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Our planet could be facing challenges, but there is hope. A fresh honor from the science, music and arts festival the Starmus festival aims to motivate individuals to make a difference.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name will be given in honour of the celebrated British primatologist who passed away this year. It is designed to celebrate individuals and groups that protect our planet's biodiversity.

Honoring a Legacy

Initial honorees will be revealed at the Starmus VIII festival in the Canary Islands, which will run from October 17th to 22nd next year.

Reports indicate that Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had backed the medal's establishment. “The vision behind this medal, and Starmus being entrusted with organising it, is Jane’s,” a representative said. “Her desire was that she wanted for this to occur. And I think because of the very special relationship she had with the festival.”

“This medal will acknowledge sustainable programmes undertaken to build an environment improved for all living beings and ecosystems and foster motivation to carry on that work,” said a family member.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of Starmus stated that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – would probably include several divisions.

“It’s going to be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking award honoring scientific outreach that we created a decade past,” he explained. Jane Goodall was a recipient of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook for Earth, one figure stated, “To be truthful, it’s very hard to be optimistic. The current political climate in one major nation is conducting a war on science. So this significantly hampers collective action.”

“In truth, the prospects aren't very good which means we need to commence reconsidering, with greater urgency about the consequences of our actions. And that’s not just climate change, that’s the entire manner that we treat nature.”

Inspiring Change

Consequently, it was noted it was an opportune moment to honor Goodall’s example. “It is believed that in bestowing the prize, we will be considering this essential spirit that Jane embodied – which made her priority, to change how we regard wildlife with which we share the planet.”

A pressing concern currently was highlighted of misinformation. The central topic of the upcoming Starmus festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“We realised that truth has become contested where political interests are involved. This is an alarming trend,” it was said. “The climate science remains a scientific discipline; you cannot have any influence by political agendas in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The goal is that the medal will inspire concrete steps. “It’s about inspiring individuals to get involved and to care and to strive in that direction, truly. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we have to focus on working our utmost,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still have to work toward success.”

A family member engaged in environmental protection expressed optimism that “given direction and once enabled, humans are capable of being conscientious guardians of our planet”, pointing to the work of a foundation which, among its other activities, helps the next generation become engaged with their community, animals, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall often emphasized, the choices we make each day are significant and the responsibility lies with us the kind of difference we make,” it was stated. “It is not too late and this medal will offer support and increase understanding about beneficial initiatives currently in progress.”