The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jane Goodall still has hope for humans
As the bad news — the pandemic, climate change, racial injustice — feels overwhelming, it can be surprising to hear from an optimist. Jane Goodall may be best known for her work studying the chimpanzees of Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, but her efforts to promote conservation through the Jane Goodall Institute also have focused on people, mainly through antipoverty and youth education programs.
Her latest contribution toward helping humans avoid self-destruction is “The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times.” In her book, written with Douglas Abrams, Goodall outlines the four things that give her hope: human intellect, the resilience of nature, the power of young people and the “indomitable” human spirit.
Q: Why did you decide to write a book about hope?
A:
You know, it’s really grim with climate change, loss of biodiversity, the pandemic, the autocratic regimes taking over in many parts of the world. And many people are losing hope. But if everybody loses hope, we’ve had it because, you know, without hope, we give up, become apathetic and do nothing. But the key thing is that my definition of hope isn’t just sitting and saying, “Oh, I’m sure things will work out.” It’s like a very dark tunnel full of obstacles, but right at the end, there’s that little light gleaming. And in order to get to that little light, you’re just going to have to fight
to get there. It wouldn’t just happen unless you make the effort.
Q: With so much bad going on, how can people stay hopeful?
A:
We’re always told, “Think globally, but act locally.” But if you think globally, you’re sort of filled with doom and gloom. You don’t have the energy to act. But think about where you are. Is there something you care about? Yeah. I care about the litter in the streets. OK, get together with your friends and start clearing up the litter and you’ll find that other people, once the litter is clear, they stop littering. You’ll see that you made a difference, and you’ll feel more hope. That’s contagious.
Every person matters. Every person has a role to play in this
crazy life. Every person makes an impact on the planet every day, and we get to choose what sort of impact we make.
Q: Why are you still hopeful about human intellect?
A:
It’s very peculiar that this most intellectual creature is destroying its only home. But finally, because we face a crisis, scientists are coming up with more and more and more innovative ways to tackle climate change, like renewable energy. Ordinary people are beginning to think with their brains about how they can leave a lighter ecological footprint, what they can do each day. So that’s my reason for thinking that human intellect is one thing that’s hopeful if we use it right.