A Jane Goodall Earth Medal to Recognise Those Acting to Better the World.

Earth is facing challenges, but a sense of hope remains. A new award from the science, music and arts festival Starmus seeks to inspire the public to take action.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will be given in honour of the esteemed scientist and conservationist who died recently. It will recognise those who protect the natural world.

Award Details

The first recipients will be revealed at the Starmus VIII festival in the Canary Islands, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd next year.

It was shared that Jane Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had backed the medal's establishment. “The vision behind this award, and the festival being tasked with organising it, was Jane's wish,” a representative said. “Her desire was that she wanted this to happen. This is likely because of the close bond she shared with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge sustainable programmes carried out to create a planet improved for all living beings and ecosystems and offer support to carry on that work,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of the festival noted that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – would probably include several divisions.

“The intent is for it to be modeled after the Stephen Hawking award for science communication established a decade past,” it was explained. Goodall was an honoree of that award.

Expressing concern about the future for Earth, one figure remarked, “Frankly, it’s very hard to feel hopeful. Present governance in one major nation is conducting a dismissal of evidence. This situation really cripples the world’s efforts.”

“To be honest, the prospects aren't very good which means we need to commence thinking again, with greater urgency about the consequences of our actions. And that’s not only climate change, that’s the whole way that we treat our environment.”

Following an Example

As a result, it was noted it was an opportune moment to emulate Jane Goodall's legacy. “It is believed that in bestowing this medal, we will be considering this essential spirit that Jane embodied – which made her foremost concern, to change the way we treat the other animals with which we share the planet.”

Another key issue today was highlighted of disinformation. The theme of the upcoming Starmus festival will be “the search for truth”.

“There is a recognition that factual reality has become a subject of discussion when politics are involved. And it’s a very dangerous thing,” it was said. “The climate science is a science; you cannot have any influence by political agendas in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The goal remains that this honor will inspire action. “It focuses on inspiring individuals to participate and to show concern and to strive in that direction, really. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we must focus on doing all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of failure, yet we must have to work toward success.”

A family member engaged in environmental protection shared confidence that “with guidance and once enabled, humans are capable of being responsible caretakers of our planet”, citing the initiatives of a foundation that, in addition to its projects, empowers young people become engaged locally, animals, and environment.

“As Jane Goodall often emphasized, our daily actions are significant and it is up to us the kind of difference we choose to create,” it was stated. “It is not too late and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will give encouragement and raise awareness about beneficial initiatives that are being undertaken.”