THE JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE, Hong Kong: “Educating HK Youths about Green Issues”
Hong Kong is a world away from some of the natural habitats of monkeys and chimpanzees but there are underlying environmental issues which are the same across continents. The Jane Goodall Institute HK seeks to educate and empower local youths on Green issues not just in Hong Kong but globally. In this exclusive interview, HK program manager, Corinne Kassay discusses saving the world, thinking locally and chimpanzee culture.
Jane Goodall Institute Hong Kong: Corinne Kassay
iCUBED.us interviewer: Chris Lau
iCUBED.us: Please explain what the Jane Goodall Institute is?
Corinne Kassay: The Jane Goodall Institute was founded by...... you guessed it, Jane Goodall!! Dr. Goodall is famous for her work with Chimpanzees back in the 1960's but since then has become a world renowned environmentalist and humanitarian. The Jane Goodall Institute has offices in 23 countries which support wildlife research, education and conservation. The Institute promotes informed and compassionate action to improve the environment shared by all Earth's living creatures. Dr. Goodall's research project in Tanzania is still running after 50 years!
iCUBED.us: Wait, Hong Kong barely has any chimpanzees! What work does JGI HK do?
Corinne Kassay: The Jane Goodall Institute runs many different programs focusing on conservation and education; Roots & Shoots is a youth service program run by the institute and is the focus of our efforts in Hong Kong.
Even though we don't have Chimps here in Hong Kong Jane's not just interested in saving chimpanzees but all primates - our closest relatives - so in Asia we will soon be focusing on Orangutans and primate welfare issues in China.
iCUBED.us: What exactly is “Roots and Shoots”? Is it an off-shoot of the Jane Goodall Institute?
Corinne Kassay: Roots & Shoots is a program run by the Jane Goodall Institute. The Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen - for our communities, for animals and for the environment. And it all starts with you! With thousands of young people in almost 100 countries, the Roots & Shoots global network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to help make our world a better place.
Our powerful, youth-driven network is a place where youth and adults come together to share ideas and inspiration, implement successful community service projects and participate in special events and global campaigns.
iCUBED.us: How did you become involved with the Jane Goodall Institute Hong Kong?
Corinne Kassay: I have always been a huge fan of Dr. Jane's so when I saw she was doing a lecture here back in 2005, I jumped at the chance to see her talk. After the talk, I approached one of the directors of the Jane Goodall Institute and asked how I could volunteer. It seems that my hard work paid off because as soon as a job became available they offered it to me!
iCUBED.us: What inspired you to become involved in this line of work?
Corinne Kassay: I went to university wanting to save the world. I studied Environmental Conservation, Zoology and Human Geography. When I finished though I wasn't really sure what good I was going to do surveying marsupials in national parks. During my studies, I volunteered at a Primary School and it was then that I realized that the most powerful way to make an impact is to educate the generations that will inherit the earth. I went back to University to complete my diploma of education and became a school teacher! Environmental Education is my passion and I truly believe that by sharing this passion with the young people of Hong Kong it is the best way to achieve the goal I originally set out to do..... save the world!
iCUBED.us: How can youths become involved in the work you do? What events have you run?
Corinne Kassay: Young people of Hong Kong can become involved in two ways. They can form their own R & S groups (that's 2 or more people) and decide what matters to them and we can help them plan and implement a project that will make a difference to that issue or they can volunteer at our events. Some of the events we have done in the past include:
Coastal Clean Up – Outlying Islands Beach Clean Up involving 70 R & S children.
Mai Po Visit and vegetation work with Jane
International Peace Day Celebrations
Student Leadership Program
For more information on how to get involved visit www.janegoodall.org.hk
iCUBED.us: Do you think youths in Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific have a good understanding about environmental issues?
Corinne Kassay: Environmental Awareness in the Asia region is growing so fast! For change to happen, people must feel compassion, and to feel compassion you must understand - Hong Kong's students now have access to more information about the issues affecting them now and in the future. Between the media and the education system, I believe that Hong Kong students will become some of the most powerful students in the world when it comes to having the knowledge they need to take action - it's up to them now!
iCUBED.us: Do you think there is still a sense of apathy amongst some teens regarding environmental issues?
Corinne Kassay: Definitely - the issues we talk about are so overwhelming it's not uncommon for young people to feel it's easier to take a back seat. The old saying "Think Global Act Local" is all fine and well, but like Dr. Jane says, the minute you start to think global it's easy to feel like a small fish in a big pond. Think Local, Act Local is a way to see that the issues around you are YOUR issues, the air you breath, the water you drink, the food you eat, the people you walk beside - this is your life, this is your world. You can make a difference, no, scratch that, you ALREADY DO make a difference - it's just up to you what that difference is. In Hong Kong, there is definitely a shift, young people are starting to have a voice, I just hope we are about to reach a tipping point.
iCUBED.us: How can cities like HK do more for the environment? Do you think the government and other agencies can do more?
Corinne Kassay: We often put all the blame on the governments and there is no doubt they could do a lot more when it comes to regulations and program implementation however residents of cities like Hong Kong need to remember that every little action counts. Using less - of everything, air con, packaging, water - will reduce our impact on local and foreign resources. Then, if you still think that it's the governments that need to crack down on big business then start lobbying!!
iCUBED.us: What is the most pressing environmental issue in Hong Kong right now?
Corinne Kassay: Air Pollution! It's so obvious because it's such a big issue. The environmental and health implications of the pollution in Hong Kong (both coming from Industry AND road side pollution) is massive. Other issues, that get put by the wayside because of our focus on air pollution, but are so important to take notice of, include shark finning and animal rights - don't forget these.
iCUBED.us: Is it true that Jane Goodall’s initial interest in the animal kingdom was inspired by a cuddly toy she was given as a child?
Corinne Kassay: True! Jane loved animals even as a child. When she was just over one year old, her father gave her a toy chimpanzee, in honour of a baby chimpanzee born at the London Zoo. Friends warned her parents that such a gift would cause nightmares for a child. However, Jane loved the toy and named the chimpanzee Jubilee, carrying it with her everywhere.
iCUBED.us: From your own knowledge, just how individualistic can a chimpanzee or Gorilla be?
Corinne Kassay: When Dr. Goodall started her study of chimpanzees in 1960, very little was known about their behavior in the wild. Since then, chimpanzees have offered insights not only into chimpanzee culture, but into our own as well. Chimpanzee culture is much like human culture: groups in different areas share different cultures.
Chimpanzees and Bonobo's are our closest relative in the animal kingdom, and as such, they share a range of personalities and emotions that we do. They are different from each other and can be different depending on their mood - happy, bored, hungry, loving and angry!
Thank you!
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