Kids from Sabah in the "School Bus" on the way to a Borneo Child Aid Society Children's Centre.Did I mention, I love working here? Today I've been reading about the great work The Body Shop Foundation is doing... I had no idea, we were being so philanthropic! The foundation is supporting innovative projects around the world working in the areas of human & civil rights and environmental & animal protection.
A great example of a grant that covers all of these bases is the AUD $11,351 granted to the Borneo Child Aid Society, which provides education for children in Sabah. These kids don't have access to the basic human right of education. The group is building a new learning centre that will provide education to 100 children in the rural plantation areas of Sabah. If you're passionate about protecting our planet, their education is vitally important. I'll tell you why:There is a multi-layered problem taking place in Borneo right now. A surge in demand for palm oil as -ironically- a green biofuel alternative is giving jobs to people in drastic poverty. On the surface this seems like a great outcome: poverty alleviation and an investment in renewable clean energy. Sadly, this is short sighted unsustainable development for both man and beast. The deforestation is contribution to flooding and actually exacerbating the climate change problem. In addition, scores of animals in the forest island are facing extinction! This includes the amazing orangutans.
These maps from Hugo Ahlenius, UNEP/GRID-Arendal show the extent of the deforestation problem in Borneo.
"Palm Oil costs the lives of about 50 orangutans every week and it's cultivation is a major cause of global warming."- Palm Oil Action Group
Education is the only way for people in Borneo to find a long term solution to poverty. You can't blame the people in the videos below for chopping down trees, you'd do it to to survive.
Our education and action on this issue is urgent too - it would be a tragedy for our planet if we were to allow these unique rain forests of Borneo to be destroyed. Australian companies importing palm oil need to immediately stop sourcing it from unsustainable sources like Borneo. Our Government should legislate to make sustainable palm oil importing and product package labeling mandatory.
What Can You Do?
If you have time, please watch this amazing documentary to learn more about the problem:
Orangutans & Palm Oil
- If you're interested in learning more, here are some more videos about the issue.
- Visit the Palm Oil Action Group website for activist ideas
- If you would like to help rescue and rehabilitate orangutans in Borneo please consider donating generously to the World Society for the Protection of Animals' Orangutan appeal.
- Adopt an Orangutan now for only $55 a year through the Australian Orangutan Project.
Photo: Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (WSPA Partners)
Related Blog Post: "Sustainability: In the Palm Oil of Our Hands"
Adam Valvasori - Values Manager & Orangutan Fan
P.S: The Body Shop only uses 100% sustainable & totally orangutan friendly palm oil in our soaps etc :)
you said in your post that body shop uses 100% sustainable and orangatang friendly palm oil in our soaps etc. i think this is fantastic!! i was just wondering though which products these are aside from the glycerine soap. its the only one that ive been able to find so far that has verified sustainable palm oil..
ReplyDeleteFind out more about the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, the largest primate rescue project in the world and the only organisation actively rescuing wild orangutans from certain death in the oil-palm plantations which relentlessly replace their forest habitat.
ReplyDeletewww.savetheorangutan.co.uk