2011 has been designated International Year of the Forest by the United Nations. So great news to hear that Sinar Mas' palm oil producing company Golden Agri Resources (GAR) has made commitments that could end its destruction of the Indonesian rainforest. It follows successful Greenpeace campaigns and direct action against its customers, Unilever, Nestle and Burger King as well as financiers HSBC which finally made GAR realise that it had to change its practices.
It makes it all worthwhile - those many hours you and I spend on the streets and at organised events trying to get our message across to the public. Whatever the campaign, it is the work done at grass roots to garner public support, in conjunction with the research and co-ordination at international office level, that forces major companies to rethink their business strategy and ethics. Some put up a fight with pathetic 'greenwash', whilst others cave in when they know a Greenpeace campaign is about to hit the streets. Our international reputation precedes us. For example, last month Tesco undertook a hasty policy U-turn when the company learnt that it was being targeted by Greenpeace over its stocking of canned tuna that is being caught with purse seine nets which also traps and kills turtles, rays and dolphins. Tesco has promised that its tuna suppliers will be using 'pole and line' methods by the end of next year. The pressure is on for Princes to follow suit?
However, our work is not done with SInar Mas - the group's pulp and paper arm, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), continues its rampant destruction of rainforests. While Golden Agri takes positive steps APP is busy gobbling up Indonesian forests, including areas critical to the survival of the endangered Sumatran tiger
With Go Beyond Oil we are targetting the big multi-billion dollar energy companies - but surely with the right message that the public can sign up to we can confront them with their misguided practices and make them realise that our fragile environments cannot sustain their greed for growing profits.
Our time and effort does make a difference - that's why we do what we do. Bit by bit we strive to make the world a better place. See you on the streets soon!
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