Jakarta Globe, Nadia Bintoro, June 24, 2014
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Renowned conservationist Jane Goodall was the star of a recent conference
in Bali on sustainability. (Photo Courtesy of Green School) |
It was the
day that many conservationists and environmentalists in Bali had been awaiting
for quite some time, the inaugural “Sustainability and Conservation
Conference,” set in Bali’s famous Green
School, amid the lush forests of Banjar Saren near Ubud.
The
conference was special in many ways, yet the most intriguing aspect for many
was that it featured Dr. Jane Goodall, the world-renowned ethologist,
environmental leader and UN messenger of peace.
The one-day
conference aimed to ignite discussions and initiatives to ensure the
sustainability of Bali’s nature and culture. The conference was packed with
talks and discussion panels featuring some of the key players in Indonesia’s
conservation efforts.
In
attendance from early morning to late afternoon, the conference attendees were
happily roaming around, moving between the distinct traditional bamboo
architecture at the Green School, attending the various talks, panel
discussions and activities that appealed most to their interests.
The event
was divided into three venues: the main field, the Mepantigan building, and the
Turtle room.
Among the
speakers in the main field were Steve Lansing, a specialist on subak, the
Balinese traditional irrigation system, who presented a talk on the topic
“Survival of Subak”; Ian Singleton from the Sumatra Orangutan Conservation
Program; as well as David Metcalf, who shed some light on the Dayak tribes of
Kalimantan and the challenges they face from the loss of their forests to
mining and plantation concessions.
There were
also presentations and discussions from nongovernmental organizations and
conservation groups, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Coral
Triangle Center, Conservation International, Eco Bali, Kopernik, Threads of
Life and more, each sharing their expertise and concerns on conservation issues
and challenges.
The Turtle
room was reserved for “lighter” presentations in the form of movie screenings.
Inside the eye-catching bamboo structure, characteristic of the Green School,
and amid a cool breeze flowing in beneath the thatched roof, dozens of
conservation enthusiasts crowded around to watch movies including “Let
Elephants be Elephants” and “Rise of the Eco-Warriors.”
Following
the latter, there was a panel discussion featuring two of the “eco-warriors”
from the movie, Kodi Twiner and Paul Daley. The talked about their experiences,
concerns and insights from filming the movie.
But the
highlight of the day was without a doubt the talk by Goodall. A world-leading
primatologist, Goodall — who has been passionate about animals since her
childhood — began her extensive research on the behavior of chimpanzees in the
1960s in Tanzania. Her unorthodox research methods were initially
controversial; for instance, the mere fact that she gave the chimpanzees names
instead of numbers, as was common practice among researchers to avoid emotional
attachment, raised many eyebrows.
However,
Goodall’s research eventually became the foundation for future primate research
in the world, and thanks to her findings the scientific community at the time
was challenged in some their long-standing beliefs where the animals were
concerned, especially with regard to their social behavior and diet.
Goodall has
received numerous awards and honors throughout her career and has been twice
appointed a UN messenger of peace, in 2002 and 2007. Her Jane Goodall Institute
currently operates 19 offices around the world.
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Jane Goodall conversing with children participating in the conference.
(Photo courtesy of Green School) |
Rights of
animals
As the sun
slowly set over Bali, dozens of attendees sat cross-legged in the main tent,
listening attentively to Goodall’s soft voice, enchanted by her heartfelt talk
“Where the Hope Lies.”
Here,
Goodall shared her personal stories of how she became a world-renowned
primatologist, on the tremendous supports from her mother — who accompanied her
daughter to Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park in 1960 out of concern for
her safety — and on her belief and conviction on non-human rights. She stands
firm that animals possess emotions and personalities just like humans do, and
that they therefore deserve ethical treatment as well.
“In what
terms should we think of these beings, non-human yet possessing so very many
human-like characteristics, how should we treat them?” she asked. “Surely we
should treat them with the same consideration and kindness as we show to other
humans; and as we recognize human rights, so too should we recognize the rights
of the great apes and other animals.”
Goodall
also emphasized the importance of planting environmental awareness in young
minds through specific programs such as Roots & Shoots, which she first
founded back in Tanzania.
Roots &
Shoots aims to bring together youths of all ages, from preschool to university,
to work on environmental, conservation and humanitarian issues. The program now
has chapters in more than 132 countries, involving 100,000 youth.
A day prior
to the conference, the first Plastik Tidak Fantastik Festival (Plastic
Isn’t Fantastic Festival) was held by
the student-led initiative Bye Bye Plastic Bag.
Hosting
Goodall herself during the festival were Isabel and Melati Wijsen, the founders
of the BBPB campaign. The sisters, aged just 11 and 12, who are also students
at the Green School, accompanied Goodall throughout the day that was filled
with various entertaining and socially responsible workshops; a fund-raising
fun-run; a trash fashion show; and live musical performances, all prepared and
presented by the students.
“Change
happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing
something you don’t believe is right,” Goodall told the attentive Bali kids
from BBPB.
She
appealed for the students to be the messengers for a brighter and more
environmentally conscious future by being aware and taking the initiative to
create more harmonious relationships between the environment and mankind.
The event
was closed with a book signing by Goodall.
“Each one
of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference. Each one of us must
take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for
the living things around us, especially each other,” she said.
Such
inspiring words echoed in the tranquil grounds of the Green School as the sun
slowly cast its last shadow.
As they
found a way into the hearts of the audience, many participants, both young and
adult, seemed to feel motivated to create a greener and more sustainable future
for Bali and beyond.
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