Several years ago, when world renowned primatologist Jane Goodall started "Roots and Shoots," an international youth activist organization, she probably never dreamed that a hard rock band would be one of the happy outcomes of her inspiration. But surprise of all surprises, that’s just what happened. The group is called the "Enviro Chicks," and the little group performed at the "Kinship With All Life" Conference last summer in San Francisco, where Goodall herself, a world renowned primatologist, was a featured speaker. Earlier this year, the Oakland-based group played their first gig at a Youth Summit of 100 members of Roots and Shoots. Caitlin Alegre and four classmates from Northern Lights School in Oakland, California started "Enviro Chicks" last year. Caitlin writes all the songs the group performs.

Here’s how it all transpired. When Caitlin Alegre was in the second grade she and her friends joined Goodall’s group. They subsequently learned about the University of California’s use of primates for medical testing and Caitlin decided to organize a sit-in with her friends on the medical school’s steps. They started singing about the animals’ plight, and people listened. Then they started a boycott of Proctor and Gamble for their animal testing practices, going to people’s houses and urging them not to buy those products. "From then on we knew that we were meant to speak out for animals," said Caitlin.

In the spring of 2000 it dawned on her that she could not only speak out for the critters, but sing out as well. She recalls, "I sat down, thought diligently about making a change in the world, and came up with a great idea! Knowing of the power of music, and the positive, as well as negative effects it can have on young people, I decided to reach people through song." Caitlin also plays electric and acoustic guitar. Martinique Lewis plays bass guitar, Megan Lewis plays piano and keyboards, Keiko Hamano plays percussion, and Sydney Fleming plays drums.

"As a result of our deep admiration for Dr. Jane, we are committed to making a positive change in this world for human kind and animal kind," say the Enviro Chicks. "50% of the profits made from our music will go to The Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots."

"It’s a privilege to be a voice for those who don’t have a voice," Caitlin says. "Many believe there’s blessing in a child. We need to empathize with animals, walk in their wings and paws and hooves, because they are probably the greatest treasure on Earth. We can learn more from them because they live differently from us, without any unnecessary violence. We must understand and learn from everything living, so we’re not ignorant to the pain of animals, or plants, or trees."

Says Keiko: "We all need to listen, to see, to feel, and to do something. When we feel others’ pain we can try and help them."

Martinique: "People listen because we have a positive message. If you’re not aware, you can’t change things. So we sing about animals, insects, and chimps. I want people to be aware so we can make a better world."

Sydney: "The more you think out of the box, the greater the possibilities!"

The students all agree that the teachers at their school empowered them to act, taught them to give. "We’re taught love and respect; we are the future, it’s up to us! It doesn’t matter your age. You don’t need to be privileged in order to help, you don’t have to be a politician. It just feels natural to help. Even a smile or a hug can make an enormous difference for someone. You may not know your impact. Some kids think they have no time to volunteer, between soccer, ballet, and homework. But we’ve been told we’re on the Earth to change it, to use our talents to help the world. Forget about TV and going to the mall. We’re singing, planting gardens, helping the manatees. We’re doing what we love."

At the school, first graders are partnered with eighth graders. "I love her so much!" says Megan of her little partner, "I want a better world for her." The younger children are "our biggest fans." At the school’s morning circle, all ages gather and there is a chance for everyone to get their feelings out; "there are 136 shoulders to cry on, 136 people who are behind you all the way." When seeing bad news on TV or on the street, Caitlin says to herself, "I can’t let them down, I must speak out, it’s I who will make things better for them. Then, I write a song."

Says Keiko: "You can’t live without music. I was in a play at school called The Day They Outlawed Music. Everything revolves around rhythm, the heartbeat is rhythm. In the play, people were going to jail because their hearts were beating or because they were walking with a rhythm. We can make a song sound so amazing! Creativity and ideas make our songs fun, it’s all our own, we don’t copy someone else’s."

What do they see as the biggest problems?

Caitlin: "People are afraid to care, to empathize, to speak out. The most important thing we can do is to step out of the dark. Kids should be allowed to know the truth, not be shielded from it."

Keiko: "People feel powerless, so they become numb to others’ suffering, like the people dying of AIDS in Africa, and say ‘It’s not my problem.’ Selfishness, greed, ‘me-ism’—people need to open their eyes, step outside, and see how animals and people need their help."

Megan: "There is so much destructive stuff going on due to President Bush—like clear-cutting; we need to let the common folks know it’s wrong. We must conserve now, or tomorrow nothing will be left; the icecaps will melt, everything will go extinct, there will be no birds to wake you in the morning."

Their vision?

Caitlin: "Jane Goodall speaks of the importance of love and touch. If we learned to love each other, pretty soon the numbness would disappear. Unite with the person, and the me-ism goes away. Reach out a hand, and the people who are afraid can learn to communicate better."

Megan: "I want my kids and grandchildren to have air and water that’s clean, not polluted and nasty. My dream is to be a doctor in the Third World, I want everyone to be taken care of."

Sydney: "Make sure everyone knows the problems and knows that we can solve them; leave a healthier world for our kids."

For information on Enviro Chicks contact Michelle Lewis, Northern Lights School, 4500 Redwood Rd., Oakland, CA 94619; (510) 530-9366; NorthernLtNews@aol.com.