During spring break, the boys visited Chicago’s Garfield Conservatory with their mother and grandmother. There they discovered that renowned scientist Jane Goodall was being interviewed by the Chicago Tribune. Patiently they “stalked” Mrs. Goodall through the jungle of the conservatory, finally being rewarded by an opportunity to speak with her. Here she is with Arjun.
Here are excerpts from the article in the Tribune published on April 1, 2008:
Goodall went on to change how humans regard primate behavior through her life's work with the chimpanzees of Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park. In Chicago last week to promote her Roots & Shoots environmental youth group, Goodall strolled through the conservatory and reflected on her life's journey, present challenges and the legacy she hopes to leave a planet she sees as mired in a survival crisis.
Q: Closer to home, what do you make of U.S. environmental policy at this point?
A: It's been stinking! Honestly. Most of the legislation put in place by the Clinton administration to protect the environment has been overturned. A lot of it was done very quietly soon after 9/11. Nobody really paid attention. The disturbing thing to me is that in the U.K., they just did a survey and found that, yes, people really are aware of the dangers of climate change, but it hasn't led to a change in behavior. That's what we've got to trigger. I think a main reason people don't change is that they think, "I'm just one person." They look at industry and think, "If I turn the tap off when I'm brushing my teeth, what difference is that going to make?"
Q: Your youth program Roots & Shoots is now in 97 countries. What's at the heart of it?
A: They decide what to do, and the only constraint is that they choose from three kinds of projects: one for animals, one for people, one for the environment. I don't know a group of children where you won't find some passionate for animals, or some wanting to do community service - clean up garbage, clean streams and so forth. And so they take ownership. They're proud of it.
Q: What do you look forward to humankind discovering in the next 50 years?
A: There are things that we have to do. We have to use environmentally friendly energy sources. We have to find a way of using the wind without killing birds and bats. ... Britain's got this huge successful new energy plant, which uses the tides and the currents of the ocean. They say that will be providing one-fifth of the U.K.'s energy requirements.
Q: What's the legacy you hope to leave behind?
A: I hope that people, thanks to the chimps, will understand more about the nature of animals: that they have personalities, minds and, above all, feelings. And that they are individuals. Secondly, I hope to leave a legacy of helping people to realize that they can make a difference. Kids get it. And kids work on their parents.
Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune
