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The world could be under strain, however a sense of hope remains. A fresh honor originating at the science, music and arts festival Starmus seeks to motivate the public to take action.

The medal will be given to pay tribute to the esteemed British primatologist who passed away this year. It is designed to celebrate individuals and groups that champion life on Earth.

Honoring a Legacy

Initial honorees will be revealed during the Starmus VIII festival 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 backed the award’s creation. “The vision behind this award, and the festival being tasked with organising it, was Jane's wish,” a representative said. “She expressed she would like this to happen. This is likely because of the unique relationship she shared with the festival.”

“This medal will acknowledge sustainable programmes carried out to build an environment improved for people, animals and the environment and provide encouragement to carry on such efforts,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of Starmus noted that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – will likely encompass various fields.

“It’s going to be inspired by the Stephen Hawking award honoring scientific outreach established exactly 10 years ago,” he explained. Jane Goodall herself received of that award.

Sharing thoughts about the future of the planet, a prominent voice remarked, “Frankly, it's challenging to feel hopeful. Present governance in one major nation is conducting a dismissal of evidence. So this significantly hampers global initiatives.”

“To be honest, the situation appears particularly bright which means we need to commence reflecting, much more seriously about the consequences of human activity. And that’s not only global warming, but also the entire manner in which we interact with nature.”

A Call to Action

As a result, it was noted it was a good time to honor Goodall’s example. “I think that when we’re awarding the prize, the focus will be on this core philosophy of Jane’s – that was her priority, to change the way we treat fellow creatures with which we share the planet.”

Another key issue at present involves the spread of false information. The theme of next year’s Starmus festival will be “the search for truth”.

“There is a recognition that truth has become a matter of debate where political interests is involved. This is a very dangerous thing,” he commented. “The science of climate is a science; you cannot allow interference from politics in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The hope remains that this honor will spur action. “The purpose is motivating others to get involved and to show concern and to work in that direction, truly. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we have to focus on doing all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for setbacks, yet we must continue striving to achieve positive outcomes.”

A descendant engaged in environmental protection shared optimism that “given direction and once enabled, people are capable of being diligent stewards of our planet”, highlighting the programs of an institute which, in addition to its projects, helps the next generation become engaged locally, wildlife, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother often emphasized, our daily actions have an impact and it is up to us what type of impact we choose to create,” he said. “We still have an opportunity and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will provide inspiration and raise awareness about the positive actions that people are making.”