1. Peaceful Holidays from JGIA

From all of us at the Jane Goodall Institute Australia and all the JGIs and Roots & Shoots (R&S) groups worldwide, we hope that you are having a safe and peaceful holiday season with your loved ones – humans and animals alike! We also want to thank you for all that you do as donors, R&S members, Chimp Guardians, etc for all that you do to help us make this world a better place. Finally we want to share a special holiday message of thanks and peace from Dr Goodall here. Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2016!

2. JGI’s International Phone Recycling Day

How many old mobile phones do you have hiding in drawers around the house? Did you know that recycling your old phones could help chimpanzees? One of the biggest threats to chimpanzees and other Great Apes is the illegal mining of coltan, a mineral used in many electronics. Mining results in the clearing of essential habitat and drives the bush meat trade, further exacerbating the decline of Great Ape populations.

Recycling your old phone couldn’t be easier! In fact, January 26th is JGI’s International Mobile Phone Recycling Day. Here in Australia we will be leading the campaign at schools and workplaces across the nation. Find out more and sign up here.

3. Applications Open for JGIA’s NYLC

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our inaugural R&S National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC)! The NYLC will be made up of the highest level of youth leaders in Australia. Members are the youth voice of R&S Australia and work hard to support the organisation’s success. NYLC members are provided with fun and comprehensive training and opportunities to mentor Roots & Shoots members and represent Roots & Shoots at events. Members gain access to influential leaders and networks that will help them grow their leadership capabilities.

If you are a young leader aged between 16-25 who is ready to join a passionate group of young people from around Australia that are making positive change happen for people, animals, and the environment, apply now here.

4. COP21, the Paris Agreement and Tapestry of Hope

JGIA applauds our world leaders for constructing the Paris Agreement and Dr Jane Goodall was very pleased to have been a part of this monumental move towards hope for our planet. Dr Goodall was in Paris for the US climate summit to save forests from corruption and intensive farming and explains in this video how she remains optimistic about nature being resilient. Dr. Goodall spoke at various sessions throughout COP21 and among powerful quotes such as “we must stop thinking of money as a God”, she also launched a Tapestry of Hope with Sylvia Earle.

Tapestry of Hope is an interactive Esri tool that maps thousands of projects being done by young people around the globe through Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Program. The Tapestry highlights that we have the potential as individuals to emulate the Paris Agreement and join efforts to reduce our carbon footprint.

5. R&S Highlight – Keeping Randwick’s Trees

 
Congratulations to NSW’s Keeping Randwick’s Trees (KRT) Roots & Shoots group on working with Randwick Council to help save Centennial Park Trees on the proposed new light rail route. KRT’s use of orange bows on trees to raise awareness about which trees have been approved for removal inspired the council to use orange for their signs in this major campaign along the busy Alison Road. KRT’s group also made Tree Talismans for Peace for some of the threatened trees. To find out more or help out by signing the KRTs petition to amend the light rail route click here.

6. Thank you SEMA and Donations Platform Refresh

Have you noticed a change to our donation forms? Over the past few months we have been working to streamline the donation process, and you may have noticed our new online shop and donation pages. We are excited to announce that designs have been refreshed and we have a new platform. Check out the changes by visiting our donations page, online shop or by becoming a Chimp Guardian.

As a result of these changes, we owe a huge thank you to our friends at SEMA! Over the past couple of years SEMA has helped us enormously by sending our newsletter to our supporters. Now that we have a new platform and are more self-reliant, we are able to send the newsletter ourselves. As SEMA says, “we make it our business to get your message delivered” and we certainly couldn’t have done that without you SEMA so once again – thank you from all of us at JGIA!

1. Welcome

It’s been a busy month for our Australian Chapter of JGI as well as our global family. We held our JGIA Annual General Meeting on November 15^th where we presented our Annual Report, gave an overview of our activities during the past year and invited questions from members.  We are very excited to be nearing the end of foundation year of the three year JGIA refresh, and we look forward to further growing our local impact and inspiring actions in the years to come.

We are also excited to announce the launch of Jane’s new blog “Jane Goodall’s Good News for All’. The blog is filled with messages of hope and stories of inspiration. You can visit the new blog here and see Jane’s special introduction to the blog here. Enjoy!

2. Paris Tragedy and COP21

We were all so deeply saddened to hear about the tragic events in Paris, as well as other cities around the world, in recent weeks. We have been in touch with our French JGI family and despite being located close to the attacks, they are all safe. We join them in sending our heartfelt thoughts to the victims and their loved ones.

As a UN Messenger of Peace, Dr Goodall knows that the best way forward from these horrific events is not to react with anger, but with love, peace and compassion. We must work together to make this world a better and more peaceful planet.

