Jane Goodall has had a greater impact on humanity’s understanding of animals than any other person who’s ever lived. Her groundbreaking work studying the behaviour of chimpanzees has brought her global acclaim and generated lasting impact in the fields of habitat preservation, animal welfare, and scientific understanding.
This is her Open Letter to each of us……..……..
I’m writing today because we are going through dark times.
Violence, hatred, discrimination, the pandemic, environmental destruction, and climate change all threaten our future.
Ever since I began travelling around the world in 1986 to raise awareness about the harms we humans have created, socially and environmentally, I have met so many people who have lost hope for the future.
Probably the question I am asked more often than any other is:
Do you honestly believe there is hope for our world?
For the future of our children and grandchildren?
And I am able to answer truthfully — yes.
What is this “hope” that I still believe in, that keeps me motivated to carry on, fighting the good fight?
What do I really mean by “hope”?
Hope is often misunderstood.
People tend to think that it is simply passive wishful thinking: I hope something will happen, but I’m not going to do anything about it. This is indeed the opposite of real hope, which requires action and engagement.
I have four main reasons to feel hopeful about the future of our world:
1. the amazing human intellect,
2. the resilience of nature,
3. the power of young people,
4. and the indomitable human spirit.
Hope is nothing less than a crucial survival trait that has sustained our species since the time of our Stone Age ancestors. Certainly, my own improbable journey would have been impossible had I lacked hope.
Hope is contagious. Your actions will inspire others. Thank you for all that you are doing to make a difference.
The cumulative effect of thousands of ethical actions can help to save and improve our world for future generations.
It is my sincere desire that you will find solace in a time of anguish, direction in a time of uncertainty, and courage in a time of fear.
I want to invite you to join me in a journey toward hope and toward working to find solutions to the problems that threaten our world.
Together, we can do so much. I believe we have barely begun to discover what humans are truly capable of when we become engaged, when we work together, and when we take constructive action to build a world that is worthy of the dreams of our children.
With love (and with hope),
Jane is the author of 30 books, including her latest masterpiece,The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times — which she wrote with Douglas Abrams, and which came out this week. Give yourself a well-deserved dose of grounded hope (and help make this important book a best-seller)
Jane Goodall Co-Author of The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times