English primatologist and anthropologistJane Goodall is an inspirational leader. Her messages for planetary health were still percolating as she entered her 90’s. In celebrating her birthday in 2024, Goodall said in an interview on TODAY,” Slow down, Jane, you’re 90.” Then she concluded, “I have to speed up because I don’t know how many years left I have.”
Goodall gave her final public interview just 8 days before she died on a U.S. speaking tour 10-01-25 at age 91. Longtime assistant Mary Lewis reported working with Goodall on a document at 10:30 PM just hours before Goodall died while sleeping.
UN Messenger of Peace Goodall found that the question most asked of her was this one: Do you honestly believe there is hope for our world…for the future of our children and grandchildren? Her answer was a stalwart YES — with a call to action: “I believe we still have a window of time during which we can start healing the harm we have inflicted on the planet – but that window is closing. If we care about the future of our children and theirs, if we care about the health of the natural world, we must get together and take action…Many people understand the dire state of the planet – but do nothing about it because they feel helpless and hopeless.”
Goodall sustained a keen sense of hope that can serve as a legacy. She exudes hope in The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times co-authored by Douglas Abrams, with Gail Hudson. Abrams proposed this dialogue-with-Jane book after his Book of Joy with The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu.
Goodall lists 4 reasons for hope despite “a time of fear:”
- The amazing Human intellect; 2. The resilience of Nature; 3. The power if young people; and 4. The indomitable Human Spirit.
Roots & Shoots programming initiated by Goodall in 1991 is a prime example of youthful power. While the fledgling environmental project began with 12 high schoolers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, today Roots & Shoots hands-on programming exists in 100 countries. The purpose is to train youth to create positive changes for animals, the environment, and their local communities. It is the embodiment of hope.
Saying YES to hope is key to many present-day predicaments. Saying YES means taking power. In the children’s book, A Million YES’s, author D.J Corchin (with illustrator Dan Dougherty) describes the contagion of positive actions: “Word got around quickly. The girl suddenly made more and more friends who all lined up for her incredible YES’s.”
Jane Goodall was a practical and philosophical role model: “You won’t be active unless you hope that your action is going to do some good. So you need hope to get you going, but then by taking action, you generate more hope. It’s a circular thing.”
Say YES to active hope.
Pearls of Peace (PoP) Quiz
436. What gives you hope?
437. How might you say YES more often to make positive environmental changes?
Pearls of Peace: A Family Psychologist’s Circle-of-Life Blog 
Knowing that I am but a drop in the bucket of so many people throughout the world who care and work for the planet gives me hope. I hold fast to that drop in the bucket viewpoint. Every LITTLE thing I do matters, since I trust that many other people are also adding to that bucket. Little things add up. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle was a great starting point so many years ago. And my example to others may inspire them to get on board and make those small changes to their life styles. Holding big companies accountable, and electing like-minded, dedicated officials is vital. I believe wise elders must be available to inspire and guide the youth, whose energies and futures make them powerful activists. Fly the flag of Earth!!!
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I say YES to your drops in the proverbial bucket! If each one of us can add our bits of caring, we will make a difference on climate change. I refuse to add toxic chemicals to my grass and garden. Yes, let’s all love Planet Earth more.
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