| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 08/16/2007 : 13:40:33
I do hope some of you are as concerned about the rapid proliferation of palm oil plantations which have been decimating rain forest acres and destroying wildlife habitats especially in South America and Indonesia. I'm horrified by the imminent extinction of any of our planet-mates, but particularly of the orangutan, our very close relative.
The irony is that some of this destroyed rain-forest offers some of the worst soil conditions and altitude for growing oil palms. The world-wide market demand for this versatile product is what drives the industry however. Most of that demand comes from America and Western Europe.
The net result is that after one or two productive seasons, the plantations need replacement, which means more rain forest is destroyed. Heavy industrial forest clearance machines take a matter of minutes to destroy forests that have been growing for thousands of years.
I've compiled a short list of everyday products which we all probably use a lot and all of which contain palm oil. It is NOT a vital ingredient for any of these products.
I'd be so grateful if you could take the time to boycott such products, and - if you have some time - to write or eMail the manufacturers to protest against their using this easily replaceable ingredient. I'm hoping a significant number of individual objections will cut some ice with these people.
Here are just some of the products - obviously not all brands are equally culpable:
lip balm
soap
arthritis cream
shampoo
peanut butter
chocolate bars
manufactured pizza
skin cream cleanser
industrial cleanser
powdered protein drinks
baked goods
Thanks so much.
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| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 08/17/2007 : 11:13:36
quote:
Originally posted by Stalean
For those who might want to investigate and research the other side of the coin, as it were. Very interesting opinions--who's telling the truth?
Palm Oil & Deforestation: Truth or Fiction?
Palm Oil Truth Foundation
or
Palm oil: the biofuel of the future driving rainforests to extinction; but we'll fight global warming!
You are, of course, wise to point to counter arguments. But bear in mind that both Scoop and the so-called Truth Foundation are funded by business interests and quangos - some from a part of the world which Interpol has publicly stated are rife with corruption at the highest levels. I'm not saying there aren't good people involved, it's just I'm always a bit sceptical when those purporting to have altruistic reasons for disseminating certain arguments turn out to be associated with vested interests.
The rationale reminds me of the arguments and anti-propaganda of the cigarette industry against absurdly poorly financed yet accurate studies of the effects of tobacco on health. In fact, they're still going on with reference to second-hand smoking.
Or, indeed, the ongoing bleats that there is no global warming in the face of overwhelming evidence.
The percentage agreements that scoop refers to are being flouted, and the camera crews which have documented the breach attained corroboration from the orang rescue centres. Orang babies are brought in when the logging machines destroy their habitat, their homes and kill the mothers. The companies are exploiting the logging workers who will take any work they can get ... and they're paid something like 10 quid for every hand of an adult orang they bring back -- proof of its death. The babies are often found cowering in the undergrowth or clinging to the body of their dead mother.
I'm afraid no amount of official-speak can wipe those images from my mind. We all should know by now how governments and their appointees work. Policy is made from reports, from pieces of paper prepared from various sources. Many of those sources have no direct knowledge of the issue in question, or they have 'official versions' from complicit agencies or individuals or those with other vested interests. This is how the weapons of mass destruction that can be launched in 45 minutes myth was given such credence. The reports were based on information either decades old or provided by disaffected nationals with vested interests in the consequences.
The multi-nationals behind the logging operations in Malaysia, Indonesia and South America -- both the timber companies and the oil palm parent companies - are themselves the sources of data from which the Palm Oil Truth Foundation supplies reports which shape government policy. Their association with companies which purport to be concerned with alternative fuels provides more smoke-screens for what they're really about. Local governments - especially those led by men - and they are all men, though I'm implying no gender prejudice - whose culture and personal origins of poverty make kick-backs too tempting to refuse -- those governments know very well how to play the global game, presenting distortions of the truth as though they were facts, as though they alone had a door to the truth.
History is too littered with examples of these machinations to ignore them. I'd rather believe someone like Birut� Galdikas whom I got to know personally from my zoo contacts and who's spent her entire life rescuing and rehabilitating orangs in Borneo and Sumatra. She told me even back in the mid-1970s what was going on with habitat clearance. She told me about the obstacles from government and multi-national companies who were taking back-handers, pretending to be against poaching and habitat destruction and secretly allowing those people access to restricted areas. She warned me that the situation was getting worse. She and various colleagues have since tried to make their voices heard, and thanks to organizations like the BBC's Natural History Unit and CITES and the WWF among others, the real story - with pictures - is gradually coming to light.
I wonder if Sean could find out more about who exactly is behind scoop. They're a bit vague and don't seem to respond to eMails asking for further information.
It's easy, though, to become diverted by the curve-balls thrown into this matter. The bottom line is that orangutans - a species very close to us genetically, peopled by gentle, peaceful, resourceful, intelligent, affectionate and beautiful animals will vanish in front of our eyes if we don't do some little thing to help stop it. Asking a manufacturer of a product for clarification of the nature of the 'vegetable oil' used and the source of that oil seems a small step. Letting that manufacturer know that you, a consumer, are unhappy with any palm oil sourcing to the extent that you will boycott their products and tell all your friends to boycott their products - that's a slightly bigger step.
And if thousands and millions of us do it, perhaps those manufacturers will switch to another, perfectly good alternative oil. And if we let our governments know we're taking this kind of non-violent direct action, maybe, just maybe, they'll begin to realize that they'll get more votes by supporting the saving of the orangutan rather than supporting the manufacturer of a cookie who's already a millionaire, or a company which will make even more by pretending that palm oil is a viable and safe bio-fuel.
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| LadyMeerkat |
Posted - 08/17/2007 : 02:40:13
On another forum I'm on we were discussing instant noodles. One particular brand was recommended several times, so I bought it. It was delicious then soon after I had read an artcle regarding orangutans and plam oil plantations. So I checked and sure enough there was palm oil in its seasoning and it was from Indonesia!
http://www.gothic.org.au/forum/viewthread.php?tid=17257&page=3 |
| Stalean |
Posted - 08/17/2007 : 01:25:32
For those who might want to investigate and research the other side of the coin, as it were. Very interesting opinions--who's telling the truth?
Palm Oil & Deforestation: Truth or Fiction?
Palm Oil Truth Foundation
or
Palm oil: the biofuel of the future driving rainforests to extinction; but we'll fight global warming! |
| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 08/16/2007 : 13:53:22
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
chocolate bars
Any chocolate that contains palm oil will NEVER be consumed by me, I can promise you that. |
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