Dr. Goodall: First of all, it's not possible for there to be lasting peace until we learn to live in harmony with the environment. The unsustainable lifestyle of the elite around the world is using up more of our natural resources. The reason Kofi Annan asked me to be a Messenger of Peace was because of our Roots & Shoots program, because Roots & Shoots is a very non-violent program. We believe in changing attitudes through knowledge and understanding, hard work and persistence, love and compassion, leading to respect for all life. We have a strong peace initiative. We try to break down the barriers that we have put up between people of different cultures, religions, and countries. So we truly are sowing seeds for global peace. We encourage interaction between different people around the world. One of our most significant contributions was on UN International Peace Day, 21 Sept. 2003 when we flew giant peace doves in more than 30 countries around the world. About 300 were made. They are huge and beautiful, designed by Puppet Farms Inc. I hope everyone joining this chat will check it out on the website and join us on next Peace Day. I'm hoping for 2000 doves minimum this year! I want the white of the flight to be seen from satellite.
GinnyD: Do you still see organized monkey hunts now that Frodo is no longer in the troop? If so, who instigates this behavior?
Dr. Goodall: The chimpanzees have always hunted, long before Frodo; he just happened to be particularly good at it. Any of them can instigate the hunt, including females.
ANNCH60: Will you ever write a mystery novel?
Dr. Goodall: LOL probably not! I am planning a novel, but I don't have time to write it.
Nicci24: Where do you see progress going with regards to poachers and deforestation in the near future?
Dr. Goodall: We have to replicate our TACARE program around protected areas in more and more places. That expansion is happening now, right across Africa.
Ecojas: Is the problem of chimps in research labs still prevalent? Since companies don't "advertise" that they are experimenting on chimps, how could one get involved in a rescue effort? Can anything be done?
Dr. Goodall: It's getting much, much less common to use chimpanzees, partly because of expense, partly because after all, they were not useful for HIV research, and definitely because of animal rights activists and public protests. There are many, many other animals being used in labs who shouldn't be there. It's very necessary to reevaluate a lot of animal research. Much of it is not useful. Some is harmful to people.
Karline: Do you ever think we will see all the babies being released from the sanctuaries in Africa back to the wild?
Dr. Goodall: No, unfortunately that's very unlikely. There's not enough chimpanzee habitat for all of them and the wild chimpanzees. Wild chimpanzees are territorial and aggressive. The sanctuary chimps trust people, and would wander into villages and hurt or be hurt. There are only a few places where you would be able to release some of ours.
Audrey Glow: I am happy to learn about the new Roots & Shoots website. What else is in Roots & Shoots' future?
Dr. Goodall: I hope that Roots & Shoots will spread into every country around the world because as Roots & Shoots members grow up and move into places of influence in society, they will all share a philosophy of respect for life which can only serve to make the world a better place.