To that end, we hope that you were able to join us in marching for change in the People’s Climate Marches across Australia. The marches were part of the lead up to the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, COP21, which is currently taking place. Dr Jane Goodall is speaking at the Conference about the impacts of climate change on animals, people and our environment, and specifically about our Roots & Shoots program. She will be announcing a Call to Action for R&S and highlighting how young people around the world are making a difference each and every day.

3. The Indonesian Haze Crisis and Palm Oil

A joint statement from Ambassadors for the Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), including Dr Jane Goodall, calls on the Indonesian government to end land clearing fires if sustainable practices cannot be implemented, following the environmental crisis in Southeast Asia.

The forest and peat fires in Sumatra and Borneo are threatening the populations, wildlife and ecosystems of Indonesia.  In particular, these fires threaten a third of the world’s remaining wild orangutans – a population that has already decreased by over 50% in the last half-century and one that is increasingly fragmented. These fires are the result of slash and burn agriculture, conducted by small stakeholders and companies hoping to clear land for oil palm plantations, as well as pulp and paper.

Find out how you can help stop this “eco-apocalypse” and the use of unsustainable palm oil on our website at https://www.janegoodall.org.au/palm-oil/

4. Mother Cares for Disabled Infant Chimp

On a happy note, a beautiful story has come out of Tanzania where a chimpanzee mother has been observed caring for her severely disabled baby. The female infant was completely dependent, unable to walk unassisted and had symptoms similar to Down Syndrome. Sadly, infants born with disabilities would usually  be abandoned in the wild as the physical costs of caring for them would simply be too high for the mother. In this case, instead of abandoning her daughter, the mother and her eldest daughter spent two years caring for the little one until she passed away. According to the journal Primates, it is the first time that scientists have observed chimpanzees nursing the disabled for an extended time. This is a wonderful story that highlights the compassionate and loving nature of chimpanzees.

5. Holiday Gifts from JGIA

Looking for a holiday gift that will actually make a difference? How about making a donation to JGIA on behalf of a loved one or a special gift from our JGIA shop?

We offer donation gift certificates in any amount for the animal lovers on your list. Or have you thought about adopting a chimpanzee for a friend or family member? For as little as $20 a month you could provide baby formula for an orphaned chimpanzee infant. Perhaps they’d like something from our JGIA shop such as a delightful Chimaka book for the kids or unique jewellery for the ladies, or why not some wine for your guests to enjoy over Christmas dinner? Visit our shop  help make a difference to a chimp’s life at the same time!

1. Monarto Zoo Chimp News

Our friends at Monarto Zoo in South Australia have had a very busy and emotional month in their chimpanzee family. First was the tragic news that mum Soona died on October 8 during the birth of her son Boon.  Miraculously little Boon, aptly named to mean “blessing”, survived and was adopted by pregnant female Zombi. Then less than a fortnight later on October 19, Zombi gave birth to her own little boy! Meanwhile Boon’s health deteriorated and despite 24-hour veterinary and keeper care, sadly died in the early hours of October 25. Both the troop and human team are feeling very sad, but Zombi and her son are doing well. More information available from Zoos SA here.

On behalf of all of us at JGIA, we wish the new bub and mum all the best and congratulate the whole team, humans and chimps alike, for their great strength during this time. We know that Soona and Boon will be sadly missed, and we hope that the new little guy will bring some joy to all.

2. New Roots & Shoots Leader in Victoria

We are very happy to welcome Melissa Brown to the JGIA family as our Victoria Roots & Shoots Coordinator! Mel grew up in suburban Melbourne, but as a child spent school holidays camping, hiking and developing strong connections with the land which lead to her completing a Degree in Conservation Ecology. Then, whilst working with Parks Victoria, she had the opportunity to work with local school students. This sparked a passion for education, and she went on to complete a Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education.

Mel has spent the last three years working as an Education Officer at Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, SeaLife Melbourne Aquarium and the Gould League. She loves the opportunity this allows her to engage with young people and inspire them to take action to conserve our world.

Please join us in welcoming Mel to the JGIA family and email her if you’re in Victoria and want to get involved in Roots & Shoots!

3. Fight Still on to Save the Abandoned Chimps

Despite endless requests and peaceful protests, the New York Blood Center is still refusing to keep its promise to provide lifetime care to the more than 60 chimpanzees the centre abandoned after using them in research for decades!

Please join Dr Goodall in keeping up the support via their Save Abandoned Chimps Facebook page and urge the NYBC to reinstate their funding here.

