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Earth could be under pressure, however a sense of hope remains. A novel accolade from the interdisciplinary festival Starmus seeks to motivate individuals to make a difference.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal is to be awarded to pay tribute to the esteemed British primatologist who died recently. It is designed to celebrate individuals and groups that advocate for the natural world.

Honoring a Legacy

The inaugural winners are slated for announcement at the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd the coming year.

According to statements that Jane Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had endorsed the award’s creation. “The idea of having this award, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, is Jane’s,” a representative said. “Her desire was that she wanted this to happen. And I think due to the unique connection she had with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal aims to highlight ongoing initiatives carried out to create a planet a better place for people, animals and the environment and provide encouragement to continue such efforts,” commented a relative.

Structure and Vision

One of the founders of the festival noted that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – would probably include several divisions.

“It will be modeled after the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach established exactly 10 years ago,” it was explained. Jane Goodall was a recipient of that award.

Sharing thoughts about the future for Earth, a prominent voice remarked, “Frankly, it is difficult to be optimistic. Present governance in one major nation is conducting an assault on knowledge. So this undermines collective action.”

“Realistically, the prospects aren't very good therefore we must commence reflecting, with greater urgency regarding the impact of our actions. And that’s not just climate change, but also the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

Following an Example

Therefore, it was noted this is a good time to follow Goodall’s example. “It is believed that in bestowing the prize, the focus will be on this core philosophy that Jane embodied – which made her foremost concern, to change our relationship with the other animals around us.”

A major topic currently is the proliferation of false information. The central topic of next year’s festival will be “the search for truth”.

“There is a recognition that factual reality has become a matter of debate when politics is 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 aspiration remains that this honor can motivate action. “It’s about motivating others to participate and to care and to work in that direction, truly. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we have to look at working our utmost,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for failure, yet we must have to work towards succeeding.”

A descendant involved in conservation work shared confidence that “given direction and when empowered, humanity can be responsible caretakers of Earth”, highlighting the initiatives of an institute that, in addition to its projects, assists the next generation get involved locally, wildlife, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother often emphasized, the choices we make each day make a difference and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we make,” he said. “It is not too late and this medal will provide inspiration and raise awareness regarding the positive actions that are being undertaken.”