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I’ve never been a gardener. I love the idea, but my history of killing plants isn’t terribly inspiring. However, this year is different. I am doggedly determined to grow all the things because I will not allow 2020 to defeat me.

Is there a better symbol of hope than a garden? Planting a seed means you believe the future is imminent. Watching a sprout emerge from the soil and grow into a flourishing plant means life goes on. In addition, reaping the fruits and veggies of your efforts and giving thanks for the bounty that nature provides is perhaps the most basic, fundamental human act I can think of.

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During World War I, Americans were encouraged to plant “victory gardens” to provide food during the war—and they undoubtedly came in handy during the pandemic that overlapped with the end of the war. (Side note: Holy cow, those people were tough.) While our food supply has held up so far in this pandemic, we don’t know what will happen in the coming year or so before a vaccine becomes available. Growing some extra food seems as prudent as it is poetic.

Not only that, but gardening is good for you. Research from Princeton University has found that gardening at home had a powerful impact on a person’s emotional well-being—just like biking, walking or dining out. The benefits crossed racial demographics as well as urban and rural locations. And vegetable gardening in particular had a stronger benefit than ornamental gardening, which provides mainly aesthetic value.

But what if you’re not a natural gardener? What if you don’t know where to start? What if you don’t have any space to garden?

Even if you’re short on land and experience, you can still plant your own little victory garden. If you have a patio or balcony, or any bit of outdoor space, you can use containers instead of outdoor garden beds. My family has space in our yard, but decided to use containers anyway because it’s a lot easier than tilling the ground, preparing the soil, etc.

The previous owners of our house had left a few plastic planters, but to supplement them we bought a pack of these grow bags. They’re basically fabric pots—they almost feel like felted wool—and they’re more affordable than plastic or ceramic containers. They also designed for healthy aeration of the soil, which sounds like something fancy gardeners say. I have no idea what it means, but it sounds important.

Amazon

You can even choose different sizes of grow bags to accommodate your space and what you want to plant.

One nice thing about container gardening is that you don’t have to have a lot of tools. A simple set of small shoveling tools and some gardening glove will suffice. I learned quickly that digging your hands in the dirt without gloves might sound rustic and romantic, but it dries your hands and nails out something fierce.

And yet another advantage of container gardening is that you don’t have to figure out how to get your ground soil ready for planting. According to my gardener-by-nature friends, everyone’s soil is different, so there’s different things you have to add to it and mix into it to get the right balance of minerals— blah blah blah. No thank you. I want to be able to put my seeds or my plant into the dirt and go. With container gardening, you just buy a bag of potting soil (available at any garden center—we got ours at Walmart), dump it in the pot and voila! Ready-to-plant garden.

Lastly, you have to decide what to plant. If you’ve not gardened before, start with things that are easy and quick to grow, like peas and beans. Look at my beans and peas! I’m doing it! I’m doing it!

Annie Reneau

You also might consider starting with small plants instead of the seeds. They can take a while to germinate, depending on what you’re growing and If you don’t get an early start indoors, you might find growing from seed frustrating. That also depends on where you live. I live in the north, where we have a limited growing season.

Apparently, beginning gardening books are flying off the virtual shelves as more and more people are using social distancing time to plant a victory garden. But if video is more your speed, I highly recommend the YouTube channel Epic Gardening. Kevin Espiritu used to be like me—a know-nothing, wannabe gardener—and now he helps people learn how to grow stuff. He’s delightful and so helpful:

Epic Gardening Channel Trailer

www.youtube.com

If nothing else, a garden gives you a way to help life flourish (hopefully) and a place to see progress when it seems like the world is slipping backwards. Good luck, novice gardeners!

Every musician had a first time they picked up the guitar, bass, keyboard, etc. And as a professional musician, I can tell you that there is nothing more satisfying than creating music in your own home. Whether it is just picking up an acoustic guitar or producing your own original ideas, this list should help you get budding musicians of all ages well on their way.

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1. Fender FA-115 Dreadnought

An acoustic guitar is an instrument you can bring anywhere. This Fender FA-115 Dreadnought comes complete with everything you need including a soft guitar case (gig bag), tuner, strap, string and guitar picks. Fender has been around forever, and for around $200, this is bundle is everything you need to get started.

