Letter

In response to Jane Goodall, the gentle disrupter whose research on chimpanzees redefined what

Another 20th century giant has left the building

As we slide deeper and deeper into the vortex of the 21st century, we’re farewelling more and more of the people who, through their intellect and character, have shaped the way we view the world in which we live. Jane Goodall joins Curie, Fleming, Gandhi and Einstein in that honoured pantheon.

Through her work among our nearest cousins in their natural state, she confirmed we are risen apes, not the fallen angels our egotistical backstory would have us as. Whether this revelation is going to help us with the problem of living with each other and stabilising the climate upon which we depend is yet to be seen.

Goodall noted that the most successful chimpanzee troop leaders were gentle and caring, but that didn’t prevent the dominance of murderous war parties and the genocide of neighbouring troops. Fearfully, right now it’s looking like we’re still battling with that dilemma.

— John Mosig from Kew, Victoria