Jane Goodall Reason For Hope
Can one person, one person out of the billions on this magnificent planet, really make a difference? There are over seven billion people living on Earth, each with a separate and unique purpose. Jane Goodall, one person out of the seven billion, knew her purpose from a young age, and dedicated her life to fulfilling it. In Reason for Hope, Goodall unearths the connection and compatibility between faith and knowledge, and shares her project with her readers. Jane Goodall was a visionary, and had a project so immense that it must be broken down into three subprojects: the behavior and interaction of chimpanzees in Gombe, the relationship between chimps and humans throughout her time in the scientific world, and the human on human connection in
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our past, present, and future. A scientist does not necessarily need to obtain a degree in order to research and discover aspects of a particular species. At the age of 26, Goodall began her experience in Gombe, with her mother, Vanne. She immersed herself into the chimpanzee community, and waited for them to trust her enough so that she could begin to form observations and notice connections. Goodall admits she is not a conventional scientist. She was not interested in simply collecting regular data; she sought a more profound realization in their relationship to the “white ape” or us, humans.
Goodall could finally begin her study once David Greybeard, one of the chimpanzees in the community, lost his fear of her and introduced her to his world.
Without the trust Goodall established with Greybeard, her observations would have been delayed, or worse, nonexistent. He opened his world to her, and allowed her to begin her study. Traditional scientists disagreed with the way she went about her study. They did not believe that it was scientifically correct to assign names to the chimps, and they certainly disagreed with ascribing personalities to them. However, Goodall persevered, noticing many aspects of chimpanzees thought to be unique to only humans. In 1961, Goodall observed David Greybeard make a tool for the first time. She recalled that, “It had long been thought that we were the only creatures on earth that used and made tools. ‘Man the Toolmaker’ is how we were defined. This ability set us apart…from the rest of the animal kingdom” (67). This observation was the first of many that provided a reality check to aspects of human nature that were previously thought to be …show more content…
unique.
Many believed that traits such as violence and compassion were only solely distinct in humans, another misconception disproved by Goodall’s experience in Gombe. From 1974 to 1977, the Four-Year War swept through the chimpanzee community, splitting the colony in two. The dominant group viciously overpowered and attacked members of the opposing group, clearly communicating with the rest of their community when it came to plans of attack. Although the chimps were violent at times, they also held traits of compassion. The clearest example of compassion is in the grooming tradition of chimpanzees.
In 1986, Goodall realized that she could no longer passively watch chimp on chimp relationships, as humans were quickly depleting forests and destroying the world for chimps.
Held captive in zoos, caged in laboratories, hunted for game or for research, and evicted from their homes in the forest, conditions for chimpanzees would rapidly worsen if someone did not intervene. Thus, Goodall left Gombe in 1986 to advocate for better conditions for our evolutionary ancestors. She toured laboratories, discovering that chimpanzees were “crammed, two together, into tiny cages that measured…some twenty-four inches high…Once their quarantine was over they would be separated…then infected with hepatitis or HIV or some other viral disease” (212). Goodall was tormented, traumatized, and haunted by what she saw in those laboratories, and set out to make it mandatory for all scientists who use the living bodies of animals to learn about their behaviors and impact of their research. This first step would lead to a series of many reforms in humanitarian lab procedures, all because one woman had the courage to step up and take action. She is a stunning example of what one person can accomplish, and she intends to pass her legacy onto future generations through her organization, Roots and Shoots. This program builds on her vision, placing the responsibility and power for creating local solutions to big challenges in the hands of the future. In an effort to make positive change happen, she
encourages younger generations to join the global movement to make the world a better place for every living being, animal and human alike.
Goodall inspires readers to find their purpose in life. A person has the choice to become either a positive or negative influence on this planet. Many believe that one person cannot make a difference unless there are extreme outside circumstances, such as growing up in a family of distinction. However, Goodall believes very differently. “What a difference a single individual could make in our gradual process toward a moral world…Yes, each one of us carried seeds for change.” One person can make a difference, but not all of these changes need to be so big that they are written down in history books. In fact, just the difference that one person can bring about on another person has the potential to create a snowball of differences. One person says a kind word to another person, the next person passes that positive sentiment on, and so on and so forth. This is the idea of “paying it forward.”