4. Adopt a Chimp as a Holiday Gift

Have you met little Mbebo? One of our orphaned chimps at JGI’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary, he likes to paint and watch his friend Mokolo eat the fruit of the Aframomun plant. One day, Mokolo filled her mouth with the fruit and Mbebo peered in and then begged for some. Mokolo generously shared her meal and the rest is history. Mbebo now gathers the fruit for himself, using his big toes like thumbs to carrying a foot-full of fruit, as well as some under his arm. When he has trouble carrying his entire load he shares the extras with Mokolo. How the tables have turned! Nowadays Mokolo begs Mbebo for a share of his bounty.

Ensure chimps like Mbebo and Mokolo continue to enjoy their Aframomun fruit and get the best possible care at Tchimpounga. Give someone the gift of becoming a Chimp Guardian! Sponsor Anzac, a friend of Mbebo and Mokolo, by clicking here and choosing from a $25 Monthly Guardianship or a $500 Annual Guardianship. Or if you fancy something a little extra from our shop to accompany the Chimp Guardianship, please click here. Remember that the holiday gift-giving season is just around the corner…

5. We Agree that Dr Jane’s a Doll…

And, last but certainly not least, inspired by Australia’s own Tree Change Dolls, artist Wendy Tsao from Vancouver has created her own collection of upcycled role model dolls in the likeness of young girls who grew up to be Jane Goodall, Malala Yousoufzai and many more. The dolls are recycled and inspirational and we couldn’t resist sharing with you!

 1. International Day of Peace

September 21^st was  the United Nations International Day of Peace. As a UN Ambassador of Peace, Dr. Jane Goodall celebrated the theme of “Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All” by speaking at the UN Headquarters. She spoke about the hope spread though Roots & Shoots children around the world and about how individuals can make a difference. She even started her address with a chimpanzee call and flew a Peace Dove in the UN Headquarters! S

he also introduced her new book, Prayer for World Peace. Click here to hear Dr. Jane Goodall’s Peace Day message.
 
2. Roots & Shoots Peace Day Events in Australia

In the spirit of working together, Roots & Shoots groups all over Australia celebrated Peace Day this year with many of our wonderful partners!

South Australia: We celebrated in SA with a field trip to ZoosSA’s Monarto Zoo. We visited the tree that Dr. Jane planted on a previous visit and heard a special chimp keeper talk at Jane Goodall’s Chimpanzee Conservation Centre. Students went for a bush walk, mapped giraffes in their habitat and made their own individual origami peace dove. To conclude the day, students constructed and flew a giant peace dove back at Bush Camp. Thanks to Zoos SA!

Western Australia: A Tranby college Roots & Shoots group are currently in Bali. For Peace Day they visited an orphanage to present them with gifts and spread Dr. Jane’s message of Peace animals, people and our environment.

New South Wales: Keeping Randwick’s Trees Roots & Shoots group in Sydney built and hung talismans for peace on some of our threatened urban trees.

Sydney Roots & Shoots youth celebrated with Taronga Zoo’s YATZ at a unique Peace Day event at the zoo. We participated in educational and wildlife workshops, heard a special Peace Day keeper talk at the chimpanzee exhibit and made and decorated our own personal peace pledges. Students made a human peace sign and then flew a giant peace dove through the entire zoo with music to spread the message of peace to Taronga Zoo visitors. Thanks to Taronga Zoo!

Victoria and WA: A number of Roots & Shoots schools around Australia participated in Peace Day including St Brigid’s College, Blue Gum Montessori, John Curtin School’s and Northern Bay College.

It was a fantastic Peace Day across Australia that allowed youth to share their passion for peace and inspired others to find peace with people, animals and the environment. See more stories and photos on our exclusive R&S Australia Facebook group and members page If you are inspired to get involved in our next events, email us and sign up for Roots & Shoots!

3. National Threatened Species Day

September 7^th was National Threated Species Day and we celebrated by joining in on the festivities of a wonderful book launch. The book Phasmid: Saving the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect, written by Invertebrate Keeper Rohan Cleave in collaboration with artist Coral Tulloch, was launched by Zoos Victoria CEO Jenny Gray in the magnificent butterfly room at the Melbourne Zoo. JGIA CEO Nancy Moloney was delighted to attend on behalf of Dr Goodall, who wrote the forward for this book, the first children’s book ever to be published by CSIRO. Pick up your copy of this remarkable story of a species rescued from extinction here.
 
4. Mental Illness in Animals

On September 10^th, while Australia recognised R U OK Day, BBC.com published a feature on the possibility that other species may also suffer from psychological disorders.

The introduction retold the sad story of Flo and Flint, Mother and son chimps from Gombe Stream Research Centre. When Flo passed away, Flint was unable to cope without her.  He showed signs of clinical depression, stopped eating and soon, his immune system became too weak to support him. Flint died just one month after losing his mother.

