Summary Scientific Legacy & Human Dignity Acknowledges
This LA Times obituary commemorates Jane Goodall's life and scientific contributions to primatology and animal behavior research. The content demonstrates respect for human dignity through respectful commemoration and affirms freedom of expression through journalistic publication. The article engages positively with UDHR principles regarding dignity, free expression, right to work, education, and participation in cultural-scientific life, though its primary purpose is biographical rather than rights-advocacy.
I remember in grade school so many in the class being inspired by her, then as I grew up every time I encountered her on television or in print she was equally inspiring, empathetic, and informative. I will miss her.
I really appreciated her speaking to young people, even riding the NYC subway for the first time to record "Subway Takes" last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAkwo6JPV00
When I was young, not knowing who Jane Goodall was, I was dragged into lunch by event planner who showed her around Beijing, and wondered why this lady was talking about chimpanzees so much. This was the year the Nokia released Snake, I remember getting enamoured/distracted by her monkey talk and lost a near perfect snake run.
You don’t have to be a biologist or zoologist to appreciate what Jane Goodall brought to the world.
Her work transcended science. It touched on compassion, respect for all living beings, and a deep curiosity about the natural world that inspired generations. She didn’t just study chimpanzees; she taught us what it means to observe with empathy, to advocate with conviction, and to act with hope. Her legacy will echo for a very long time.
Thanks to Jane for her contributions. Some great quotes from her: "We have a choice to use the gift of our lives to make the world a better place." and “If we kill off the wild, then we are killing a part of our souls.”
She last appeared in Detroit at the Fisher theatre just three weeks ago. Knew some folks who attended and they raved about her one person show. Thought I might catch her next time she's there. But I didn't realize how old she was or I might have made it more of a priority. She was pretty high energy for someone in their nineties.
“We cannot hide away from human population growth, because it underlies so many of the other problems. All these things we talk about wouldn’t be a problem if the world was the size of the population that there was 500 years ago.”
-- Goodall at 2002 WEF panel discussion on Amazon rainforest
The population 500 years ago was around 500 million. The only way we return to this level is de-industrialization.
Paul Ehrlich wrote "The Population Bomb" almost 60 years ago - all of his predictions turned out to be dead wrong.
If you find Jane Goodall inspirational, you may be delighted to learn about Anne Innis Dagg [0], whose studies of wild giraffe predates Goodall's study of chimps. The documentary "The Woman Who Loves Giraffes" [1] is fantastic and has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The reason you might not know Dagg's name is essentially that she was denied tenure for being a woman.
Sad to hear this. She was a symbol of a kinder relationship with nature. I grew up in Kenya and have many fond memories of seeing her name on the Chimpanzee sanctuary in Sweetwaters
I typically feel pretty disconnected when a major public figure passes away, but this one really got to me. Dr. Goodall was one of my heroes... I read a couple of her books when I was much younger and had dreams of being a primatologist.
It was so gratifying to see her turn into a global leader in conservation, compassion, and peace. I had a former supervisor who got to meet her personally at a conference on wildlife conservation in Africa several years ago (I was quite jealous)... I was fortunate to see her speak publicly though.
Understanding what chimpanzees are like has made me realize that we humans are not so different from other animals as we used to think. What makes us most different is that we are far more clever than even the cleverest chimp, and we have words. We have a spoken language. We can tell stories about what happened a week or a year or a decade ago. We can plan for the future, and we can discuss things - one person's idea can grow and change as other people contribute their ideas. Great ideas become greater, problems are solved.
Several years ago my niece dressed up as Jane Goodall for Halloween. Through a string of random connections, someone sent Jane a picture of her. She wrote my niece an incredibly nice note complimenting the costume and all its details.
For all the good Jane Goodall has done in the world, I am forever grateful that she cared enough to give a young girl a gift she can treasure forever.
