This lovely day of sanctuary was sponsored by Robin Lundy, in honor of Jane Goodall on her birthday. Robin shared this thoughtful, heartfelt and poignant note about her gift:
“I am sponsoring today in honor of Jane Goodall on her birthday. With Biruté Galdikas and the late Dian Fossey, Dr. Goodall has devoted her life and work to advocate for the survival and well-being of our primate cousins. There are few humans whom I admire more than this woman of courage and vision. As the human species is besieged in the corona virus pandemic, it is well worth considering the ways in which we may have engendered the proliferation of this virus through our use – and misuse – of our natural environment and the non-human animals with whom we share our fragile biosphere. May the experience of the pandemic serve to teach us that human animals do not exist apart from the natural world, and as such, we must respect and protect the ecosystem. In honoring Dr. Goodall as a prophetic voice and witness, I like to think that people like Missy, her daughter Honey B (and for that matter, Honey the cow) also admire her for her life’s work of advocacy and activism on behalf of animals.”
Robin, thank you for allowing us the opportunity to celebrate Jane Goodall on her special day and the contributions through courage, hope and inspiration that she, and so many amazing women of all species, have and continue to make to life. And for reminding us that be they primate (including our human selves), bovine, plant, or otherwise, there truly is no separation.
From our sanctuary home in the mountains, we all send intentions of gratitude, joy and well-being across the waters to you, Dr. Goodall! We wish you a beautiful birthday! May the hope, kindness and steadfast resolve you inspire in so many of us stay bright in your heart and may we manifest it in the world around us all.
Missy:
and her daughter, Honey B:
Missy:
Honey B:
Missy:
Honey B:
Honey:
and her daughter, Meredith:
Honey (L) and Meredith (R):
Linda C says
Robin, what a fabulous idea!
I second all you’ve said about Dr. Goodall. I had the opportunity to hear her speak in person once, but it involved cancelling class, and I felt so dedicated to that job as a graduate student that I didn’t. It is one of my few regrets in life.
I hope your lovely words and all of our intentions reach her ears and her heart today.
Kathleen says
Profound message, so well stated! Happy Birthday dear Jane Goodall. She is one of the people I admire most. I am crushed her tour had to be cancelled this year due to the virus. Jane’s inspirational words of wisdom and HOPE are desperately needed, especially now. I had the honor of hearing Jane speak in 2015 and I will never, ever forget that day. Never. After the lecture, Jane graciously sat to sign items for everyone on line (hundreds of people!). When I handed her my book I became this childish, star-struck, shaking, rambling girl. Just looking into her beautiful, gentle eyes made me weak in the knees and my heart was pounding knowing I was in the presence of greatness.
To Robin Lundy’s list of the founding women primatologists I would like to include a mention for Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, the third women in Leakey’s Angels and founder of Orangutan Foundation International (OFI). All of these women altered science/history and I bet Jamie would really love to read a book about them.
Sandie Allaway says
So beautiful. All the words, the chimps, and the moo’s.