1. JGIA Targets Palm Oil Labelling in Term 3
Roots & Shoots is now in our Term 3 Habitat Protection campaign. This term we will be focusing on palm oil and raising awareness about the influence that unsustainably grown palm oil has on all great apes. For example, the status of the Bornean orangutan has recently been upgraded to Critically Endangered!
On 25 November, ten Australian Ministers will meet to decide whether to mandate palm oil labelling on food products. This is an important step in raising awareness about palm oil and allowing consumers to make ethical choices. It also helps to drive a market for Certified Sustainable Palm Oil, thus preserving great ape habitats. Join our #LabelMe campaign and help put pressure on the Ministers by taking a photo of yourself with our hashtag and sending it to palmoil@janegoodall.org.au or tagging us on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages.
We will also be visiting Roots & Shoots groups this term to talk about our three-tiered approach to how you can make a difference and help protect great ape habitats in your home, in your school and in your community. Let us know know if you would like us to visit your school or community group or check out the palm oil section of our website for more info.
2. JGIA joins GPAP for the NSW Ban the Bag Petition
JGIA has teamed up with Greenpeace Australia Pacific to collect signatures for the Ban the Bag campaign in NSW. Members of our JGIA team, Alexia (from the NYLC), Robert (NSW R&S Coordinator) and Billy (from Bye Bye Plastic Bags Australia) have been at Sydney Sea Life Aquarium collecting signatures and raising awareness about the devastation that plastic bags are having on our marine life. Did you know that Australians use around 4 billion plastic bags every year – that’s a whopping 10 million or so each day, 50 million of which end up in our waterways and oceans! Today, 30% of the world’s turtles and 90% of seabird species have ingested plastic. The Ban the Bag petition has almost 8500 signatures so far. To help us reach our goal of 9000 and join other states in banning single-use plastic bags, please sign the petition here or come and see us this Saturday at the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium. And watch our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages for more information and updates.
3. Climb for Chimps Updates
JGIA has lots of exciting news around Climb for Chimps! In July, Roots & Shoots members were out in force hiking through the bush and participating in educational activities around native wildlife, chimpanzee behavior and how to look after our environment and then enjoying a free vegetation BBQ as part of our Mini Climb for Chimps. Participants from R&S Victoria climbed 3.5 km up to Flinders Peak while R&S Queensland walked 4km in Mt Nebo D’Aguilar National Park. Well done team and a great inspiration for our Climb for Chimp participants climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in February 2017!
If you are considering joining our Tanzanian adventure next year, we are holding a very special free event at Taronga Zoo on Saturday 13 August before the zoo opens to the public. Just us and the animals! Come and hear from JGIA’s CEO Nancy Moloney as well as our friends at Inspired Adventures who will be on-hand to answer any logistical questions about the trip and the climb up Kilimanjaro itself. You will also be treated to an exclusive talk by one of Taronga’s experienced chimpanzee keepers. RSVPs are essential as this is a small, private gathering specifically for Climb for Chimp participants and people who are serious about signing up. Please register here or contact our Fundraising Manager Judith by 5pm on Friday 5 August. If you aren’t able to attend in person, we will try to include you remotely.
4. Live Update from Global R&S Meetings at Windsor Castle
The Roots & Shoots International Leadership Event is currently underway in Windsor, England, and this year we have two delegates from Australia flying the R&S flag. Under the guidance of Dr Jane Goodall’s leadership team, delegates from more than 22 countries are currently working through global and local issues with a view to creating solutions to execute through our Roots & Shoots groups around the world. So far, topics discussed include forests and oceans, refugees and Peace Day. For updates and a look behind the scenes, visit our Facebook and Instagram pages and follow us on Snapchat at rootsandshootsa.
5. Photon Energy Provides JGIA with a New Home
JGIA would like to thank our generous and wonderful new office hosts! Photon Energy Australia is part of the global solar energy solutions provider Photon Energy NV and as such is working to bring the world closer to energy sustainability. Photon Energy’s aim is to help make solar energy a financially accessible energy source for businesses and public institutions. So far Photon Energy Australia has helped several companies lower their carbon emissions, including Australia Post and BAI.
“As a solar energy solutions provider we are a green company and glad that we can help towards our goal of sustainable development not only by building commercial solar power plants, but also by providing the JGIA with an office,” said Michael Gartner, managing director of Photon Energy Australia.
6. JGI job posting in DRC
The Jane Goodall Institute is currently seeking applications for a Conservation Action Plan (CAP) Project Manager in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The successful applicant will be responsible for managing the implementation of the CAP for Great Apes in the Eastern DRC. To apply you must have a university degree in a relevant specialisation, NGO and grand management experience and be proficient in both French and English. For more information read CAP PM Job Advert and submit your CV and cover letter to africajobs@janegoodall.org. The deadline for applications is Friday 26th August 2016.
And finally, have you seen our Peace Day posts on social media? So far we have profiled Dr. Jane and other great UN Messengers of Peace like Muhammad Ali, Charlize Theron and Yo-Yo Ma and told you about 8 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Tune in to our pages to see more!
