Best Of The Aware Show with Dr. Jane Goodall: Messenger of Peace through Environmentalism

Today's guest, world-renowned primatologist and environmentalist Dr. Jane Goodall discusses our relationship with the animal kingdom. We are all connected. We are harming the planet, and therefore if affects the animals. Dr. Goodall discusses her extensive study of primatology and specifically her work with chimpanzees. In her vast travels, she talks about how there were more than 1 million chimpanzees, and now we have less than 200,000, some of which have little chance of survival as they are spread far apart.  She is also the founder of "Roots and Shoots," a non-profit organization which encourages children in more than 70 countries to study wildlife.

Roots and Shoots focuses on teaching young people the importance of taking care of our planet. She invited students from countries who were at war to speak at the UN in honor of International Peace Day. Dr. Goodall is a UN Messenger of Peace.

In July 1960, at the age of 26, Dr. Goodall traveled from England to what is today Tanzania and bravely entered the little-known world of wild chimpanzees. Her unyielding patience and characteristic optimism won the trust of these initially shy creatures. She managed to open a window into their sometimes strange and often familiar-seeming lives.  Dr. Goodall later earned a PhD in ethology, the study of animal behavior, from the University of Cambridge, with her thesis detailing the first five years of study at the Gombe reserve.

In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute with Genevieve di San Faustino. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in 25 cities around the world, the organization aims to improve the treatment and understanding of primates through public education and legal representation. Today, her work revolves around inspiring action on behalf of endangered species, particularly chimpanzees, and encouraging people to do their part to make the world a better place for people, animals, and the environment we all share. Info: www.janegoodall.org and www.rootsandshoots.org

This interview was originally broadcast in late Sept 2006 and talks about a worldwide event happening to raise awareness of peace and the environment. We air this today in honor of Dr. Jane Goodall, who passed away Oct 1.