Jane Goodall’s life emerged from very humble beginnings. She was not very affluent, lived throughout many harsh times in history, and was not collegiately educated until very late in her life. However, she knew her project and she knew her purpose. She knew that there was a reason for hope, a reason that each and every one of us were placed on this Earth. Without Goodall, it is unknown how, when, or if certain laws protecting animal rights would have come about. Without Goodall, it is uncertain if the human race would have been educated about the detrimental impact we have on the environment. And, without Goodall, who would have discovered and taught us about our closest evolutionary ancestors, and how similar we really are to them? This is why her project is significant, and why hope is a necessary aspect in our outlook on the world.
our past, present, and future. A scientist does not necessarily need to obtain a degree in order to research and discover aspects of a particular species. At the age of 26, Goodall began her experience in Gombe, with her mother, Vanne. She immersed herself into the chimpanzee community, and waited for them to trust her enough so that she could begin to form observations and notice connections. Goodall admits she is not a conventional scientist. She was not interested in simply collecting regular data; she sought a more profound realization in their relationship to the “white ape” or us, humans.
Goodall could finally begin her study once David Greybeard, one of the chimpanzees in the community, lost his fear of her and introduced her to his world.
Without the trust Goodall established with Greybeard, her observations would have been delayed, or worse, nonexistent. He opened his world to her, and allowed her to begin her study. Traditional scientists disagreed with the way she went about her study. They did not believe that it was scientifically correct to assign names to the chimps, and they certainly disagreed with ascribing personalities to them. However, Goodall persevered, noticing many aspects of chimpanzees thought to be unique to only humans. In 1961, Goodall observed David Greybeard make a tool for the first time. She recalled that, “It had long been thought that we were the only creatures on earth that used and made tools. ‘Man the Toolmaker’ is how we were defined. This ability set us apart…from the rest of the animal kingdom” (67). This observation was the first of many that provided a reality check to aspects of human nature that were previously thought to be …show more content…
unique.
Many believed that traits such as violence and compassion were only solely distinct in humans, another misconception disproved by Goodall’s experience in Gombe. From 1974 to 1977, the Four-Year War swept through the chimpanzee community, splitting the colony in two. The dominant group viciously overpowered and attacked members of the opposing group, clearly communicating with the rest of their community when it came to plans of attack. Although the chimps were violent at times, they also held traits of compassion. The clearest example of compassion is in the grooming tradition of chimpanzees.
In 1986, Goodall realized that she could no longer passively watch chimp on chimp relationships, as humans were quickly depleting forests and destroying the world for chimps.
Held captive in zoos, caged in laboratories, hunted for game or for research, and evicted from their homes in the forest, conditions for chimpanzees would rapidly worsen if someone did not intervene. Thus, Goodall left Gombe in 1986 to advocate for better conditions for our evolutionary ancestors. She toured laboratories, discovering that chimpanzees were “crammed, two together, into tiny cages that measured…some twenty-four inches high…Once their quarantine was over they would be separated…then infected with hepatitis or HIV or some other viral disease” (212). Goodall was tormented, traumatized, and haunted by what she saw in those laboratories, and set out to make it mandatory for all scientists who use the living bodies of animals to learn about their behaviors and impact of their research. This first step would lead to a series of many reforms in humanitarian lab procedures, all because one woman had the courage to step up and take action. She is a stunning example of what one person can accomplish, and she intends to pass her legacy onto future generations through her organization, Roots and Shoots. This program builds on her vision, placing the responsibility and power for creating local solutions to big challenges in the hands of the future. In an effort to make positive change happen, she
encourages younger generations to join the global movement to make the world a better place for every living being, animal and human alike.
Goodall inspires readers to find their purpose in life. A person has the choice to become either a positive or negative influence on this planet. Many believe that one person cannot make a difference unless there are extreme outside circumstances, such as growing up in a family of distinction. However, Goodall believes very differently. “What a difference a single individual could make in our gradual process toward a moral world…Yes, each one of us carried seeds for change.” One person can make a difference, but not all of these changes need to be so big that they are written down in history books. In fact, just the difference that one person can bring about on another person has the potential to create a snowball of differences. One person says a kind word to another person, the next person passes that positive sentiment on, and so on and so forth. This is the idea of “paying it forward.”
Jane Goodall’s life emerged from very humble beginnings. She was not very affluent, lived throughout many harsh times in history, and was not collegiately educated until very late in her life. However, she knew her project and she knew her purpose. She knew that there was a reason for hope, a reason that each and every one of us were placed on this Earth. Without Goodall, it is unknown how, when, or if certain laws protecting animal rights would have come about. Without Goodall, it is uncertain if the human race would have been educated about the detrimental impact we have on the environment. And, without Goodall, who would have discovered and taught us about our closest evolutionary ancestors, and how similar we really are to them? This is why her project is significant, and why hope is a necessary aspect in our outlook on the world.