Dr. Jane Goodall, the legendary animal rights advocate, has died at 91. Dr. Goodall's life was a beacon for progressive activism — a bridge between science and moral purpose.
Beginning her journey in Gombe, Tanzania, Goodall shattered old paradigms by revealing that chimpanzees have personalities, emotions, complex social lives, and even the ability to make and use tools — discoveries that forced us to reexamine what it means to be human.
But her legacy stretches far beyond the forest. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute, launched Roots & Shoots to empower youth across the globe, and became a fierce voice for climate justice, animal rights, and environmental equity.
In February 2020, amid the darkness and chaos of the Trump administration, Dr. Goodall wrote: "We’re going through very dark times: socially, politically and especially environmentally. And lots of people are kind of losing hope, because you get this message, think globally, act locally. But if you think globally, you get really depressed. So, the message is about acting locally. And the main message is that each one of us makes some impact on the planet every single day."
A leading voice in the fight against the climate crisis, Goodall admonished global citizens to act with the necessary urgency to avert a catastrophe. “We are emitting greenhouse gasses that are causing temperatures to rise … We are in the midst of the sixth great extinction of plant and animal life. … But only if we get together and take action now. And without hope we will fall into apathy and do nothing. Then we are doomed.”
“In order to slow down climate change, we must solve four seemingly unsolvable problems," she added. "We must eliminate poverty. We must change the unsustainable lifestyles of so many of us. We must abolish corruption. And we must think about our growing human population… But I believe we have a window of time to have an impact.”
She often reminded us that “what you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” And she carried that liberal conviction to the end: that our planet deserves justice, the powerless deserve champions, and hope must be turned into action.
Dr. Goodall stood against corporate greed, environmental destruction, and right-wing denialism of climate science. She was proof that one determined woman could shake the conscience of the world.
Rest in power, Dr. Goodall. The fight continues — for animals, for the planet, for the future — and your voice will forever guide us.
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