The article highlights that stress and depression can take on many forms in animals. From pulling out feathers and fur to constant licking and even self-harm, these are just some of the signs we need to look for.

So, maybe it’s not just our friends and family we need to keep an eye on and ask ‘are you Ok?’.  Like us, animals can experience, or may even be predisposed to mental illness, and we should be there to seek help for them.  To find out more about Flo and Flint visit https://www.janegoodall.org.au/the-f-family/.

1. International Day of Peace is on 21 September!

The countdown is on for the 2015 International Day of Peace. Celebrated on 21 September each year, and a huge celebration for JGI around the globe, the International Day of Peace is a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. There is an urgent need to work for peace and strive for a more harmonious relationship between animals, people and our environment and to each do our part to work towards environmental sustainability.

This year, an especially auspicious one with the UN celebrating its 70th anniversary, will have the theme of “Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All.”  Click here to hear Dr. Jane Goodall’s Peace Day message and help us celebrate with some of our upcoming events!

2. Upcoming Roots & Shoots Peace Day Events

As a UN Messenger of Peace, one of Dr. Jane’s key messages is that we all must exist in harmony in order to achieve a kinder world. Every year on International Day of Peace, Roots & Shoots groups around the world take part in celebrations from building Peace Doves, making Peace Pledges with the #PeaceDay and coming together to raise awareness for animals, people and our environment.

With less than a month to go, it’s time for us to start planning how we can promote peace and kindness within our communities and our world.  We would love to see each and every one of you participate in our favourite day of the year, whether on a small or large scale. JGIA is holding Peace Day 2015 events across Australia including Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth as well as one open to the public in Sydney:

Taronga Zoo’s Youth at The Zoo (YATZ) are joining with JGIA’s Roots & Shoots members for a day of connecting youth with nature at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on Peace Day. YATZ and Roots & Shoots members will also be doing the Sydney Harbour Bridge Run on Sunday 20 September to raise funds for LWIRO a chimpanzee sanctuary in the DRC. The winner of the run will get an all-inclusive behind the scenes chimpanzee experience they will never forget.

Tell us about your plans for Peace Day with #PeaceDay! Let us know if you would like to join our Sydney event, or if we can help you create your own! And don’t forget to join the exclusive R&S Australia Facebook group and sign up to receive JGIA’s newsletter for updates. Finally, more information on all of our Roots & Shoots activities can be found on our members page – sign up for Roots & Shoots or email us to get access!

3. Cecil the Lion – Dr. Jane Goodall finds a glimmer of hope in a senseless tragedy

As the world expressed its outrage at the death of Cecil the lion, Dr Jane Goodall too felt the devastating, unnecessary loss.  However, amid the shock and despair, Dr Jane did manage to find a glimmer of hope. Read the powerful message here.

4. New Volunteer Opportunities at JGIA

JGIA Board Director Opportunity – An exciting opportunity exists for a young legal professional to join the JGIA Board. If you are: Gen –Y; a qualified legal professional; committed to and passionate about connecting animals, people and our environment; able to commit 15-20 hours/month for three years and a strong communicator with an intrinsic understanding of youth organisations, initiatives and mindsets, apply here now. Applications close 7 September.

JGIA Board Coordinator – We are looking for someone to provide secretarial and administrative support to the JGIA Board by coordinating our meetings, calendar and papers, taking meeting minutes and following-up on action items. To succeed in this role you will need to be highly efficient; an effective diplomat; able to commit an average of 3.5 hours/week and sensitive to any and all confidential Board matters. Apply here now, applications close 14 September.

5. R&S Student Highlight – Theresa Harley

Congratulations to Roots & Shoots member Theresa Harley in Year 6 at the Christ Church Grammar School, South Yarra on getting an A++ for her project on her hero Dr Jane! She made a wonderful collage of Dr Jane’s photos and special moments as well as a termite mound to demonstrate Dr Jane’s ground-breaking discovery of chimps as tool makers and users. Well done Theresa!

1. Gombe Celebrates 55 Years of Research

On 14 July we celebrated the 55th anniversary of Dr. Jane Goodall’s arrival at what is now known as Gombe Stream National Park. Gombe is the place where Jane launched her pioneering research with wild chimpanzees. She was the first scientist to discover tool use in nonhuman species of primates. A discovery so important that famed anthropologist Louis Leakey once said to Jane that, “Now we must redefine tool, redefine Man, or accept chimpanzees as humans.”

Jane’s research has continued to this day, including complete life histories of many of Gombe’s chimpanzees, research on mother infant bonds, hunting and many more amazing chimpanzee behaviours. The 55th anniversary was marked with a global Thunderclap that reached an amazing 8,743,358 people worldwide.  Thank you to everyone who signed up and shared the message of #Gombe55, your support was fantastic!

