A Jane Goodall Earth Medal Will Celebrate Those Striving to Better the World.

Earth could be under pressure, however there is hope. A new award originating at the interdisciplinary festival Starmus seeks to motivate people to take action.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name will be given to pay tribute to the esteemed scientist and conservationist who passed away this year. It seeks to acknowledge those who protect our planet's biodiversity.

The Medal's Framework

Initial honorees will be revealed during the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, scheduled from 17–22 October next year.

According to statements that Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had supported the medal's establishment. “The idea behind this medal, and the festival being tasked with organising it, is Jane’s,” a representative said. “She said she would like this to happen. And I think because of the close relationship she had with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will recognize ongoing initiatives undertaken to make our world improved for all living beings and ecosystems and foster motivation to continue such efforts,” commented a relative.

Structure and Vision

One of the founders of Starmus noted that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – will likely encompass various fields.

“It’s going to be inspired by the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach established a decade past,” it was explained. Goodall herself received of that award.

Expressing concern about the future of the planet, a prominent voice said, “Frankly, it's challenging to feel hopeful. Present governance globally represents a dismissal of evidence. This situation significantly hampers the world’s efforts.”

“To be honest, things don’t look very good which means we need to really start reconsidering, with greater urgency regarding the impact of human activity. This concern encompasses not just climate change, that’s the entire manner that we treat nature.”

Following an Example

Consequently, it was noted this is a good time to honor Goodall’s example. “I think that when we’re awarding this medal, we will be considering this essential spirit that Jane embodied – that was her foremost concern, to change how we regard the other animals with which we share the planet.”

A pressing concern currently is the proliferation of misinformation. The theme of the upcoming Starmus festival will be “the search for truth”.

“We realised that truth is becoming a subject of discussion when politics are involved. And it’s an alarming trend,” it was said. “Climate research is a science; you cannot allow interference by political agendas in climate science.”

Optimism and Resolve

The goal is that the medal can motivate concrete steps. “It’s about inspiring individuals to get involved and to care and to work in that direction, truly. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we have to focus on doing our utmost,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still continue striving toward success.”

A descendant engaged in environmental protection expressed optimism that “given direction and once enabled, humanity can be conscientious guardians of our planet”, highlighting the programs of a foundation that, among its other activities, helps the youth get involved with their community, wildlife, and environment.

“As my late grandmother repeatedly emphasized, our daily actions make a difference and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we make,” it was stated. “There is still time and this medal will provide inspiration and raise awareness about the positive actions that people are making.”