1. Peaceful Holidays from JGIA
From all of us at the Jane Goodall Institute Australia and all the JGIs and Roots & Shoots (R&S) groups worldwide, we hope that you are having a safe and peaceful holiday season with your loved ones – humans and animals alike! We also want to thank you for all that you do as donors, R&S members, Chimp Guardians, etc for all that you do to help us make this world a better place. Finally we want to share a special holiday message of thanks and peace from Dr Goodall here. Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2016!
2. JGI’s International Phone Recycling Day
How many old mobile phones do you have hiding in drawers around the house? Did you know that recycling your old phones could help chimpanzees? One of the biggest threats to chimpanzees and other Great Apes is the illegal mining of coltan, a mineral used in many electronics. Mining results in the clearing of essential habitat and drives the bush meat trade, further exacerbating the decline of Great Ape populations.
Recycling your old phone couldn’t be easier! In fact, January 26th is JGI’s International Mobile Phone Recycling Day. Here in Australia we will be leading the campaign at schools and workplaces across the nation. Find out more and sign up here.
3. Applications Open for JGIA’s NYLC
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our inaugural R&S National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC)! The NYLC will be made up of the highest level of youth leaders in Australia. Members are the youth voice of R&S Australia and work hard to support the organisation’s success. NYLC members are provided with fun and comprehensive training and opportunities to mentor Roots & Shoots members and represent Roots & Shoots at events. Members gain access to influential leaders and networks that will help them grow their leadership capabilities.
If you are a young leader aged between 16-25 who is ready to join a passionate group of young people from around Australia that are making positive change happen for people, animals, and the environment, apply now here.
4. COP21, the Paris Agreement and Tapestry of Hope
JGIA applauds our world leaders for constructing the Paris Agreement and Dr Jane Goodall was very pleased to have been a part of this monumental move towards hope for our planet. Dr Goodall was in Paris for the US climate summit to save forests from corruption and intensive farming and explains in this video how she remains optimistic about nature being resilient. Dr. Goodall spoke at various sessions throughout COP21 and among powerful quotes such as “we must stop thinking of money as a God”, she also launched a Tapestry of Hope with Sylvia Earle.
Tapestry of Hope is an interactive Esri tool that maps thousands of projects being done by young people around the globe through Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Program. The Tapestry highlights that we have the potential as individuals to emulate the Paris Agreement and join efforts to reduce our carbon footprint.
5. R&S Highlight – Keeping Randwick’s Trees
Congratulations to NSW’s Keeping Randwick’s Trees (KRT) Roots & Shoots group on working with Randwick Council to help save Centennial Park Trees on the proposed new light rail route. KRT’s use of orange bows on trees to raise awareness about which trees have been approved for removal inspired the council to use orange for their signs in this major campaign along the busy Alison Road. KRT’s group also made Tree Talismans for Peace for some of the threatened trees. To find out more or help out by signing the KRTs petition to amend the light rail route click here.
6. Thank you SEMA and Donations Platform Refresh
Have you noticed a change to our donation forms? Over the past few months we have been working to streamline the donation process, and you may have noticed our new online shop and donation pages. We are excited to announce that designs have been refreshed and we have a new platform. Check out the changes by visiting our donations page, online shop or by becoming a Chimp Guardian.
As a result of these changes, we owe a huge thank you to our friends at SEMA! Over the past couple of years SEMA has helped us enormously by sending our newsletter to our supporters. Now that we have a new platform and are more self-reliant, we are able to send the newsletter ourselves. As SEMA says, “we make it our business to get your message delivered” and we certainly couldn’t have done that without you SEMA so once again – thank you from all of us at JGIA!
