Roots & Shoots Australia

Meet Roots and Shoots member Tahlia Walsh and hear her Climate Strike story!

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12 year old Tahlia Walsh from Virtual School Victoria

“Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are at the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you…? The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say we will never forgive you.”

These are the passionate words of 16 year old climate activist from Sweden, Greta Thunberg, to the United Nations on Monday September 23, 2019. These words reflect the very clear message that was sent to Victorian, Australian, and world leaders at the School Strike for Climate March in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday September 20, 2019.

My name is Tahlia Walsh, and I am a passionate 12 year old environmentalist/activist in Year 7 at Virtual School Victoria. I am an active member of Dr Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, and have had the privilege of meeting and talking to Dr Jane in person on three occasions. She is my greatest inspiration and personal mentor. I am also honoured to be the Youth Ambassador for Palm Oil Investigations.

I simply had to participate with over one hundred thousand people in the historic protest on climate change in Melbourne, to protect my future from being destroyed. Until the world leaders and politicians start to seriously act on the climate emergency, I will keep marching to protest, along with millions of people around the world. Internationally, there are growing concerns that Australia is not doing enough to cut carbon emissions. It is appalling that our own Prime Minister, Scott Morrison chose not to attend the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York recently, despite being in America to visit Donald Trump.

Tahlia Walsh marching at the Climate Strike on Friday, 20th September.

On Friday 20th September 2019, around 4 million people from over 150 countries across every continent participated in the climate strike. Even scientists in Antarctica joined in on the strike! Greta Thunberg started the movement on her own as a 15 year old schoolgirl, sitting in front of the Swedish Parliament on a Friday in August 2018. She held a simple sign with a powerful message: “School Strike 4 Climate.” Fast forward to just over one year later, and she has now completed her 57th climate strike. Given the time differences across the globe, Australia got the ball rolling and the sheer volume of people seen participating, through social media, would have fed the movement. Marches were held everywhere from Kabul in Afghanistan lead by a military officer, to New York City led by Greta herself. There were school kids, business people, grandparents, adults and babies! This was the march that united the world.

The mass of people and their powerful placards said it all. Dogs with their owners wearing signs saying ‘Hot Dog’. Pregnant women with signs on their bellies stating ‘We want a future for our babies’. There were toddlers in prams bearing banners reading ‘Nap Strike 4 Climate’. People from all walks of life came together as one, as we all share this precious but fragile earth. The atmosphere was like nothing I have ever experienced in such a large crowd – it was peaceful but powerful. It was the perfect example of what humanity can achieve if we work together. As a young person, I strongly believe we can unite and preserve the earth for future generations.

“I like to envision the world as a jigsaw puzzle … If you look at the whole picture, it is overwhelming and terrifying. But if you work on your little part of the jigsaw, and know that people all over the world are working on their little bits, that’s what will give you hope.” -Dr Jane Goodall

 

Written by Tahlia Walsh, Virtual School Victoria
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World Chimpanzee Day SA Art Competition

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To celebrate World Chimpanzee Day 2019, the South Australia Roots & Shoots team wanted to raise awareness of our closest living relative, so they asked their members to create and send in their original artwork of chimpanzees.

Below are the marvellous entries we received. We love how every piece speaks for itself and showcases imagination, creativity and our favourite, chimpanzees.

Thank you to all the participants!

Jasmine Reader- age 13

Sienna Reader age-10

Indy-Rose Kingham age-8

Simon Le age- 7

Noah Anderson age-7

Dekoda Kingham age-6

Layne Anderson age-4

Zara Hook- age 3

If you would still like to send in artwork which may possibly feature on our social media,  we would be delighted to receive it.

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World Environment Day 2019 SA

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SCHOOLS, PLASTICS AND ROOTS & SHOOTS

About 150 children brainstormed ways to reduce their plastics usage, as part of Roots & Shoots’ information sessions at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens for World Environment Day (WED) on Wednesday 5th June 2019.

The information sessions and mind-mapping activities were run by Roots & Shoots members, Polly Gfrerer and Jarryd Tiu, who took time from their busy school schedules to support the environmental program.