$199.99 on Amazon

2. ChromaCast Upright Guitar Stand

One item the Fender bundle does not have is a guitar stand, and the ChromaCast Upright Guitar Stand is solid inexpensive option. Not only is it easier than taking the guitar in and out of the case, but there is no motivation like an instrument sitting on a stand staring back at you, wondering why you aren’t practicing. The easy access coupled with the security of keeping your guitar upright is well worth the the $10. Leaning your guitar up agains the wall tells everyone, most importantly yourself, that you aren’t taking it seriously. Especially when you hear that clang after it falls over.

$10.98 on Amazon

3. Ibanez bass guitar

Bassists and drummers are always the most sought after components to a band. And unless you have a big house with sound proof rooms and lot of patience, the bass is the obvious gift. This Ibanez is a perfect first bass. Ibanez basses and guitars sound great and are underrated, in my opinion. I have a bass and guitar from Ibanez, and have never had the need for anything else.

$179.99 on Amazon

4. Ampeg BA-108v2 20-watt Bass Combo Amplifier

If you decide to gift a bass, you will want to include a bass amp. Ampeg is one of the top bass amp manufacturers in the industry, and the Ampeg BA-108v2 20-watt Bass Combo Amplifier is a fantastic choice to start out with. It has a great tone for the money and won’t shatter the windows in the process.

$149.99 on Amazon

5. YUWAKAYI 10 foot guitar cable

Unless otherwise specified, your guitar does not come with an instrument cable. There is no need to break the bank for a beginner, as some cables can be in excess of $60. The YUWAKAYI 10 foot guitar cable is $9 and is more than sufficient for those just starting out. When you start gigging and recording, you might want to look into upgrading, but for now it does the job just fine.

$8.99 on Amazon

6. Fender Squire Package

If you ask any guitarist what their first guitar was, they will most likely tell you it was a Fender Squire. This package comes with a guitar, amp, strings, tuner, chord, strap, picks and gig bag. For $370, you will be hard pressed to find a better deal than this.

$299.99 on Amazon

7. VOX AP2AC amPlug 2 AC30 Guitar/Bass Headphone Amplifier

If noise is an issue, VOX AP2AC amPlug 2 AC30 Guitar/Bass Headphone Amplifier is a beautiful thing. Vox makes great amps, and this little guy has a surprising sound for its size and price. Plug it into your guitar or bass and then plug headphones into the Vox. Then rock out without disturbing the neighbors, or anyone in your own house for that matter. It takes two AAA batteries that should give you anywhere from 7-11 hours of life.

$40.77 on Amazon

8. The Midiplus, 32-Key Midi Controller

If you have a Mac, then you have Garage Band, and The Midiplus, 32-Key Midi Controller is an inexpensive way to access sounds from Apple’s free recoding software. Garage Band has tons of software instruments from drums to cello, bass to guitar and way too much more to mention. Just plug the midi controller into the USB port on your Mac, and when you select an instrument in Garage Band each keystroke mimics the chosen sound. After a short learning curve, you can be producing full compositions in no time. Don’t get suckered in to buying keyboards with a lot of useless buttons. Midi controllers like this one are simple and easy to use, especially since everything you need is in the Garage Band program on your Mac. Not all iPads have USB ports, so be sure your computer has one.

$34.39 on Amazon

9. Shure SM58

Eventually, you will want a condenser mic to record vocals, but they are fragile and can stop working after they hit the floor even once. The Shure SM58 is the most trusted microphone out there, and has been used to record a bunch of hit records. It is widely used as live performance mic, but it does just fine in the studio, as well. Not to mention, you can run it over with a truck and it will still work. I have had the same one for as long as I can remember, and it has endured more than you can imagine. If “They don’t make ’em like they used to” the SM 58 is the exception to the rule.

$90.99 on Amazon

10. Tripod Boom Microphone Stand

You will need a mic stand. Whether you are recording, rehearsing or playing live, there are very few situations that don’t call for one. And besides, you can’t truly achieve proper rock stance without it. No need for anything fancy here. For $25 the AmazonBasics Tripod Boom Microphone Stand will do the trick.

