Jane Goodall: Famous Last Words
Netflix has come up with an eye catching title, Famous Last Words, with its star this week being the late Jane Goodall, who died on October 1. The concept is not a new one, in the sense that very often as part of interviews with people in public life there is the question, “How would you like to be remembered?” The interviewee then tends to pause somewhat sheepishly, knowing that the recording will be played when the time comes. Famous Last Words is slightly different in that the interviewee knows for certain that what they say will be published, and more importantly, it will only be published after they die.
Therefore, for Dame Goodall, in March she may or may not have been ill or known the end was near, but for the viewer it was a very contemporary analysis of her perspective and the way of the world. What was perhaps surprising her revelation of the people this activist, conservationist and scientist did not like. Basically, it was a roll call of evil people according to her perspective. So obviously, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Xi Jinping. All of them would be sent into deepest, darkest space, on one of Musk’s spaceship. What is interesting here is the way that Jane Goodall blames the leaders, not the people they lead. It would appear that according to her perspective, we the people are the victims of these leaders of society, and could if we wanted do something to get rid of them. Or one presumes, prevent people like them getting into positions of power and influence.
Obviously, Goodall had a life of great positive influence. As she said in the interview, we should all attempt to discover the positive role we have within us, and not lose the hope that we can find out what that role is. She was by any standards an exceptional person, who was exceptionally lucky, if only on the basis of being admitted to study a PhD at Cambridge, without having two previous degrees. She was clearly a trailblazer for women in science, and perhaps second only to Sir David Attenborough, shining a light on the plight of the environment.
However, shining a light is one thing, coming up with the tough solutions is another. With 8bn in the world all wanting and having a right to broadband, secondary education, a mobile phone, a laptop and s stylish wardrobe, it is impossible that the environment cannot be destroyed, and species decimated. Goodall was perhaps superseded in recent years by more aggressive activists, with rather harsher messages. One doubts that anyone in Just Stop Oil, or Greta Thunberg will receive the accolades that Goodall received. But they are clearly the type of people who want to take things further than just highlighting a problem, they want action. But at least for the likes of 20TH century people like Goodall, the message was and is, unless you identify a problem you cannot solve it. Goodall was still at the philosophical stage of saying that there should not be any poverty, we should not be greedy, and presumably, we should all never jump a queue. However, all of the above would require magical powers, or a very big cheque. Neither of these exist. But it is easier to say peace and love, than say that it cannot be achieved, and certainly that is not something which will receive any accolades or celebrity.
The Manchester Synagogue Attack Aftermath
If there was a time for a ceasefire in Gaza, this week was surely it. The synagogue horror in Manchester underlined what a disastrous position we are in on religious and geopolitical matters, as well as of course the way that Left and Right in politics has become supercharged in the most divisive way with Woke and Anti-Woke. Even more frustrating is the way is that we have all pieces to solve the puzzle but cannot be seen to come out on the side of one perspective or the other.
The cause is a mix of political correctness, and demographics. But one can see this played out painfully in terms of our politicians. Of course, there are those in the public arena who have the luxury of being able to be fully on the Israel / Jewish side or the Palestinian / Muslim side. But for those in power such as David Lammy or Shabana Mahmood, one can simply see them squirm in terms of what wording to use, and how to play the situation as even handedly as possible.
Is the war in Gaza a cause for terror in the UK? Was October 7 a cause for the war in Gaza? These questions are answered differently depending on which side of the fence you are on. That said, it is not beyond our wit to know what the real answer is? Ironically, in a democracy come up with the correct answer to the $64,000 question can be the most divisive thing to do. It is only once the issue is resolved, if it is ever resolved, that the truth of an issue can be allowed to rise to the top.
Therefore, we are on the edge of our seats hoping that the conflict in Gaza will cease. Looking at news reports it would appear that at least in Gaza the vox populi have no further appetite for anything other than a return to a normal life.