Polly and Jarryd talked to six different classes of Reception to Year 7 students about actions they could take to make positive changes in their environment, including reducing environmental impacts of plastic waste.

In total, nearly 2000 students took part in dozens of environmental activities at the Botanic Gardens for WED.

Roots & Shoots SA is a program of the Jane Goodall Institute Australia which supports young people in more than 140 countries to take part in environmental, conservation and humanitarian issues.

If you would like more information about Roots & Shoots in SA, please contact Wendy Fowler on 0409 257 722 or see https://janegoodall.nationbuilder.com/rootsnshoots-sign-up

 

Polly & Jarryd explaining to their group what plastic waste is and how it affects sea life.

 

Students brainstorming ways to reduce their plastic usage

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Living with Hope- Monarto Zoo SA Event

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A tiny chimpanzee baby, called Hope, met her benefactor Dr Jane Goodall when the global environmentalist visited Monarto Zoo on the 15th May, as part of her ‘Rewind the Future Tour.’

Dr Goodall, who conferred the aspirational name on the three-month-old chimp, also gave her own name to Monarto’s Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Conservation Centre.

Baby Hope is the eleventh member to join the centre, a state-of-the-art outdoor compound and glassed viewing enclosure where the chimpanzees are carefully managed by zoo staff for health and well-being.

Dr Goodall was joined on the day by members of the Jane Goodall Institute Australia (JGIA) and ZooSA during this final event in the Australian leg of her world tour.

She also lunched with Zoo sponsors in the Monarto Pavilion restaurant.

A relentless storyteller for change, Dr Goodall spoke of her early research with the chimpanzees of Gombe in East Africa, and how subsequent loss of habitat and predation have driven primate communities to near-extinction.

She called for universal action against climate change and habitat destruction, and for greater compassion towards all other non-human species.

The Monarto visit marked the end of an exciting program of activities and presentations which were jointly organised by JGIA and ZoosSA.

Wendy Fowler | SA R&S Coordinator
Photo Credits: Mark Tipple

 

Facebook Live Stream Monarto Zoo 15th May 11AM

  1. https://www.facebook.com/MonartoZoo/videos/429442894498748?s=100003749022473&v=e&sfns=mo
  2. https://www.facebook.com/MonartoZoo/videos/423739961792323?s=100010441245762&v=e&sfns=mo

 

The Advertiser SA – Print, Online – May 15, 2019
Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall reveals Zombi the Monarto chimp is pregnant
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/technology/science/renowned-primatologist-jane-goodall-reveals-zombi-the-monarto-chimp-is-pregnant/news-story/70777233f7a82cb00918639557b3a872

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Dr Jane’s visit to Adelaide Zoo

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South Australian Roots and Shoots volunteers attended a closed presentation by Dr Jane Goodall during her Rewind the Future tour on 14 May. The event at Adelaide Zoo was as also attended by the Adelaide Zoo’s Youth at the Zoo (YATZ).

The session started with a short introduction about the Roots & Shoots program and philosophy, aptly presented by Roots and Shoots volunteer Tory West, followed by a few YATZ members who spoke passionately and enthusiastically about their 2018 exchange trip to Zambia, and the various humanitarian projects they completed over the 3 week trip.
Next it was Dr Jane’s turn to speak to the group. She talked about the influence that youth can have on creating positive change and the role that we play to help conserve our world. It was also an opportunity for members to ask any questions that they might have about global conservation, as well as more personal questions.

Following this, Dr Jane, the YATZ and volunteers walked to the orangutan enclosure where a mobile phone recycling box had been set up. Dr Jane stood with a smile and watched as each member placed an old mobile phone into the recycle box.

The event was concluded with a wholesome lunch (pizza) and an enthusiastic chant from Jane; “Together we can, together we will!”

Lisa | WA NYLC
Photo Credits: Mark Tipple

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Melbourne Zoo Event- Victoria

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Dr Jane visited Melbourne Zoo on the 12th of May, where she met Roots & Shoots members and Youth at the Zoo (YATZ) members.

Roots & Shoots members presented some of their projects to Dr Jane, which included protecting Leadbeater’s possums and their habitat, koala conservation, microplastic pollution and palm oil.

