Jane Goodall worries anti-terrorism fight distracts from environment

Associated Press ^ | Aug. 27, 2002 | By Kathy Chenault

[Schatze]

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Primate expert Jane Goodall told participants at the U.N. development summit Tuesday the fight against terrorism threatens to overshadow environmental concerns in the United States.

"Since Sept. 11, Americans haven't wanted to speak out for the environment because it doesn't seem patriotic," Goodall said. "If we allow our planet to deteriorate any more, the terrorists will get their victory. There will be nothing left."

Goodall also expressed concern that anti-globalization protesters will divert attention from the summit proceedings.

"I understand their concerns. I sympathize with their causes. But what we really need to do is put that energy into our discussions and meetings, not give fuel to the people who warn about overzealous environmentalism. Protests, even if they are peaceful, just aren't productive."

Goodall, 68, revolutionized the understanding of chimpanzees, beginning her research in the 1960s in what is now Tanzania. Her 40 years of chimp studies is the longest continuous study of any animal in the wild.

She says she misses the solitude of living with the chimps, but now travels 300 days a year promoting environmental issues and pushing for greater protection of African wildlife and forests.

"I miss the forest, I go twice a year to see the chimps. But you wouldn't believe the access I can get because of my work," Goodall said. "People may turn away Greenpeace, but they'll invite me to meet with them. It's a quiet approach."

Still, she doesn't have high hopes for major breakthroughs at the summit.

"I truly don't imagine that a great political outcome will result," she said. "But we're building on a groundswell of concern about environmental issues. People are pretty fed up with the Western world and its greed."

[Schatze]

"People are pretty fed up with the Western world and its greed."

Well, Jane, the Western world is fed up with econuts blaming us for all the world's ills instead of looking in the mirror to find the source of their problems. Why don't you go back to the jungle with Tarzan and the apes, Jane?

[egarvue]

Ok, I'm confused - I thought "Gorillas in the Mist" Jane Goodall was dead, killed in her African hut by poachers after gorilla parts. Or was that some other primateologist? Or was that part of the movie and not real life?

[Corin Stormhands]

Ask Jane what she thinks one of Saddam's nuclear weapons would do to the environment...

[LurkedLongEnough]

I guess we'll just have to make do with some 'guerilla' forces.

[YaYa123]

Gorillas In The Mist was the biographical movie about Dian Fossey. She studied lowland gorillas, much as Jane Goodall has studied chimpanzees. Rush contributed to the confusion yesterday on his show when he used gorillas and chimpanzees interchangeably, as he discussed Goodall and her ridiculous UN speech, covered in this article.

Goodall....fine example of a person who has contributed much in her own field, now considers herself an expert on politics. No different really, than Barbra Streisand, and equally leftist.

[Schatze]

The "Gorillas in the Mist" woman was Dian Fossey, not Jane Goodall. Does that clear up your confusion?

[SunStar]

"Since Sept. 11, Americans haven't wanted to speak out for the environment because it doesn't seem patriotic," Goodall said. "If we allow our planet to deteriorate any more, the terrorists will get their victory. There will be nothing left."

Oh boo frickin' hoo.

Maybe people with reasoning skills have noticed that the environment is in better shape now (notwithstanding the forests in the western U.S.) then ever. Give me a break already with the environmental whacko outlook. I mean, what do they want? To get rid of electricity and automobiles? Oh yeah, they do. Jane Goodall is good at talking to apes, but not people.

[SunStar]

I think that was Diane Fossey, not Jane "eco-nutball" Goodall.

[egarvue]

Thanks! I was getting chimps and gorillas and their respective famous scientists mixed up. Then again, I'm sure a chimp has more respectable political sense that what Goodall is spouting here...

[Afronaut]

"She says she misses the solitude of living with the chimps"

Ever since King Kong was shot down twice in NY, she has had a stiff one for all Americans.

[rface]

interesting quote:"...But what we really need to do is put that energy into our discussions and meetings, not give fuel to the people who warn about overzealous environmentalism."

[Cyber Liberty]

Jane Goodall worries anti-terrorism fight distracts from environment

Well, Jane, war'll do that....

[Michael Barnes]

"People are pretty fed up with the Western world and its greed."

Yeah, were greedy..And how many billions of dollars are we currently giving away to other countries?

[from occupied ga]

Primate expert Jane Goodall told participants at the U.N. development summit Tuesday the fight against terrorism threatens to overshadow environmental concerns in the United States

Who cares what some weird old skank who thinks chimpanzees are people believes? Maybe they can get pesticide expert Meryl Streep to testify too. (puke)

[Blue Screen of Death]

Goodall....fine example of a person who has contributed much in her own field,

She showed how not to do science. She got so involved in her observations that her own presence influenced everything she observed. The queen of "but they are so cute" science.

Even so, politics is not her area of expertise, yet she tries to use her fame as a biologist as a credential to boost her political views.

[YaYa123]

Sure enough, I may have given Goodall more credit than she deserves. You see, I'm crazy about chimps, gorillas, [and elephants], easily swayed by "cute".

[Vince Ferrer]

Yet another person getting frustrated that the world doesn't revolve around them anymore. Its all supposed to be about Jane, you see.

[carmody]

I like this title better: "Common-sense Americans worry that environmentalism distracts from anti-terrorism."

[Jeff Chandler]

Should we assign our highest priority to fighting terrorism, or ecological concerns?
Perhaps we had better ask ourselves What Would Koko Do? (WWKD?)

[nopardons]

When Jane came to the states and set up her fund / organization ( about 10 or so years ago ) , her Socialistic, banal, often utterly ridiculous views became appartent. This woman is a nut job + 10 !

FREEPmail me, if you want to know more.