As she liked to say, she went into the forest because she wanted to study chimpanzees and came out wanting to save them. A remarkable person who I was lucky to meet with after one of her lectures.
She was one of the first conservation scientists to embrace the need to rethink how people produce and consume food. She saw the direct connection between the choices we make at the checkout and ballot box and the future success of all species. A quiet, firm, and resolute Giant amongst many lesser men.
Dr. Jane Goodall didn’t shy away from exercising her free speech. And she spoke hard truths. She was “political.”
Her message, International Day of Peace 2024:
“I am a UN Messenger of Peace, and it is not easy to think of what message I should share this year. Because right now, the world is so very far from being peaceful. Yet so many millions of people hate war and dream of living in peace. Mothers protest when their husbands or sons are forced to fight and weep when they return wounded or in body bags. The young men who survive are often deeply traumatized by the horrors of war. And there seems to be war or armed conflict all over the globe: the Russia/Ukraine war, the continuing conflict between Israel and Palestine which has resulted in the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the wars and conflicts in so many African countries, the acts of terrorism by religious extremist groups, the oppression of indigenous people and minority groups, the school shootings, the increasing domestic violence and violence on the streets, and of course, racism and discrimination.
And then there are our continuing attacks on the natural world: deforestation, pollution, mining, fracking and industrial agriculture with its use of often poisonous chemical pesticides, herbicides, and artificial fertilizers. The very soil is being killed, and there is a terrible effect on biodiversity. We are in the midst of the 6th great extinction of plant and animal species, this one caused by human acts of violence against nature, made worse by human-induced climate change. We are treating billions of sentient animals with great cruelty in factory farms, unnecessary medical research, in entertainment and as pets. And there is the horrific trophy hunting.
Just imagine what the world would be like if everyone paid heed to the Golden Rule common to every single major religion: “Do to others as you would like them to do to you,” and those “others” should include animals and Mother Nature.
In many countries Muslims and Christians and members from different countries and cultures are working together on projects to make the world a better place for all.
We can, each and every one of us, do our best to show kindness to and respect for the people, animals, and nature around us. We can try to reconcile differences within our families or with friends or work colleagues. We can reach out a hand in friendship to newly arrived refugees. We can make ethical choices in what we buy, what we eat, what we wear – which means we can refuse to buy products that have harmed the environment, been cruel to animals, or are cheap because of unfair wages.
And let us pray for the end of conflict, especially the genocide of the people of Gaza. And for those risking their lives to help the wounded and feed the hungry and care for the animals suffering as a result of human violence, cruelty and war.”
Amended for brevity see in full @https://lnkd.in/gC_sBezb
First published here. Follow Dr. Derric N. Pennington on Substack here
Image of Dr. Jane Goodall courtesy: https://rootsandshoots.global/faq-about-dr-jane/
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