Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots UK Winter 2020 newsletter

Posted on December 17th, 2020.

Dear Members,

As we come to the end of an extremely challenging and disruptive year I am reminded of a quote from a wise colleague of mine many years ago…

”It’s easy to Captain a ship when the sea is calm”….or, in other words, “A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.”

Well, this year I am sure that I speak for every one of us when I say that we have had to Captain our ‘metaphorical ships’ in extremely stormy and tempestuous weathers.

Lessons learnt.

Despite the horror of the magnitude of lives lost and our medical facilities struggling at full capacity to contain the outbreak, the Pandemic has also brought out some positive outcomes; a cleaner planet, reduced air pollution through reduction in international and national travel, rare animal sightings and rehabituation, greater awareness and respect of zoonotic diseases and the destruction they can cause, more frequent global contact than ever before through advanced technology.

And there is good news! Thanks to the dedication and resourcefulness of our medical experts, a vaccination is around the corner.

Also, this month we saw our largest ever mailing, 20,000 R&S Local Safari books sent out to schools across the UK. A milestone in our programme’s history.

And a four year contract signed with the Emirates Literature Foundation in the UAE, giving the programme an exciting new spin through their Voices of Future Generations project, promoting environmental education through the great medium of literacy.

So, to my amazing and resilient members, remember, there IS every reason to remain hopeful and optimistic.

We will get through this, we will get through this together and we will see brighter times ahead once more.

Have a ‘thoughtful’ and restful Christmas and New Year.

Stay safe and well.