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Greenpeace activists dump over a tonne of plywood secured with large chains blocking the entrance to DEFRA, the UK Government's department responsible for the environment.
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The Amazon lost an area roughly the size of Belgium last year, and the
Paradise Forests of South East Asia are disappearing so rapidly, that
their most famous residents, orang-utans, are facing extinction in the
wild within the next decade. The African Forests of the Great Apes is
similarly facing a huge assault. Why? Illegal and destructive logging,
driven by demand for cheap wood from Europe.
Last week, in the port city of Livorno, Italy, we blocked the unloading of the freighter 'Guan He Kou' which was carrying timber from a company involved in illegal logging in the Congo Basin. The presence of the 'Guan He Kou' and its rainforest cargo in Europe shows just how easy it is to steal from some of the most biologically rich areas in the world.
After the activists were arrested, the ship continued to deliver the timber before sailing to Spain, where we greeted it again in the port of Valencia on Monday. No inspections, no seizure of the stolen goods.
Many of the companies that log the tropical timber are known to be involved in criminal activities. In Papua New Guinea, for example, the logging industry is dominated by Malaysian logging giant Rimbunan Hijau, a company that has been directly linked not only to environmental destruction, but also to human rights abuses including torture and rape.
Today in the UK, activists blockaded the offices of the environment department in protest at the lack of action to prohibit the importation of illegal timber.
"Governments around the world have known about this
problem for years and they've done absolutely nothing about it.
Illegally logged timber products from the world's last rainforests are
sold openly around the world. This criminal trade must be prohibited
immediately," said Phil Aikman, Greenpeace International forests
campaigner.
The European Commission's (EC) response to the issue of illegal logging has so far been weak. It is promoting voluntary measures, despite calls from 180 NGOs, the European Parliament and 70 companies (including Ikea and B&Q), who have all called for legislation which stops the import of illegally sourced timber products into Europe.
This voluntary approach is an inadequate and untenable position, not just for consumers in Europe who are unknowingly complicit in forest crimes, but also for the people of timber-producing countries. The World Bank estimates that illegal logging costs timber-producing countries between US$10 and15 billion a year in lost revenue. Forest dwelling people in countries like Cameroon, Papua New Guinea and Brazil cannot afford to have their livelihoods stolen from them.
One of the first steps in protecting the ancient forest is the introduction of laws prohibiting the import of illegal timber. While the European Commission drags its feet, the forests continue to be destroyed and the people that depend on them for their way of life continue to be ignored.
Read the full report: PARTNERS IN CRIME: The UK timber trade, Chinese sweatshops and Malaysian robber barons in Papua New Guinea’s rainforests.
Find out more about the problems and solutions of illegal and destructive timber.
Last week, in the port city of Livorno, Italy, we blocked the unloading of the freighter 'Guan He Kou' which was carrying timber from a company involved in illegal logging in the Congo Basin. The presence of the 'Guan He Kou' and its rainforest cargo in Europe shows just how easy it is to steal from some of the most biologically rich areas in the world.
After the activists were arrested, the ship continued to deliver the timber before sailing to Spain, where we greeted it again in the port of Valencia on Monday. No inspections, no seizure of the stolen goods.
Many of the companies that log the tropical timber are known to be involved in criminal activities. In Papua New Guinea, for example, the logging industry is dominated by Malaysian logging giant Rimbunan Hijau, a company that has been directly linked not only to environmental destruction, but also to human rights abuses including torture and rape.
Today in the UK, activists blockaded the offices of the environment department in protest at the lack of action to prohibit the importation of illegal timber.
Lulu John and Aeabi Sakas in the rainforest. They and their clan face an uncertain future as logging threatens to destroy their land. Elie, Middle Fly Distrct, Western Province, PNG
The European Commission's (EC) response to the issue of illegal logging has so far been weak. It is promoting voluntary measures, despite calls from 180 NGOs, the European Parliament and 70 companies (including Ikea and B&Q), who have all called for legislation which stops the import of illegally sourced timber products into Europe.
This voluntary approach is an inadequate and untenable position, not just for consumers in Europe who are unknowingly complicit in forest crimes, but also for the people of timber-producing countries. The World Bank estimates that illegal logging costs timber-producing countries between US$10 and15 billion a year in lost revenue. Forest dwelling people in countries like Cameroon, Papua New Guinea and Brazil cannot afford to have their livelihoods stolen from them.
One of the first steps in protecting the ancient forest is the introduction of laws prohibiting the import of illegal timber. While the European Commission drags its feet, the forests continue to be destroyed and the people that depend on them for their way of life continue to be ignored.
Read the full report: PARTNERS IN CRIME: The UK timber trade, Chinese sweatshops and Malaysian robber barons in Papua New Guinea’s rainforests.
Find out more about the problems and solutions of illegal and destructive timber.
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