Wildlife Conservation Expo 2013
Early in October I headed out to San Francisco to attend the Wildlife Conservation Expo where conservationists and wildlife organizations from around the world come for a day of talks, exhibits, and learning. Nineteen of the world’s leading wildlife conservationists shared their stories, including challenges and successes, of saving wildlife around the world. Dr. Jane Goodall, Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute and United Nations Messenger of Peace was the keynote speaker and one of the reasons why my friend Karen Nichols from Mousebreath picked me up at my hotel early on a Saturday to drive into the city and spend the day listening and learning about wildlife.
Dr. Jane Goodall’s Message
Karen and I were fortunate to get two seats in the front row for the keynote. Dr. Goodall opened by bringing the voice of the chimpanzee with an imitation of a call. ” This is me. Who’s There, Hi!” She went on to say, “I always really look forward to coming just because of what WCN does and I look forward to coming because I meet so many amazing people. I call them “my people”, people who work out in the field. People who work for or with animals. I think every single person here cares about animals in some way or another.”
Dr. Goodall spoke about the problems facing our world today, crippling poverty, unsustainable lifestyle, and human population growth. But she also spoke of the indomitable human spirit being the greatest reason for hope. And that we can turn this mess we have made around if we choose and work towards a better world.
Every individual makes a difference every day
Dr. Goodall reminds us that we don’t have to be in the field to make a difference. Every single one of us can make a difference every day.
It is the small choices we make, the small choices. what we buy, what we eat, what we wear. Think about the consequences. Just spend a little bit of time thinking. Where was this product made? Did it involve child slave labor? Where was this food grown? Did it destroy the environment with chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers and herbicides? How far has my garment come from? Could I have gotten something nearer by? Did it involve torture to animals to create this food? The little things we can all do to slow down climate change. And climate change is the big one isn’t it? And the little things like turning off lights and saving water and trying not to use plastic. Thinking about what we do each day and realizing that this is actually making a difference to the animals out in nature.– Dr. Goodall
Let’s Promise To Talk to Everyone
It is easy to talk to kindred spirits but gets a bit more difficult when we are chatting with those who don’t want to hear what we have to say. Dr. Goodall said, “Lectures aren’t always to people like you, sometimes it’s to tough nosed business people who don’t really particularly want to hear what I have to say, but they hear it anyway. ”
I find myself not talking as freely around those who might not want to hear what I have to say about big cats and what we need to do to save them. I know if you are reading this, you are most likely a kindred spirit and a lover of all cats big and small. How about we all agree to be more vocal even in mixed company and not just within our inner circles. We can spread the message in a kind and gentle way.
Dr. Goodall said her way of front line fighting now is sharing information and traveling from place to place to make sure the message is heard. Maybe we can help.
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