2. Threatened Species Summit a Success

On 16 July, CEO Nancy Moloney, JGIA Director Simon Duffy and JGI Global Director Polly Cevallos attended the Threatened Species Summit in Melbourne. Attended by delegates from across Australia and hosted by the Hon Greg Hunt MP and Gregory Andrews, Threatened Species Commissioner, the summit provided a synopsis of the actions that the Federal and State Governments will undertake by 2020 including:

• Tackling feral cats and their impacts
• Prioritising 20 mammals, 20 birds and 30 plants for action
• Improving recovery practices

Dr Jane Goodall gave the opening video address, which put JGIA firmly on the map, and also allowed all those present to understand the breadth of our global conservation and educational work. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet our peers in the conservation space and with almost 1,800 national listed threated species, it is critical to have a new national approach. Learn more here.

3. JGIA to Represent Chimpanzees in My Green World App

JGIA has partnered with My Green World to launch a mobile app called World of the Wild. The app is a platform for the public to connect with charitable initiatives such as JGIA and engage in educational content, while participating in fun gameplay. JGIA will be represented by a chimpanzee named Gombe in the app and in
playing the game, you can help little Gombe out by feeding and caring for her, and in turn support JGIA!

Watch for the launch of the app here and contribute to the crowd funding campaign to raise funds and awareness via www.pozible.com/project/196618.

4. Roots & Shoots WA Joins the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative

Our Western Australian Roots & Shoots schools have been accepted as a member of the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI)! AuSSI is a partnership of the Australian Government and the states and territories that seeks to support schools and their communities to become sustainable. The Initiative’s vision is for all Australian schools and their communities to be sustainable. More information on AuSSI is available here. Current schools in the WA R&S group include:

• Bletchley Park Primary School
• Blue Gum Montessori School
• John Curtin College of the Arts
• Lynwood Senior High School
• St Brigids College
• Tranby College
• Winthrop Primary School

As more schools join Roots & Shoots WA they will also be part of AuSSI. They will join schools like John Curtin College of the Arts, who have established a green house and worm farm and are raising seedlings native to the area which will eventually be planted around the school. Well done team WA!

5. JGIA’s Jane Kennedy Wins Zonta Award

A special congratulations to our very own Jane Kennedy who has been recognised for her social justice activities with the  Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs International Award. There are only 10 awards globally each year so we are very proud of Janey! She has been a Roots & Shoots member and leader for 12 years and has been heavily involved in the development and success of our program. Janey will invest her award money in to furthering her mission to improve the status of girls through education. Congratulations Jane!
 
6. JGIA Features in National Geographic Kids Australia and New Zealand

Make sure you watch for the second issue of National Geographic Kids which features JGIA on the back page!

Pick up your copy at a newsstand or subscribe here.

1. Jane Goodall an Honorary Patron of Nature for IUCN

We had an extra reason to celebrate World Environment Day on June 5^th this year, as our beloved founder, Dr Jane Goodall, became an Honorary Patron of Nature for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)! The IUCN has been a critical force in conversion since 1948. Its evidence-based work is fundamental to our work at JGIA, as well as that of governments, NGOs and many others. Dr Goodall has proudly been a member of the IUCN and the Primate Specialist Group for many years and is very honoured to accept this accolade. Thank you IUCN! Please view Dr Goodall’s acceptance on the IUCN website.

 2. Global Meeting Update – Creating Strong Connections and Local Impact

In May, our CEO, Nancy Moloney, Chair, Paul Smith and Australian representative on our Global Board, Polly Cevallos, travelled to Barcelona for the global gathering of the Jane Goodall Institute. Over four days we got to know our cousins from Spain, UK, Uganda, Tanzania, USA, Canada, China and Taiwan, as well as our neighbours, New Zealand.

We came together to share ideas, develop plans for the future and look deeply at how we, as a community, can coordinate our activity globally in order to be more effective. JGI is present in most parts of the world and because of this has the potential to have a wide-ranging impact across multiple cultures. This is at the root of what we all believe. We may live in different countries and speak different languages but we all have a connection to animals and the same shared planet, and shared future.

The impact of this gathering will be far reaching and we have no doubt that you, as our local Australian supporters, will see this in the months and years to come.

3. Captive Chimps Listed as Endangered

On June 12^th the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that captive chimpanzees would move from threatened to endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Director Dan Ashe says “Extending captive chimpanzees the protections afforded their endangered cousins in the wild will ensure humane treatment and restrict commercial activities under the ESA. The decision responds to growing threats to the species and aligns the chimpanzee’s status with existing legal requirements.”

