I have been an advocate of one kind or another since I was very young. I lobbied my parents (and won) for toilets with reduced water usage features. I eliminated make-up from my everyday routine because I felt it was a waste of resources (although I do enjoy wearing it for special, appropriate occasions). I nagged family and friends alike to get gifts I knew could only come from donations made to specific charities and non profit organizations.
I became very aware, when I was about 8 years old, that my love of the movie Gorillas in The Mist was probably very unusual. None of my friends knew who Dian Fossey was, and I was accused more than once of spelling her name wrong. I loved Dian Fossey the way my friends loved their cartoon heroines, or the characters they knew from books. I knew she had flaws, and I knew she had died, but she was a hero of mine just the same.
As I grew up, my fascination with Dian began to make more sense to me. Here was a woman with a temper, a somewhat Jekyll and Hyde personality who would confidently walk into a room and own everyone with her charm within moments.... and 2 hours later the self-same woman is reclused away in a corner of the house away from action, Nero-esque in her understanding of the titanic schemes at play against her, even when none existed.
I learned more about her assignment from Leaky, how she was one of three woman assigned to certain animals. Birute Galdikus was enlisted to develop knowledge of Borneo's orangutans, her addition the last of the three. Dian had been second, actively hunting down Leaky to profess her desire to research gorillas. Her background in autistic children didn't exactly support her hopes, but perserverance, research and having her appendix taken out because Leaky had off-handedly said, "You could die out there if it ruptured, and then where would we be? Best to have it taken out." managed to win her the job.
And then there was the first. Sent to schools at Leaky's suggestion to learn primatology and ape anatomy basics, lifted from the position of Leaky's secretary to his first fully funded primate researcher, Jane Goodall began her attempts to study chimpanzees at 28 years old. July 14, 1960, Ms. Goodall employed techniques that included: feeding her subjects in order to study them to the point of feeding them daily; day walks; general observations; pet names to identify group members.
These women have become the easiest illustration of what I now understand to be the primary way I assess activists.
1.) The Birute model Passionate. Involved. Locally connected, actively engaged in the local dialogue first to help, aid, protect, educate and involve local populations. International educator, passionate but respectful, patient, hopeful.
2.) The Jane Goodall model Involved. Engaged in unfounded, later admittedly damaging practices in order to gain information. International voice, lobbying for education as well as use of subjects. At one point, supported a zoo enclosure as "better for the animals than their natural habitat." Was subsequently forced to resign presidency of Advocates for Animals.
3.) The Dian model Passionate. Thoughtless at times. Clouded by emotion over cause. Attacked power, used fear rather than education to instill distance in local populations in order to attain goals. Was murdered (no suspect ever arrested), most who were close suggest it was due to bad choices in making enemies while attempting to save gorilla populations.
I adore Dian Fossey. I will always care for her cause, not the least reason being that gorillas are one of my favorite creatures on this planet. I will continue to give my friends and relatives directions to donate on my birthday to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International as opposed to giving me gifts. She is a person whose passion and stoicism I much admire.
Thankfully, I've learned from my hero. While quiet pervasive action is not always my style, I know to be careful what I say and not burn bridges. Birute handled her situation best, and the results are still being applauded internationally. Dian and Jane failed in being saints, and I would argue one did more harm than good, but they each provided something very important for me to learn.
Know what you're doing. Understand there may be consequences. Apologize when you're wrong, and do all you can to make it right. Never give up on a cause you love.
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