His speech, praised by everyone, surprised more than one. On the sidelines of the COP16 on biodiversity, which opens this Monday, October 21 in Cali (Colombia) and will bring together some 200 countries, Jane Goodall was the guest of honor on Saturday at the conference A word for history at the headquarters of UNESCO.
The world-famous British ethologist and Messenger of Peace to the United Nations since April 2002 spoke at the lectern.
If she wanted to remember the damage of global warming to biodiversity, Jane Goodall, 90, challenged her audience above all… like a chimpanzee. A “language” that the scientist, who lived alone for several years in Tanzania with them, knows perfectly well.
“It’s me, it’s Jane”
“It’s a long-distance call, it’s very appropriate for you on the balcony,” Jane Goodall exclaimed after using chimpanzee “words” to introduce herself as a great ape. “Chimpanzees have different ways of announcing their presence.”
The primatologist asked at the COP16 Biodiversity that decisions be made that “are followed by actions”, remembering that “time is running out” to save the planet, in an interview given this Friday, October 18, to AFP.
“I hope that not only decisions are made to protect biodiversity (…) but that they are followed by actions, because the time for words and false promises is over if we want to save the planet,” he urged. The scientist.
The role of indigenous peoples
Jane Goodall, who spoke of the importance of the experience of indigenous populations, welcomed the renewed Western interest in them. “(…) We are beginning to learn from them some of the ways in which they lived in harmony with the environment.” A more than positive point according to the ethologist.
One of the challenges of COP16 is to make the voices of indigenous peoples heard. Increasingly represented at biodiversity COPs, they are often the most disappointed by the final decisions.
“Every individual is important. Everyone has a role to play. Each of us has an impact on the planet every day. And we can choose the type of impact we have,” said the passionate environmental advocate, who advocates importance of maintaining hope. to save the planet.
Jane Goodall also recalled the importance of the fight against poverty which, according to her, goes hand in hand with environmental protection. “We need to reduce poverty, because very poor people destroy the environment to survive,” he argued.
The ethologist also praised the actions of Paul Watson, an opponent of whaling who has been detained in Greenland for three months. “I sincerely hope that President Macron will grant asylum to Paul Watson,” he said. “He is a brave man. He fought against an incredibly cruel industry. Paul Watson has my complete admiration.”
Source: BFM TV