$17.54 on Amazon

11. M-Audio Midi Interface Recording Software

Finally, if you want to record guitar, bass or vocals into Garage Band or any other recording software, you will need an interface to plug into. An interface is a small box where you plug in an instrument or mic cable, and then in turn plugs into your computer. Once plugged in, you can access what ever guitar/bass sounds your software offers, along with effects like delay, reverb and compression to put on your vocals and instruments. M-Audio is my pick for an interface that you won’t outgrow for some time, and is just over $100.

$149.00 on Amazon

These are just some of the gift options for those people in your life curious about trying the music thing out. If it takes, then you can upgrade as they grow as musicians. These are just a few ways to get them started with decent gear that won’t drain your bank account. If you can afford a little more, there are certainly a bevy of other options. If finances are tight, this is a good list to go on.

If you didn’t catch Sunday’s matchup between the Bears and Saints on Nickelodeon then you missed out on one of the most fun broadcasts of the year. Nickelodeon pulled out everything to make the entire broadcast feel like something that both kids and adults can enjoy. There wasn’t a single aspect of the entire game they didn’t think about and that includes the halftime show.

Your usual halftime show includes highlights and some analysis from a few experts that used to play football. The Nickelodeon halftime show did feature highlights, but not the kind you’re used to. These highlights were all block graphic style and something that felt very similar to the video game that has taken over the world, Minecraft.

Adorable. Cute. Inspired. These are a few of the words that come to mind when you watch block figure Michael Thomas breaking through the endzone for a touchdown or Javon Wims drop a touchdown pass. Of course, it would have been one thing if they had just shown some highlights as block figures and called it there, but they went the extra mile and added some much needed personality. Michael Thomas tap dancing in the endzone and dust appearing behind Wims as he sprints behind the defense were both nice details that made this feel special.

Minecraft first released all the way back in 2009 and what it has become is a media phenomenon that can only be matched by something like Fortnite. Back when it first came out it got compared a lot to Legos for its world being something that you could build or destroy completely at your own leisure. Now, whenever you see this kind of art style, you immediately think of Minecraft instead. It’s crazy to think that such a small game turned into something Nickelodeon is using for inspiration in their unique Bears-Saints broadcast.

The Atlanta Hawks were among the league’s most active teams this offseason, making some of the biggest moves in free agency of any team by signing the likes of Danilo Gallinari, Rajon Rondo, and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Early on, after a 4-1 start including a win over a full-strength Nets team in Brooklyn, it looked like they had positioned themselves well to be a factor in the East.

Unfortunately, injury luck has not gone the Hawks way in the last week as all three of those players now find themselves sidelined as the Hawks ride an active four-game losing streak and reports of locker room discontent between young stars like Trae Young and John Collins have emerged. Bogdanovic is the most recent injury concern for Atlanta after he left Saturday night’s game with a knee injury, and on Sunday the team offered an update on his status following an MRI that showed an avulsion fracture and inflammation in his knee.

Guard Bogdan Bogdanovic suffered a right knee injury during the second quarter of last night’s game at Charlotte and didn’t return to the contest. Following an MRI earlier today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, he has been diagnosed with an avulsion fracture in his right knee with associated soft tissue inflammation and a bone bruise. His treatment plan is being reviewed and will be updated later this week.

It’s a big blow for the Hawks, who lose a key piece of wing depth and shooting with Bogdanovic’s absence for however long he is out. For a team that has been trying to find its new identity, being without a key player makes that effort all the more difficult. From a rotation perspective, it likely means more minutes for Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish, who they’ll turn to to fill the scoring void.

After lots of delays, it looks like Lana Del Rey’s next album Chemtrails Over The Country Club is finally on track for release. Though one of the most recent updates the singer shared was that she broke her arm while skating — and not to read into her cast as symbolism — today she’s shared both the artwork and the tracklist for the forthcoming record.

Initially, the album title was introduced back in May, and was to come out in September before she let fans know it would be delayed. One of the first songs for the album, “Let Me Love You Like A Woman,” came out in October but there’s been a delay in new material since then. She’s been teasing a video for the title track of the record for a while now, and that song is finally coming out tomorrow.

