Dr Jane Goodall said the practice of climate activists blocking roads was counterproductive. AFP
Dr Jane Goodall said the practice of climate activists blocking roads was counterproductive. AFP
Dr Jane Goodall said the practice of climate activists blocking roads was counterproductive. AFP
Dr Jane Goodall said the practice of climate activists blocking roads was counterproductive. AFP

Jane Goodall warns activists 'blocking roads won't save the planet'


Marwa Hassan
  • English
  • Arabic

Prominent primatologist Dame Jane Goodall on Thursday called for action to protect the planet in an interview with BBC Radio 4 but said activist groups blockading cities and motorways will not help the environment.

Dr Goodall, 88, said the devastating effects of climate change could lead to mass extinction.

“I'm still travelling frantically around the world because if everybody loses hope they will do nothing because they feel helpless,” she said, warning that time is running out to put things right before the planet heats up irrevocably.

She urged people to take action by reducing their reliance on fossil fuels, investing in renewable energy and changing their diet to eat less meat and more plant-based foods.

The renowned conservationist also stressed the importance of protecting endangered species such as chimpanzees.

Dr Goodall has inspired millions of people to take action to protect the planet.

Her passion for saving animals and the environment has even led to the creation of a new TV series for children, Jane's Animal Adventures, which encourages children to join the Roots and Shoots programme.

The project is aimed at empowering children to pioneer change in their communities.

“I think it's going to be a huge hit with children,” Dr Goodall said of Roots and Shoots

“I think children absolutely love that kind of mixture of reality with these, you know, wild journeys through space and animals coming to life."

She encouraged children to take action in their own neighbourhoods to make a difference, highlighting the success story of saving the black robin from extinction in New Zealand.

While supporting direct action to combat climate change, Dame Jane Goodall cautions against disruptive protests that block roads, arguing that they can be counterproductive and turn people against the cause. Getty Images
While supporting direct action to combat climate change, Dame Jane Goodall cautions against disruptive protests that block roads, arguing that they can be counterproductive and turn people against the cause. Getty Images

In response to a question about direct action protests, Dr Goodall argued that activists should not block roads and disrupt people's everyday lives.

“I'd like to see more direct action but not the kind that … blocking traffic for miles and miles along the high road of ordinary people trying to get home to cook supper or be with their children. That is counterproductive, I think,” she said.

She believes everyone can make a difference and the focus should be on positive action to inspire others and raise money to help endangered species.

Despite being nearly 90, Dr Goodall still spends 300 days a year travelling the world, inspiring others to address environmental issues.

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
Brief scores:

Toss: India, opted to field

Australia 158-4 (17 ov)

Maxwell 46, Lynn 37; Kuldeep 2-24

India 169-7 (17 ov)

Dhawan 76, Karthik 30; Zampa 2-22

Result: Australia won by 4 runs by D/L method

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYango%20Deli%20Tech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERetail%20SaaS%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESelf%20funded%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl

Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: Dh99,000

On sale: now

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

Company profile

Name: GiftBag.ae

Based: Dubai

Founded: 2011

Number of employees: 4

Sector: E-commerce

Funding: Self-funded to date

THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali

Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”

Favourite TV programme: the news

Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”

Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad

 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 402bhp

Torque: 760Nm

Price: From Dh280,000

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENomad%20Homes%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHelen%20Chen%2C%20Damien%20Drap%2C%20and%20Dan%20Piehler%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20and%20Europe%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20PropTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2444m%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Acrew%20Capital%2C%2001%20Advisors%2C%20HighSage%20Ventures%2C%20Abstract%20Ventures%2C%20Partech%2C%20Precursor%20Ventures%2C%20Potluck%20Ventures%2C%20Knollwood%20and%20several%20undisclosed%20hedge%20funds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

2252 - Dh50

6025 - Dh20

6027 - Dh100

6026 - Dh200

Updated: April 27, 2023, 1:51 PM