Bio-fuels: a crime against humanity (and orangutans)

By Adam Valvasori - Values Man

Image: Assembly of Upper Baram headmen in 2006 (top left corner: the late Kelesa Naan, former headman of Long Kerong; top right corner: Bilong Oyoi, the deposed headman of Long Sait). Photo: The Bruno Manser Fund


I just read a very interesting blog post over at TreeHugger about the worsening situation in Borneo. For those not up-to-speed, basically:

• The increase demand for bio-fuels has meant the destruction of unique eco-systems in Borneo to make way for palm oil plantations.
• Borneo is about two-thirds Indonesian and one-third Malaysian
  
• Indonesian Borneo is losing an area of forest the size of a soccer field every 10 seconds (ABC 2007)
• Deforestation is killing 50 orangutans a week (ABC 2007)
• The carbon emissions saved by using palm-oil bio fuels instead of petroleum oil is actually cancelled out by the destruction of forests and peat lands
• The Body Shop only uses sustainable palm oil in our soaps and is on the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil - where we try to convince other manufacturers to do the same.
• We also support the Australian Palm Oil Action Group
• Oh and we sponsor about 15 orangutans from sanctuaries in Borneo
  

Now we discover according to the TreeHugger article: 'Logging, Palm Oil and Human Rights in Borneo: Malaysian Government Pushes Ahead By Ousting Indigenous Leaders' by Kimberley D. Mok:

The Malaysian government is contravening the Universal Declaration of human rights by seizing control of land belonging to indigenous peoples who oppose logging. Now, the government plans to install puppet representatives who will support the cutting of the rainforest. The Declaration, which has been adopted by Malaysia, upholds in its Article 18 the right of indigenous communities 'to participate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures'.

Though the connection may not be immediate to some, it is becoming more and more evident that there is an emergent link between the globalization of natural resources, human and animal rights abuses and environmental degradation. The mad rush for biofuels globally is inevitably driving up food prices, overtaking arable land and forests – and even prompting some observers to describe biofuels as a “crime against humanity.”

Action!

• Please read the entire TreeHugger article here. In fact I suggest subscribing to TreeHugger - it's great!
  
• Look behind the label and try not to buy things without certified, sustainable, palm oil.
• Bruno-Manser Fonds is a Society for the peoples of the rainforest. Check out their website for the latest developments