Articles of the Month

Save the Earth

There are many problems concerning the environment such as erosion, air and water pollution, noise pollution and the loss of endangered wildlife and forests.

Friends of the Earth is an organization consisting of 69 groups around the world who want to make sure the voices of individuals like ourselves who want to do something to help clean up the earth and prevent anymore destruction are heard alongside those of lobbyists and politicians.

Friends of the Earth have found that Asian Pulp and Paper (APP), one of the largest paper companies in the world is responsible for the large destruction of three quarters of Indonesia's Rainforests. Indonesia's rainforests are some of the richest in the world and the home of countless endangered species such as: Orangutans, Sumatran Tigers, Sumatran Rhinos, and Asian Elephants.

APP has also been given access to more then 60 000 hectares of forests in Darawak, Malaysia which will force up to 20 000 Ibanindigenous people off their lands.

APP's rainforests derived paper is:

1. in widespread use in the UK by millions of consumers including schools, businesses and public organizations
2. anonymous so you don't know the paper is produced by APP or that it comes from the rainforest and
3. supported by British banks such as Barcelays Bank and Natwest for the past ten years.

In a poll only 1 in 8 (39%) people bought the official view that globalization enhances everyone's quality of life. As many as 92% believe companies should meet human health, animal welfare and environmental standards, while 58% of the public thinks what is good for developed countries isn't good for people in developing, poorer countries. Another 71% reject the idea that global business is good for most developing, poorer countries and as many as 38% of people believe globalization actually damages the environment.

The bottom line is the majority of the public are in agreement that the government should protect the environment, employment conditions and health even when it conflicts with the interests of multinationalists.

Help Friends of the Earth make your voice heard at the Earth Summit on August 26, 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa by going to this site. Use the map and click on the green dot closest to where you live, then on cyberaction, where you'll find a number of links to find out how you can be a friend of the earth by taking part in their e-mail action campaign.

You can now do your part to help Friends of the Earth do their part in the fight to protect the earth.