On Instagram today she gave fans even more of an indication of what the album would be like by sharing a casual, black and white photograph that is the artwork, and another two images with the tracklist.

1. “White Dress”
2. “Chemtrails Over The Country Club”
3. “Tulsa Jesus Freak”
4. “Let Me Love You Like A Woman”
5. “Wild At Heart”
6. “Dark But Just A Game”
7. “Not All Who Wander Are Lost”
8. “Yosemite”
9. “Breaking Up Slowly”
10. “Dance Till We Die”
11. “For Free”

Tune in tomorrow for the title track, which looks like it has a 1920s theme according to a final Instagram post:

Parler came into serious trouble this weekend after news broke that both Google and Apple decided to kick the MAGA-friendly social media network out of its app stores, citing their failure to moderate hate speech and threats of violence. Over the weekend, Amazon added itself to the list, announcing that it would no longer host Parler’s servers. That meant the company is looking for a new online home.

Despite the company initially saying they would find a home elsewhere, it seems as though no one’s coming to the rescue. Matthew Keys caught video of Parler CEO John Matze on Fox News claiming that Google, Apple and Amazon are out for them.

“They’ve made an attempt to not only kill the app but to actually destroy the entire company,” Matze said. “And it’s not only these three companies, every vendor from text message services to email providers to our lawyers ditched us on the same day.”

It’s important to note that initially Matze said there were “many competing for our business.” But apparently that competition has since evaporated.

“We’re going to try our best, you know, to get back online as possible but we’re having a lot of trouble because every vendor we talk to says they won’t work with us,” he said. “Because if Apple doesn’t approve and Amazon doesn’t approve, we won’t.”

Later in the interview, Matze complained that the timeframe Amazon gave Parler to find new servers was an “impossible” situation, which would effectively take the social network down for what he estimated would be at least a few days while they search for new cloud storage. But that won’t be easy.

“Where are you going to find 300 to 500 servers in 24 hours?” he asked. “It’s an impossible feat. We’re going to handle it as best as we can… but there are just some things that are basically impossible.”

The NFL had its first ever broadcast on Nickelodeon for the Bears and Saints Wild Card game on Sunday, and it actually was a pretty fun and entertaining broadcast, which was helpful in the first half of a 7-3 game that was anything but entertaining on its own.

Nate Burleson stole the show as the CBS studio analyst moved seamlessly into the booth with Gabrielle Nevaeh Green and Noah Eagle, offering up explanations of what was happening at the most basic of levels and also regaling the viewers with stories from his days — he equated getting tackled to “falling down wooden stairs” and explained what happens when you have a bathroom emergency during a game. However, one thing no one in the booth was ready to explain happened right at the end of the first half when the NFL brought Nickelodeon its first hot-mic f-bomb moment maybe ever as the referee explained two flags on a punt and Cordarrelle Patterson, uh, disagreed.

I have no idea if an f-bomb has ever slipped into one of the Nick’s live action shows like All That or something, but I have to imagine this is one of the first ones in the network’s history. I’m not sure that’s what Viacom and the NFL had in mind, but it’s also rather stunning that they didn’t put the broadcast on a longer delay to try and cover up these potential issues — also, my goodness, that’s the most crystal clear referee microphone sound quality in history at the worst possible time.

They wanted to introduce a younger audience to football in full and, well, this kind of language will happen at football games. Noah Eagle’s “alriiiight” is the perfect response as he simply tried to keep it moving, but I’m sure the good folks at Nick will be getting plenty of calls and emails tonight about this one.

Over the past month, legendary singer Dionne Warwick has become one of the most loved people on Twitter. Some of her best moments have come through interactions with fellow musicians, as well as through her attempt to improve her present-day music knowledge. Thanks to help from her niece Brittani, Warwick has slowly become more informed of some of today’s artists, including one of today’s most popular acts. “After today, I can confidently add ‘Cardi B’ to the list of people my niece has opened my eyes to. More on this tomorrow,” Warwick said on Twitter Saturday night. “Cardi B is authentically herself. I have only seen video clips. No music yet.”

On Sunday Warwick returned, saying that while she still hasn’t listened to Cardi’s music, she did watch some more videos, including one where “she dances with the very effervescent @msdebbieallen!” The clip in question comes from an episode of the rapper’s Facebook series Cardi Tries, where she attempts ballet with help from actress and choreographer Debbie Allen. That led her to ask about another aspect of modern culture.

