ADM & Cargill : Stop Palm Oil Expansion into Indonesia’s Peatlands
The following call to action comes from Paul Malouf of the Rainforest Action Network.
Source: http://paulmalouf.blogspot.com/2009/02/adm-cargill-stop-palm-oil-expansion.html
Please send a letter to ADM and Cargill today demanding that they take a stand against peatland destruction in Indonesia.
ADM CEO Patricia Woertz &
Cargill CEO Gregory Page
I’m very concerned about the recent announcement from Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture that it intends to expand drainage and conversion of peatlands and other natural forests for oil palm plantations and about your company’s role in the continued impact of palm oil plantations on tropical rainforest ecosystems, communities and the global climate. I urge you to take urgent measures to ensure that the palm oil that your company is supplying to the U.S. market does not come from sources that drain peatlands and convert natural forests to plantations, disregard forest peoples’ and workers’ rights, and contribute to global climate change.
Research by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has confirmed that:
* Tropical rainforest destruction is responsible for one-fifth of current global greenhouse emissions. The leading cause of tropical deforestation in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands is palm oil plantation expansion.
* Degradation of Indonesia’s peatlands is one of the world’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Indonesia’s 2.8 million hectares of degraded peatlands account for 1 percent of global emissions, a major reason for the country’s status as the world’s third-highest greenhouse gas emitter, behind China and the United States.
According to recent U.S. trade data, more than 90% of the palm oil imported to the U.S. is coming from Malaysia and Indonesia. Given the Indonesian government’s announcement, your immediate action is of the utmost urgency. And, as one of the biggest suppliers of palm oil to companies in the United States that put palm oil in products such as snack foods, candies, soaps, detergents and cosmetics, you have a fundamental role in promoting and demonstrating best practices in the global palm oil industry and ending the worst.
While 39 food, cosmetic and consumer goods companies, including Whole Foods, Organic Valley, L’occitane and two organic palm oil suppliers, have already signed RAN’s pledge to source palm oil that does not contribute to destroying the world’s remaining tropical rainforests, disregard forest peoples or worker’s rights or contribute to global climate change, your company continues business as usual. This includes sourcing from and working with bad actors, like Wilmar and Sinar Mas, who are actively converting natural forests to palm oil plantations in Indonesia and undermining progress in the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil).
I encourage your company to ensure that your plantations and suppliers stop converting natural forests to plantations; resolve community conflicts and respect worker’s rights; ensure free, prior and informed consent of forest peoples; and meet or exceed RSPO standards or else face contract cancellations. I also encourage your company to create full supply chain transparency and third party verification so that you can report this information to customers and other stakeholders. Please also explain your company’s position regarding the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture’s recent statements on expanding palm oil plantations into natural and peat forests.
Thank you for your consideration and for taking responsibility for your role in the global palm oil industry by taking the steps outlined above. I look forward to your response.
Thank you,
Paul Malouf
