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Jane Goodall speaks to Local 10 News, shares urgent message ahead of speech at FIU

World-renowned conservationist shares hope on climate change

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ World-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall spoke to Local 10 News on Friday, ahead of a visit to Florida International University.

The 88-year-old conservationist and climate activist took questions from Local 10 News Environmental Advocate Louis Aguirre.

ā€œWhy South Florida? Why today? What did you come here to share with us?ā€ Aguirre asked Goodall.

ā€œWell, I came here to share the fact that we have a window of time to try and slow down climate change and loss of biodiversity,ā€ Goodall said. ā€œAnd itā€™s closing still. And if we let it close, then we will reach ā€” some scientists say we reached the point of no return already and I donā€™t believe that. This part of Florida seems to need that message.ā€

Goodall, a U.N. Messenger of Peace, addressed a sold-out crowd of 3,400 people at FIUā€™s Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

She shared a message of hope on climate change.

ā€œYou yourself as an individual canā€™t slow down climate change, but act locally, find something you care about in your community. Maybe itā€™s the trash in the streets, maybe itā€™s dirty rivers, maybe itā€™s boats going too fast so that manatees get hurt, whatever it is, see what you can do about it, get people to come with you,ā€ she said. ā€œThen youā€™ll see that ā€˜here, I can make a difference.ā€™ That makes you feel good. So you want to do more and then you inspire more people and then you think there other people like me all over the world or doing their bit.ā€

Goodall rose to prominence after her groundbreaking research in the 1960ā€²s, behaviorally linking chimpanzees to humans when she observed them turning sticks and twigs into tools to get food.

ā€œI wasnā€™t surprised to see the chimps using tools, but I didnā€™t know that science believed that we were the only tool-using creatures,ā€ she said.

ā€œAnd you disrupted that science,ā€ Aguirre replied.

ā€œSo I disrupted it! No, the chimps did!ā€ Goodall said.

ā€œThe chimps did!ā€ Aguirre said.

ā€œIt wasnā€™t me!ā€ Goodall replied.

It was in the forest of Gombe in Tanzania that a then 23-year-old Goodall found her calling: protecting and restoring the biodiversity of the planet.

Sheā€™s been at it ever since, traveling the globe 300 days a year as the protective godmother of all creatures, big and small ā€” even us.

ā€œIf I want to save this planet or do my bit, then the more people that can be inspired and the media can inspire, the better,ā€ she said. ā€œWhat I want the media to do now is to give as much time to the good and positive thatā€™s happening. I mean, we need to know about the doom and gloom and it is doom and gloom, no question. But Iā€™ve met so many incredible people doing fabulous projects all around the world.ā€


About the Author
Louis Aguirre headshot

Louis Aguirre is an Emmy-award winning journalist who anchors weekday newscasts and serves as WPLG Local 10ā€™s Environmental Advocate.

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