“What does Offset mean?” Warwick asked. “Is there also an Onset walking around somewhere?”

It’s almost certain that the singer’s fans will help her answer that question, but just like her tweets about Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, and Billie Eilish, surely her education will continue to be entertaining.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The holiday season is our favorite time of year. Although 2020 has been strenuous for all of us—you can still celebrate with presents, games, food and booze—but the best part? Glamming it up for the festivities. We’re talking mascara, lipstick, eyeliner, shadows, glimmer, highlighters and that extra sparkle and festive cheer. There is no reason that you can’t shine with all the fun holiday makeup and save the world while doing it.

Using truly natural, vegan, organic and cruelty-free makeup is a great way to treat your skin and go green—feel good that you are reducing pollution and waste and look flawless in the process. No more toxic chemicals that clog your pores, cause breakouts and make you feel discouraged. From makeup to skincare, here are our favorite eco-friendly products that will put a smile on your glowing face.

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Thrive Cosmetics

Amazon

Thrive Cosmetics is our favorite vegan products for this holiday season. It matches with everything and leaves your eyes looking bright and shiny. Although on the pricier side, it’s well worth it. The Brilliant Eye Brightener is a cream-to-powder highlighter that brightens the eyes and makes them pop. It uses your skin’s natural oils to provide long-lasting, skin-balancing hydration using omega-6 + omega-9 fatty acids. For every purchase, the company also donates to help a woman thrive. There are seven colors to chose from and they won’t disappoint. You should also try the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. It’s won countless awards at Glamour and Allure. Not to mention, all the products are vegan and cruelty-free!

Prices begin at $32.00 on Amazon

Dose of Colors- Strawberry Pop

Amazon

This beautiful, festive liquid lipstick is cruelty, vegan and paraben-free. It applies like a cream, but it dries quickly for a brilliant matte finish. It’s the perfect shade of red that will flatter all skin tones—making your lips feel full and luscious. It’s also made from synthetic beeswax, which uses mineral waxes to make it completely vegan. We can’t think of a better color to ring in the New Year.

$15 on Amazon

E.l.f. Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow

Amazon

This glittery eye coverage, which comes in eight different shades, is the perfect way to celebrate in style. It’s $5.00, plus it’s cruelty-free, vegan and 100% free from phthalates, parabens and other dangerous chemicals and bleaching methods. It even won Allure‘s Best of Beauty Award. It’s an easy application, lasts all day and easy to take off at night. You can’t go wrong.

$4.99 on Amazon

Reusable Makeup Remover Pads

Amazon

These 100% organic bamboo cotton pads can be used to remove daily wear makeup. All you have to do is add your favorite cleanser or face wash to the pad. Then you gently message your skin in small circular motions to get off all the makeup for the day. It works like a charm and the perfect makeup remover. The packaging ships in cardboard, so you can reuse the box or recycle it. The cotton pads are washable and come with a tiny laundry bag, so there’s no more throwing away product and causing waste. It’s a wonderful alternative to using store-bought pads, which can be costly. You will save money and reduce waste in the process. It’s a win-win.

$12.99 on Amazon

Dr. Hauschka Quince Day Cream

Amazon

Although this day cream is expensive, it gives your face a glow and has a lovely scent and provides smoothness—making your skin feel healthy and radiant. We honestly fell in love with this moisturizer! It uses 100% natural and organic ingredients and improves texture and tone. The light, nourishing day cream works great to put on after facial toner and before any makeup. It never feels greasy or heavy and you’ll always know that your putting clean products on your skin. It’s a must-have.

$45 on Amazon

Ciate Fierce Flicks Precision Tip Vegan Liquid Eye Liner

Amazon

This is the go-to eyeliner. It glides on smoothly and boldly, leaving your eyes with the perfect black pigment. It never smudges and doesn’t ware off easily. It’s honestly one of the best eyeliners you’ve ever tried. And it’s vegan.