> When the strip ran, the Jane Goodall Institute was not amused, promptly drafting a cease and desist letter. Larson maintained he had no ill will towards Doctor Goodall. At the time of the controversy, Goodall had been out of the country, but saw the cartoon for herself when she returned–and loved it. Goodall instructed the institute to drop the issue. In the aftermath, Goodall reached out to Larson, and the two became friends; Larson even licensed the cartoon to the Institute to produce a t-shirt that was then used to raise funds. Goodall even went so far as to write a preface for one of The Far Side’s collected editions.
Good(all?) on her, it's nice to see leaders both have a sense of humor and actually lead.
She was also on Spanish TV just five months ago, I was a bit surprised when she appeared there. Seems most of it is on YouTube as well (hoping it's not geo-restricted): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE7lnl4ah9s
One of Gary Larson's Far Side cartoons shows two chimpanzees grooming. One finds a blonde human hair on the other and inquires, "Conducting a little more 'research' with that Jane Goodall tramp?"[114] Goodall herself was in Africa at the time. The Jane Goodall Institute thought the cartoon was in bad taste and had its lawyers draft a letter to Larson and his distribution syndicate in which they described the cartoon as an "atrocity". They were stymied by Goodall herself: when she returned and saw the cartoon, she stated that she found the cartoon amusing.[115]
Since then, all profits from sales of a shirt featuring this cartoon have gone to the Jane Goodall Institute. Goodall wrote a preface to The Far Side Gallery 5, detailing her version of the controversy, and the institute's letter was included next to the cartoon in the complete Far Side collection.[116] She praised Larson's creative ideas, which often compare and contrast the behaviour of humans and animals. In 1988, when Larson visited Goodall's research facility in Tanzania,[115] he was attacked by a chimpanzee named Frodo.
Yeah I've seen this before, we could all drive V12s and eat only beef but it's not a very meaningful insight. We're going to stabilize around 10 billion by 2080 according to projections and then decline, hopefully reaching some kind of Star Trek utopia at some point.
We came from the caves, we didn't know any better we just multiplied like a cancer. More population also brings more benefits, more geniuses more inventions etc.
The trick is doing it without wars and inequality, good luck with that.
I just saw her two weeks ago taping her interview for Overheard with Evan Smith. She was in top notch form and had the audience at the edge of our seats and in tears at moments. I am glad I got to go -- but I am sad the world lost Jane.
If I’m not mistaken, she goes on to say “but we don’t live in that world, and so we must…” and goes on to argue for policy that doesn’t neglect the poorest and least fortunate members of society.
>The only way we return to this level is de-industrialization.
Unfortunately, we will return to that level. Then 25 years later, we'll be only half that number (or worse).
>all of his predictions turned out to be dead wrong.
Hilariously wrong, you mean. I especially like the ones about how the UK would be filled with cannibal savages by the 1980s, because everyone would be starving.
That was an absolutely lovely read. I did not think I would get so invested. However... I didn't know she died as well so the final sentence on her wiki article caught my off-guard :(
i can still recall when she came to visit my high school to address its students many moons ago. it was quite an experience that still left a mark till this day.
she was quite an example of how anyone can impact the world while just doing what they love.
Publication of obituary demonstrates freedom of expression and public information dissemination; journalist reports on public figure without apparent restraint
FW Ratio: 50%
Observable Facts
Obituary published on major news platform without observable editorial censorship or suppression
Content is publicly accessible via web, indicating structural support for free information flow
Inferences
Act of publishing an obituary demonstrates journalist freedom of expression and right to inform the public
Open publication model reflects structural commitment to free press and information access
Recognition of Goodall as 'trailblazing naturalist' affirms her participation in and contribution to scientific and cultural life; legacy in animal behavior research is honored
FW Ratio: 50%
Observable Facts
Title describes Goodall's scientific work with chimpanzees as defining legacy
Obituary celebrates intellectual contribution to scientific understanding
Inferences
Publishing obituary that celebrates scientific achievement affirms right to participate in cultural and scientific life
Honoring research contribution demonstrates cultural recognition of intellectual participation