Isaac Busuttil is a passionate Wildlife Warrior

Libby Fisher, a powerful koala conservation & health advocate

St Peter’s Primary School supporting Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction Schools program & educating on sustainable palm oil

Liam Shaw a Platypus ambassador & microplastic advocate

Tahlia Walsh raising awareness on habitat protection for Leadbeater’s Possum

St Kilda Primary School championing protection of their local fairy penguin colonies & educating on organic waste collection procedures

 

Dr Jane also visited the Orang-utan enclosure at the zoo, where she spoke about the need for the mandatory labelling of palm oil and deforestation free palm oil production.

Roots & Shoots and YATZ members created posters demanding mandatory labelling of palm oil on Australian products. Dr Jane addressed attendees where she reinforced that youth taking action to create positive change was one of her biggest reasons for hope for a more sustainable future.

Dr Jane encouraged participants at the event to reduce their environmental footprint by making ethical choices and reducing or removing meat from their diet. Dr Jane also encouraged Roots & Shoots and YATZ members to persevere and never give up in their collective fight to create a better planet for animals, people and the environment.

Roots & Shoots would like to thank Melbourne Zoo and YATZ for hosting this event with us and we look forward to many such collaborations in future.

Asitha Samarawickrama | NYLC Coordinator
Photo Credits: Phil Hines

Melbourne Zoo – Palm Oil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcMcGDgrA74 

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Melbourne Think Inc Lecture

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On the 11th of May, crowds filled the Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre to hear Dr Jane speak at her ‘Rewind the Future’ event. The Victorian Roots & Shoots Volunteers and members of the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) were lucky enough to sit in among the members of the public as Dr Jane greeted us with a pant-hoot.


We were then taken on a journey of Dr Jane’s life; from growing up as a little girl, reading Tarzan and dreaming of living among the wild animals. Then moving to Tanzania and after many months, eventually gaining the chimpanzees’ trust and being able to take an intimate glimpse into their little-known world, to finally becoming the activist she is today. Dr Jane inspires so many people around the world to fight for the incredible planet we live on.


Dr Jane expressed her views on the dilemma of introduced species; asking us all to treat them with respect and compassion, whilst removing them from the environment. She spoke about her reasons for hope; the indomitable human spirit and the many young people around the world creating change. Lastly, she encouraged us all to be the instigators of change by participating in small, every day actions which amount to create a collective impact. Together we can. Together we will.

Asha Mortel | QLD NYLC
Photo Credits: Phil Hines

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Dr Jane Goodall joins Tree Planting revegetation project at Yarra Flats Park, Eaglemont, Victoria!

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On 11th May, over 100 primary school students from the Roots & Shoots schools including Templestowe Valley Primary School, Fintona Girls’ School and the 1st Eaglemont Scouts gathered at Yarra Flats Park to experience the extraordinary pleasure of meeting Dr Jane Goodall before commandeering a major tree planting operation.

The morning commenced with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Uncle Dave Wandin and an official welcome by the Honourable Lily D’Ambrosio. Dr Jane then delivered a motivational speech, emphasising that now more than ever, we must tap into our indomitable human spirit to maintain hope in taking action to conserve the environment. She also highlighted the importance of nurturing our powerful, younger community members, and how essential their role will be for future generations. The primary school students worked alongside Dr Jane and students from La Trobe University to physically manifest Dr Jane’s message by planting more than 1500 trees in an effort to ecologically restore the Annulus Billabong. Dr Jane left with the message of ‘Together we can, together we will’.

Below is a link to a poem by Ryan Ringin, titled ‘Putting the Plants Back’, his writing was inspired by the events of the day.
Putting the plants back – Poem FINAL

Thank you very much to Dr Jane, the Une Parkinson Foundation, Revive Earth, Parks Victoria, Sarah Triolo and the Roots & Shoots volunteer team.

Bec  Everett | NYLC VIC
Photo Credits: Phil Hines

 

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JGIA acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands and pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present.

The generosity of people like you is what makes our work possible. The JGIA strives to improve the world around us for both humans and animals.