From the 17th to 24th of November, Dr. Jane Goodall made her tenth visit to China. Since 1998, Dr. Goodall has visited Beijing, and at least one other city in China, almost every year, in order to encourage individual action towards of environmental protection and to promote the Roots & Shoots Program in China. This year, under the coordination of JGI China’s Roots & Shoots Offices in Beijing and Chengdu, Dr. Jane took part in the Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Summit as well as a Roots & Shoots Get-together. She also made a few public speeches and school visits. Dr. Goodall met, for the second time, with Mr Pan Yue, Deputy Director of the State Environmental Protection Administration. During this visit, Dr. Jane also went to meet with, and speak to, Roots & Shoots in Chengdu.

Dr. Goodall was very excited to hear about the progress made by Roots & Shoots groups all over China during the year 2007, and she then shared the news in her meetings and lectures, encouraging enthusiasm and interest in more people to take action

Roots & Shoots Summi

On November 18th, more than 180 Roots & Shoots members from all over China joined the 2007 Roots & Shoots Youth Summit at Beijing City International School (BCIS) together with our beloved Dr. Jane Goodall.

In the morning, three workshop sessions were held with local experts in the areas of “environment and action,” “wildlife conservation,” and “energy.” Participants divided into three groups according to their pre-chosen topic of interest.Each workshop featured a presentation by environmental education experts from Friends of Nature, the MiluPark and Greenpeace, each of whom talked about interactive environmental protection education, protection of endangered wildlife and renewable energy, respectively. In order to broaden horizons and stimulate new initiatives among the participants, the workshops included lectures and interactive methods such as games and sharing of experiences.

In the afternoon, there were exhibition tables for those R&S groups receiving R&S Achievement Awards. The displays were very diverse, including such projects as the “Rainwater collection” project by Beijing Ya’Er Hutong Primary School and “Concern for the black bear” project by TianjinMachangdaoPrimary School. The various projects were highly praised by Dr. Jane. The R&S Summit day concluded with a congratulatory speech by Dr. Jane. Congratulations were also extended to the participants by special guest, Mr. Jia Feng, the Director of the China Environmental Education Centre (CEEC).

Public Lecture

November 18th, at the Auditorium of the Affiliated Middle School to BeijingUniversity

Every year, Dr. Jane Goodall’s Public Lecture in Beijing is a very exciting and well-attended event.She spoke for an hour, in which she shared her legendary research experience with Chimpanzees in Africa, her love of all animals, the environment and the Earth, as well as her hopes for the future. When she asked the audience of more than 1,000, “Who hopes to change our world?” everyone stood-up; such enthusiasm from her audiences continues to inspire Dr. Jane, and all of us, that we can indeed change our world!

After the speech, Dr. Jane Goodall awarded certificates to the R&S groups who earned the Roots & Shoots of Achievement Awards this year.

Photo by Daniel Adler

Meeting with Mr. Pan Yue

On November 19th, Dr. Jane, together with representatives from JGI China, had a friendly and interesting meeting with Mr. Pan Yue, Deputy Director of the State Environmental Protection Administration and some representatives from the China Environment and Culture Promotion Association (CECPA). The discussion ranged from how we can work to further alter the attitude of citizens, both in China and around the world, toward sustainable development; to an informal agreement for collaboration between Roots & Shoots and CECPA on planning for a youth summit.

CSR Lunch

On November 19th, the Sino-US Chamber of Commerce’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee hosted a luncheon event for Dr. Jane Goodall. At the event, Dr. Jane was introduced by Bill Valentino, who is Vice President of Bayer China and also a member of the JGI China Board of Directors. Dr. Jane and Bill both encouraged the guests and their companies to get involved in working for better, more sustainable development in China, and for corporate social responsibility.

School visit at Beijing Ya’Er Hutong Primary School

On November 22nd, the world-renowned scientist and UN Ambassador for Peace, Dr. Jane Goodall, visited Beijing Ya’Er Hutong Primary School.

The children welcomed Dr. Jane with a drum performance. After a short speech made by Dr. Jane, the kids performed several educational programs and shared some of their small projects and inventions, such as a mini self-seeping well and a rain collecting shield. The show, which won great praise from Dr. Jane and the other guests, was very creative and interesting.

Before saying goodbye to the kids, Dr. Jane went with some of them to the Shi Cha Lakeside to test the water quality of the lake. The Ya’Er School has been participating in the World Water Monitoring Day activities, and wanted to show Dr. Jane what they had learned.

Photo by Margaret Cabanis-Wicht

Thanksgiving Gala Dinner

On the evening of November 23rd, JGI China hosted the Harvest Family Feast Thanksgiving Dinner at the new JW Marriott Hotel’s Ballroom. The event featured a Thanksgiving buffet dinner (with vegetarian options), a presentation by the ISB Roots & Shoots group, a Lucky Draw and Auction, as well as a speech and book-signing time by Dr. Jane. 260 people attended, and the proceeds from this successful event will go to support the Roots & Shoots Program in China.

LakeProject at WAB