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At a time when the bad news – the pandemic, climate change, racial injustice – is overwhelming, it may be surprising to hear from an optimist. Jane Goodall may be best known for her work examining chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park, but efforts to promote conservation through the Jane Goodall Institute have also focused primarily on humans through anti-poverty and youth education programs.

His latest contribution to helping people avoid self-destruction, “The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Hard Times“Dr. In his book, co-authored with Douglas Abrams, Goodall outlines four things that give him hope: human intelligence, nature’s resilience, youthful strength, and the “undirected” human spirit. But I didn’t spoil the book for you. The reason to keep reading (or listen to Dr. Goodall talk about some of his audiobook that I recommend) is because Dr. Goodall shares stories from her own life experiences and people she’s met.

Recently Dr. I had the chance to talk to Goodall about why she remained optimistic and what she could do to start feeling hopeful for the rest of us. Here is part of our conversation.

TPP: Why did you decide to write a book about hope?

JG: You know, climate change, biodiversity loss, the pandemic, autocratic regimes taking over in many parts of the world is really brutal. And many people are losing hope. But if everyone loses hope, we have it because, you know, we give up despair, we remain indifferent and do nothing.

But the point is, my definition of hope isn’t just to sit back and say, “Oh, I’m sure everything will be okay.” It’s like a very dark tunnel full of obstacles, but right at the end there’s that little light that shines. And to get to that little light, you’re going to have to fight to get there. It won’t just happen if you don’t make an effort.

TPP: How can people stay hopeful when things are so bad in the world?

JG: We are always told “Think globally but act locally”. But if you think globally, you are filled with a kind of doom and gloom. You don’t have the energy to act. But think about where you are. Is there anything you care about? Yes. I care about the garbage on the streets. Ok, get together with your friends and start cleaning the garbage and you will see that other people stop throwing garbage when the garbage is cleaned. You will see that you are making a difference and you will feel more hope. It’s contagious. Other people will want to do more, and the more other people do and the more hope you get, the more it encourages you to keep going and it will rise in some way.

Every person is important. Every person has a role to play in this crazy life. Every person makes an impact on the planet every day, and we choose what kind of impact we make.

TPP: Based on our past performance, why are you still hopeful about human intelligence?

JG: It is very strange that this most intellectual creature destroyed its only home. But finally, as we face a crisis, scientists are finding more and more innovative ways to combat climate change, such as renewable energy. Ordinary people are starting to think with their brains how they can leave a lighter ecological footprint, what they can do every day. That’s why I think human intelligence is a promising thing if we use it right.

TPP: As the mother of a college student, I can relate to feeling hopeful for the next generation. Why do young people give you hope?

JG: Because of what they did. As we speak, there are groups all over the world that plant trees, clean up garbage, raise money for earthquake survivors or hurricane victims, or for some important projects like animal shelters or rescuing and caring for koalas. fires.

These young people are my great hope. They are passionate. They will not give up. They know that they will have a better future because they say, “By God, we will all make it.”

TPP: There is a chapter in your book called “Jane’s next big adventure”. Why?

JG: Do not die! When you die, there is either nothing, in which case I’m done or something. I think it’s something from the various experiences I’ve had. And if so, I can’t think of a greater adventure than finding out what’s out there. What’s next?

More from the Well newsletter

Hearing aids for everyone

Soon millions of Americans will be able to buy a hearing aid as easily as they buy reading glasses now.

A rule proposed by the Food and Drug Administration would create a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids that should cut costs and make the devices easier for people with mild to moderate hearing impairments to acquire. My colleague Shira Ovide, who wrote the On Tech newsletter, says the rule change “could open the door to ideas we haven’t even imagined yet, wholesale shifts in public awareness of hearing loss, and options to treat it.”

The medical professionals, patient advocates, and technology executives I spoke with are excited about the potential of over-the-counter hearing aids. They imagine the government’s blessing will ignite new inventions from companies like Bose, Best Buy, and Apple. And they believe this could be the start of a golden age for hearing aid.

Read more from Shira Ovide:
Hearing Aid for Everyone

Latest news on Covid booster shots

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved booster vaccines for all fully vaccinated people aged 65 and over, aged 50 and over, who are at high risk for Covid complications due to underlying health conditions, with or without the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Firstly.

The panel also confirmed the so-called mix and match strategy — whether people who have been fully vaccinated with one company’s vaccine will be allowed to switch to a different vaccine for their supplements.

The decision is likely Moderna and J.&J. Buyers will be able to receive booster doses as early as this weekend. Pfizer buyers are already eligible. The new guideline now recommends booster doses for:

• Moderna and Pfizer recipients aged 65 and over who have been vaccinated for at least six months; or in long-term care facilities; or 50 years of age or older with underlying medical conditions that put them at risk for COVID-19 complications.

• All Johnson and Johnson recipients 18 years of age or older must be vaccinated for at least two months.

Other individuals eligible to receive booster doses if they choose include:

• People between the ages of 18 and 49 with at-risk medical conditions.

• People whose jobs put them at high risk for exposure to Covid-19, including health and public safety workers, public transport and Postal Services workers, grocery and food workers, and those working in prisons or homeless shelters.

Read more:
Mix and Match Covid Boosters: Why Could They Work?

Week at the Well

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Take care of yourself!