Dr Jane Goodall says “all of us at JGI wish to congratulate the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the decision to include captive chimpanzee in the endangered listing along with wild chimpanzees. This will be enormously beneficial to individuals in inappropriate captive conditions. As such, it is a tremendously significant decision which will be welcomed by everyone concerned with the well-being of our closest living relatives. Thank you for helping to make their world a better place.”

The full press release can be found on the JGI US website.

4. People Changes at JGIA

JGIA is very pleased to announce that we have a new team member. Jessie Neal joins us as our National Roots & Shoots Team Coordinator with extensive animal and events management experience. Jessie grew up on a cattle farm in SA and developed a love for wildlife as her family established and operated Warrawong Sanctuary. She has a degree in Animal Science from the University of Adelaide and has hands-on experience working as a zookeeper at Porfell Wildlife Park in Cornwall.

Jessie has travelled the world volunteering at many museums, zoos and conservation parks in Europe and Asia. She also worked with JGIA during Dr Goodall’s last tour and was instrumental in organising our SA Roots & Shoots youth summit. We are very excited to have her back on board – welcome Jessie!

5. Our Primate Family Book Launches

It is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of “Our Primate Family” by JGIA’s great friend Lou Grossfeldt. Lou is Primate Supervisor at Taronga Zoo and one of Australia’s leading experts on chimpanzees. In the book, Lou and co-author writer David Blissett share her remarkable stories from wild populations around the world to one of the world’s most iconic zoos. Dr Goodall wrote the foreword to the book and says ‘It is my hope that many people will read and enjoy these stories. And that this will encourage them to join the growing band of those of us who care and help us to make a positive difference for primates, and all living things.’

The book shares practical advice each of us can follow to help make a tangible difference to the survival of these amazing animals and all of Lou’s royalties are being generously donated to JGIA so please support our entire primate family by buying a book here. Soon to be available at the JGIA shop!

6. National Geographic Kids launches in Australia and New Zealand

We are very excited to share with you that National Geographic Kids has launched in Australia and New Zealand! Please join Jane in congratulating them:

“Congratulations on the launch of National Geographic Kids in Australia and New Zealand! It’s a great magazine and there will be so many young people in Australia and New Zealand who will be excited to read it. It certainly would have been one of my favourite reads if it had been around when I was a child! Good luck and best wishes.”

Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, Founder – the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace

The second issue will be out soon, and will feature JGIA, so pick up your copy at a newsstand or subscribe here.

1. Applications are now open –  Roots & Shoots  (R&S) National Coordinator

We are pleased to announce that we are looking for someone to lead and build a team of passionate state-based R&S Representatives! As our global network of young people empowered and inspired to take action to improve our world, R&S is a youth-led community action movement that is making a difference in more than 130 countries. Our new R&S National Coordinator will work directly with the CEO and manage a range tasks including coordinating the R&S team and organising and facilitating youth events. The successful candidate will need to have excellent volunteer management skills, strong interpersonal communication skills and 3-5 years previous experience. If you think it might be the dream job for you, please apply at https://www.janegoodall.org.au/upcoming-event/ or contact info@janegoodall.org.au for more details. We can’t wait to hear from you!

2. JGI Nepal Update – Your Support is Still Desperately Needed

We have all heard that there has been another devastating earthquake in Nepal. Our team at JGI Nepal is leading relief efforts that are focused on local villages where Roots & Shoots has a presence. Their efforts include sourcing and distribution of food, water, medicine and fuel, as well as helping provide temporary shelter with tents. In the longer term they will focus on helping rebuild and repair houses and they have already been able to source and distribute supplies.

Disasters like these do not discriminate, all are impacted – people, animals and the environment. The loss of human life is tragic, not to mention all of the wildlife and ecosystems who are also feeling the effects of these earthquakes. JGI Nepal is working in coordination with other animal welfare and wildlife conservation NGOs to assess the needs of local wildlife.

Our hearts and thoughts are with our friends and colleagues in Nepal. Please give generously at www.jginepal.org/donate.php.

3. The Dark Side of Cute

Dr. Donna McRae, from Deakin University, is making a crowd funded documentary about a chimpanzee called Cobby, the star of the little known 1960’s program ‘Cobby’s Hobbies’ which was shown in Australia. Cobby is still alive and well today and living in the San Francisco Zoo as the oldest living male chimp in captivity. Sadly, the story is not so happy for most chimps in entertainment.