$23.99 on Amazon

Mineral Fusion Liquid Foundation

Amazon

You may recognize this product from Whole Foods, but it’s also now sold on Amazon too. It’s one of the safest cosmetic brands out there and is EWG Verified with over 100 licensed products. It leaves the skin feeling smooth, silky and natural looking—not to mention it’s age defying, hypoallergenic and cruelty and vegan free. Once you apply it, it has a light finish and stays in place all day. It never settles into fine lines and doesn’t leave your skin feeling oily. It offers great coverage that’s formulated with antioxidant-rich blend of Vitamin C, green tea, pomegranate, and skin-firming peptides. Your skin will be happy and healthy.

$20.49 on Amazon

Yubi Miracle Brush

Amazon

This patented makeup brush is designed with wings that grip your fingers and allow you to control your perfect makeup look. It’s soft and gentle on all skin types and give you flawless makeup results. The vegan bristles are made of plush synthetics that provide zero shedding and work on even the most sensitive skin. It’s also cruelty-free and hypoallergenic and has rave reviews from InStyle, Self and other beauty magazines. It’s honesty the perfect brush for applying your favorite foundation or bronzers.

$23.40 on Amazon

Naked Cosmetics

Amazon

Sparkle is always a must for any make-up set. It’s also perfect for the holidays. Use it on the face and body to get the most radiant shimmer and glow. This product is100% oxidized Mica, and does not contain talc, oil, wax or other fillers that can be harmful to your skin. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free. The bonus? It also lasts a really long time. We’ve had ours for over ten years. You only need a little bit and it goes a long way. You can celebrate your New Year sparkling the night away.

Starting at $14.99 on Amazon

Upworthy may earn a portion of proceeds from these purchases as part of our affiliate program. We don’t recommend anything we don’t love though and your support helps support the work we do here!

Jane Goodall has had a long and storied career, studying and working with primates for six decades. She is best known for her work with chimpanzees, and it’s largely thanks to her field research that we understand as much as we do about their behavior and intelligence.

Goodall has undoubtedly had many notable experiences in her career, but there was one moment caught on video that highlights her extraordinary connection with these animals.

Wounda was a chimpanzee rescued from the bushmeat trade, and when she was brought to the Jane Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of Congo, she was half the weight she should have been and near death. (In fact, that’s what “Wounda” means—”close to death.”)

But thanks to Dr. Rebeca Atencia and the staff at Tchimpounga, Wounda recovered. After rehabilitation, chimps can’t go back and live in the wild, but Tchimpounga has some sanctuary islands set aside for rehabbed chimps to live in the forest, safe from attacks and poachers. Wounda was taken to Tchindzoulou island to live with more than a dozen other chimps that had already been released there.

Goodall herself was not part of Wounda’s rehabilitation, but she accompanied the team when it came time to release Wounda. She reassured Wounda with a soft voice and kind words on the way to the island, and the two connected immediately, despite it being the first day they met. And when Wounda was released, her expression of gratitude and affection, not only to Dr. Atencia but to Goodall herself, was a sight to behold.

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Watch Wounda’s story and witness the hug heard ’round the world:

Wounda’s Journey: Jane Goodall releases chimpanzee into forest

www.youtube.com

Though we can’t read a chimpanzee’s mind, of course, it almost feels as if Wounda senses that Goodall is the reason she was saved and being given her freedom. That hug seemed to symbolize the gratitude of an entire species to a woman who dedicated her life to their well-being.

Even for Goodall, who has worked with countless chimps, this moment stood out as remarkable. “It was one of the most moving things to ever happen to me,” Goodall told CNN in a follow-up in 2018.

Jane Goodall reflects on hug from rescued chimpanzee

www.youtube.com

And the story got even more extraordinary, as Goodall mentioned in the CNN interview. The female chimps released on Tchindzoulou island are given permanent birth control implants to keep the population under control so they have space for other rescued and rehabbed chimps. But with Wounda, the birth control failed. She ended up giving birth to a baby boy, which the Institute appropriately named Hope. You can see the incredible cuteness here:

From Near Death to New Life: Wounda is a JGI Story of Hope

www.youtube.com

Goodall, now 86 years old, is still actively advocating for animal rights and welfare as well as environmental conservation, and her lifelong dedication and compassion for these incredible animals is worth celebrating.