes in the early days. Before I went to Africa to study chimps, I was working at London Zoo. The chimps were in terrible conditions. So when I got back from my first stint in Africa, the zoo arranged a press conference. I thought now I could really tell the world how bad the chimps were treated!

I happened to be having dinner that night with a very powerful man that I met in Tanzania, and I told him about my plan with great excitement. There was dead silence. He said, “Do you realize that the head of the London Zoo is Solly Zuckerman, Winston Churchill's wartime adviser? A very, very powerful man. Do you think he's going to take it lying down when you criticize his zoo?”

He said, “Just tell me three things that are the most important to change.” I told him, and within two weeks, they were all done. There was no confrontation. That was a lesson that came just in time for me not to make that mistake.

So it’s about activists getting rid of their own personal egos.

Exactly. What people want is to have their name out there and to say, “I did it. I changed this.” It’s learning to not want to be recognized for change. The main thing is to make the change. Not “me” making the change.

This powerful man obviously didn't want me to say that the chimps were being treated badly. He immediately agreed, but didn’t want it out in the press. Give Solly Zuckerman the credit. That’s fine — as long as it changes.

This is a lesson I talk about with our youth. I tell them not to be confrontational. Your goal: Is it to glorify yourself? To be the champion? Or do you really want change?

What do people still not understand about your work and its relevance today?

Climate change deniers, people who don’t want to make a difference, probably don’t understand. What they really think is hard to tell. But are there really people who deny that climate change is happening? Probably not. When they admit it’s real, they say it’s natural and that it’s not manmade. Do they really believe that? I can’t believe they do — but that’s what they say. They don’t want to lose face, and making people lose face isn’t a good way to make change.

What makes you think they don’t really believe what they’re saying?

Well, I can't think of anybody with any ounce of intelligence could believe it. That's why.

How often do you come across those kinds of people?

Not very often. They tend to avoid me.

Kayla Huynh joined the Cap Times in 2021 and covers higher education. She graduated from Northwestern University with a master's degree in journalism after attending UW-Madison.

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Jane Goodall supports the Roots & Shoots program for conservation, which is a part of the Jane Goodall Institute and focuses on community-led conservation and empowering children.

What would letting children get close to nature help cultivate?

Jane Goodall's program to empower young people is called Roots & Shoots, which operates in 65 countries.

Dr. Goodall believed what steps would slow population growth?

Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots program operates in 68 countries.

Dr. Jane Goodall participated in COP15, a global biodiversity summit, where she warned of a bleak future if action is not taken to address conservation issues.

Dr. Jane Goodall warns that approximately one million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation efforts.