Most people don’t realise that chimps used in advertisements and media are infants – usually under 8 years old – and have been taken forcibly from their mothers. They are often mistreated as fear and physical discipline are used to make them perform. As they miss out on the critical socialisation aspect of chimp society, once chimps in entertainment get too dangerous to handle, they are often “disposed of” rather than put in a zoo, sanctuary or the wild. In addition to the sad lives of these little chimps, the other problem with use of chimpanzees and other Great Apes in advertising and entertainment is that it creates misleading and degrading perceptions of these magnificent animals, who are seriously endangered in the wild. See more information here.

Dr McRae’s documentary will examine how traumatic show business can be for chimpanzees and reveal the ‘dark side of cuteness’. Recently, The Guardian picked up Cobby’s story and JGIA’s support of the project. To help raise awareness of the plight of animals in entertainment and lend your support, please donate to the documentary via www.pozible.com/project/195120

4. Mosman Locksmith Supports Chimps in JGI’s Chimpanzee Sanctuaries

For the past 21 years Mosman Locksmith, Stephen Worrall, has been supplying the padlocks used in the chimpanzee enclosures at JGI’s Tchimpounga and Ngamba Sanctuaries. Debby Cox from JGI Tchimpounga says, “Mosman Locksmiths has been one of our longest supporters in Australia. Steven provides us with the locks at cost price and his labour for free. These are the most reliable locks we have ever found. I know it is not the most glamorous contribution, but it is an essential one for our sanctuaries”.

Steven has supplied Taronga Zoo with enclosure locks for 35 years and it was through this connection that he originally met Debby, who was a chimp keeper at the time. “We like to do this for JGI because it is a good thing to do, and we know we are helping the chimps”, Steven explains.

Yet another essential batch of locks is being made at the moment by Mosman Locksmiths.  They will be delivered to Tchimpounga in June by two Taronga staff members visiting as part of a fellowship program. From all of us at JGIA, thank you to Steven and his team for this unique contribution. Together we are making a difference!

5. National Volunteer Week

May 11-17 was National Volunteer Week and we again want to take the opportunity to thank all of our wonderful JGIA volunteers across Australia and the world! The Jane Goodall Institute Australia is fuelled by some of the most talented and passionate people you will meet. From technical support and merchandise managers to photographers and the board of directors, we thank you all. You are living proof that “each one of us makes a difference!”

We are always looking for skilled, committed and compassionate people to join our volunteer team. Keep your eyes on our website for details of upcoming volunteer positions https://www.janegoodall.org.au/volunteer-with-us/.

1. Upcoming Global JGI Meeting

We are delighted to share that we will be having our inaugural global Jane Goodall Institute meetings in Barcelona in May! At the meetings we will be sharing ideas and collaborating with our colleagues from 35 JGI Chapters around the world.  It will be four days of exploring our international activities, structure and communications with the end goal of a renewed global JGI vision and action plan. We are very excited about being a part of what is sure to be an incredibly inspirational gathering! Of course hosted by none other than our very own beloved founder Dr Jane.

2. People Changes at JGIA

JGIA is happy to announce that we have a new team member! Nicky Kim-McCormack joins us as an Administrative Assistant with more than 15 years of project management experience. She has previously worked in office administration at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), has a Masters of Wildlife Management and is currently pursuing her Masters of Philosophy in Primatology.

In her spare time, Nicky helps rescue Australian wildlife with Sydney Wildlife & ORCCA and fosters rescue dogs. She has also helped develop the ‘Wildlife Rescue App’ to help the public know how to help injured wildlife. Being passionate about primates and their conservation, she is excited to be joining the JGIA team and contributing to the organisation’s mission. And we are thrilled to have her on board – welcome Nicky!

3. Spotlight on Roots & Shoots Beijing

Since starting our first school group in 1994 we have worked with over 1,000 schools and trained 10,000 teachers in China. Growth in the past year… Examples of some of our wonderful projects include:

• Organic Grow Project – launched in March 2011 to engage students in learning about nature through planting school gardens. The project currently involves 24 schools across China and benefits more than 20,000 students.
• Clear Water Environmental Education Project – educates students on the wetland ecosystem. Clear Water has expanded to 27 schools, 5 provinces, 1,858 students and 208 teachers across 73 student-led activities which have impacted more than 30,000 people in their communities.
• No Shark Fin Project – launched in 2011 in partnership with the Humane Society International to raise awareness, change public opinion and reduce shark fin consumption. The project has spanned 89 Chinese college teams, 27 cities, 120,000 pledges to stop consuming shark fin and even changed government policy in China.
• Guardians of the Elephants Project – educates university students about the truth behind the ivory trade and encourage them to take action and promote public awareness.

For more information on these or other R&S projects please contact rootsandshoots@janegoodall.org.au.

