🔗 Share this article

Earth is under pressure, but there is hope. A novel accolade originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to encourage people to make a difference.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name will be given in honour of the esteemed British primatologist who passed away this year. It will recognise individuals and groups that protect the natural world.

Honoring a Legacy

Initial honorees will be revealed during the Starmus VIII festival in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from 17–22 October the coming year.

According to statements that Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had backed the medal's establishment. “The concept of having this award, and the festival being tasked with organising it, was Jane's wish,” a representative said. “She expressed that she wanted this to happen. This is likely because of the very special relationship she had with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge ongoing initiatives carried out to build an environment a better place for all living beings and ecosystems and provide encouragement to carry on that work,” commented a relative.

Structure and Vision

A co-founder of the festival stated that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – will likely have multiple categories.

“The intent is for it to be inspired by the Stephen Hawking award for science communication that we created exactly 10 years ago,” he explained. Jane Goodall herself received of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook of the planet, one figure remarked, “To be truthful, it is difficult to maintain optimism. Present governance globally is conducting a dismissal of evidence. So this significantly hampers the world’s efforts.”

“Realistically, the situation appears particularly bright therefore we must commence reconsidering, more deeply regarding the impact of our actions. And that’s not only global warming, that’s the entire manner in which we interact with nature.”

Inspiring Change

Therefore, it was noted this is an opportune moment to emulate Jane Goodall's legacy. “It is believed that when we’re awarding the prize, we will be considering this essential spirit that Jane embodied – which made her priority, to transform the way we treat fellow creatures with which we share the planet.”

A pressing concern currently involves the spread of misinformation. The theme of next year’s festival will be “the search for truth”.

“We realised that truth has become a subject of discussion when politics is involved. This is a perilous development,” it was said. “The science of climate remains a scientific discipline; you cannot allow interference from politics in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The goal remains that this honor can motivate action. “It focuses on inspiring individuals to get involved and to care and to strive toward these goals, truly. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we must focus on doing our utmost,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of failure, yet we must continue striving to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member engaged in environmental protection shared confidence that “with guidance and when empowered, people are capable of being conscientious guardians of Earth”, pointing to the initiatives of an institute that, among its other activities, assists the next generation become engaged with their community, animals, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother constantly told everyone, our daily actions make a difference and it is up to us what type of impact we choose to create,” it was stated. “There is still time and this medal will offer support and increase understanding about beneficial initiatives that people are making.”