At the same time as Brooke Bond, the parent company of “PG Tips” was profiting from these ads, a young British woman studying chimpanzees in their natural habitat was criticized for observing their emotions as well as their social interactions.  Apparently this contravened the scientific method. She, of course, was Jane Goodall whose life’s work we celebrated recently. 

Can you imagine Jane telling her mother,

“I want to go to Africa, live alone and study wild animals.”

And, more incredibly, her mother’s response,

“Yes dear, how can I help?”

Despite criticism from some circles of the scientific community, Jane’s work with the chimps became legendary.  Over time the chimps accepted her presence and behaved naturally, sometimes asserting their rank through aggression, but more often engaging in cooperative behaviors, grooming one another and communally raising their young. Jane  was the first to observe that they fashion and use tools. This observation pricked at establishment pride that hitherto believed that the use of tools was one of the markers of the superiority of the human race. 

Many of us, having defied convention, established connections with another species, gained international regard for breakthrough discoveries and lived in privation, might have then been tempted to lead a quiet life in the countryside.

Evidently, Jane Goodall was not “many of us! “ She embarked on a challenging and  important second career.

Horrified that the loss of habitat, the trade in bush meat, exotic animals, and the growing demand for primates to further scientific research were threatening the chimps’ future viability, Jane dedicated the rest of her long life to activism.  She connected what was happening to the chimps with the human plight in the face of global poverty and the climate crisis. Her commitment resulted in a dizzying schedule of worldwide speaking engagements.  For many years, she travelled for 300 days, and, at age 86, when her friends suggested she slow down, she explained that, as her days were numbered, on the contrary, it was time to speed up.

Jane had the rare ability to reach presidents, oil executives, subsistence farmers, and children. Perhaps a great deal of her impact was due to her clear communication skills and her compassion. She did not treat those with opposing positions as adversaries. Poor people needed to clear the rainforest to feed their families, representatives from extractive industries were accustomed to satisfying stakeholders and providing abundant energy. It’s no doubt too fanciful to suggest that she learned some of her cooperative skills from her years with the chimps.  

Last month, millions of people staged peaceful demonstrations to protest the current administration’s overreach of power. We all know that we have become a polarized society where MAGA supporters and “woke” liberals find little or no common ground. Let’s follow the example of the chimpanzees and Jane Goodall in adopting clear communications and finding compassion for those who share the journey toward a reenvisioned world.

News Flash!

I love to read your feedback.  After some minor hiccups, the Comments button at the end of this post is working well.
Share your thoughts.

End Notes

Reading

Listening

Sabre Dance (for 4 hands)
Khachaturian
The Meeks Duo

Poetry

Life is Too Short to be Scared of Being Human
Whitney Hanson