4. Great Apes in Advertising

Have you noticed the recent increase in the use of chimpanzees and other primates in entertainment in Australia?  We have, and the JGIA team is working to create more awareness around this issue, including connecting with the companies that allow the use of great apes on their networks or in advertising.

The use of great apes in entertainment and advertising is contrived and creates misleading and degrading perceptions of these magnificent animals.  Seriously endangered in the wild, performing primates are taken from their mothers at a very young age.  Audiences see cute and cuddly animals, which leads to the impression that they are easily handled.  Such images make young apes increasingly popular as pets in some countries.  And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

To help make a difference, we have three easy steps you can take:
– Do not buy cards, posters or ornaments that show great apes outside their natural habitat
 
– Notify JGIA (you can message us  on Facebook) of the use of primates in the media
– Write to the company responsible with the help of a letter from Dr Jane Goodall https://www.janegoodall.org.au/entertainment/

5. Our thoughts are with our friends in Nepal

Of course we have all heard the devastating news of the terrible earthquake in Nepal.  JGIA joins our JGI global family in sending our thoughts and hearts to all the pour souls affected by the disaster. We have received word from our JGI Nepal colleague, Manoj Gautam, to say that our JGI team is safe but struggling to cope with the new reality of needing to rebuild the nation. They report that it is a ‘wait and watch’ situation regarding the animals as they wait for specific information on crisis management and the required intervention.

The Jane Goodall Institute is working on ways that we can help in the difficult days ahead particularly with regards to our Roots & Shoots communities. In the meantime, we send the Nepalese people and animals strength, togetherness, endurance and positivity during this time of incredible hardship.

1. People Changes at JGIA

The Board of JGIA can now announce that after more than three years, Natalie Houghton is moving on from her role as CEO to pursue new challenges. We sincerely thank Natalie for her dedication and passion and wish her every success in her future endeavours!

JGIA is going through a period of exciting transition that started with the recruitment of Directors and continues with a strategic review. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful volunteers and supporters! Your efforts for JGIA are invaluable and we hope you continue with us on our exciting journey.

To ensure continuity during this busy time, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Nancy Moloney as our new CEO. Nancy comes to us with a wealth of experience
including over a decade of international sustainability and management consulting.  Nancy holds a B.Sc., M.Sc. and MBA and previous roles have included Wildlife Biologist, Market Leader and Manager at two “Big Four” professional services firms and Climate Reality Leader with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. Originally from beautiful British Columbia, Nancy has always had a great passion for animals and our shared environment. Please join us in congratulating Nancy on becoming CEO of JGIA.

2. Roots & Shoots Project of the Month

Earlier this month we joined together to celebrate International Women’s Day, and here at JGIA we recognise the important role that women and girls have in conservation. In late 2014, a Roots & Shoots group launched the Peer to Peer Education campaign to support the Jane Goodall Institute’s girls education projects in Uganda.
 
This program is a part of JGI’s unique community conservation approach, and the campaign’s goal is to raise $8,000 to support 80 girls throughout their entire high school education. You can find out more about this amazing campaign here. If you would like to donate or get involved with this campaign, please contact us on rootsandshoots@janegoodall.org.au.
 
3. JGI’s International Mobile Phone Recycling Day –The Results are in!

Our first, global ‘Call to Action’ day for mobile phone recycling was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who participated and shared. Through our partnerships with Taronga Zoo and PhoneCycle, we received 2,386 phones valued at $1,704! All money raised will be put towards vital conservation programs in Africa.
 

How do old phones help chimpanzees? Coltan, a mineral used in mobile phones, is mined from threatened chimpanzee habitats across the Congo Basin. By removing your old mobile phones from the waste stream and remarketing them for reuse, we reduce the demand for coltan mining.

If you didn’t get a chance to drop your old phones off in January, you can still help protect precious chimpanzee habitats by recycling your old mobile phones through JGIA. Simply visit our webpage here or email us on recycle@janegoodall.org.au for more information on how to recycle your phone or organise a mobile phone recycling campaign at your school or workplace.

4. Women and Wildlife Celebrated in March

March was a big month for JGIA!  On March 3^rd, United Nation’s World Wildlife Day, Dr Jane encouraged us all to participate by taking a selfie with an action poster for #SeriousAboutWildlifeCrime. Swiftly followed by International Women’s Day on March 8^th, we celebrated by recognising the innovators, rule breakers, trailblazers and other women who through time, like Jane, have changed the way we think while boosting women’s rights. We’d love to hear how you celebrated – visit our Facebook page to share.
 

 
 
5. Jane Goodall and The NY Times

In case you missed it, our beloved founder was on the cover of New York Times this month!  So I guess we all agree that the “world’s most famous conservationist” is still as inspiring as ever and still very much wild at heart. See the full article here.