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Paradise lost for soap and ice cream

Orang-utan suited activists scale a Unilever plant to protest Unilever's use of palm oil from Indonesian forests. Enlarge Image

Unilever's 'Monkey Business' - Greenpeace swings into action

It's been a busy morning for Greenpeace activists across Europe, many of whom have been dressing up as orang-utans to draw attention to Unilever's "monkey business". Today, we're launching the next stage in our campaign to protect the rainforests of Indonesia from the expansion of the palm oil industry.

New palm oil plantation with forest it replaced in the background. Enlarge Image

Biofuels under scrutiny

They seem like a perfect solution, making fuels from plants to help cut carbon emissions. The simple promise of so-called biofuels has led to many companies and politicians being swept up in the hype. However more and more research is revealing many current biofuels are a false solution.

Rainbow Warrior blocking the tanker MT Westama, which is loading over 30,000 tonnes of palm oil. Enlarge Image

Palm oil blockade

(UPDATED - see below) With a banner reading 'Palm Oil Kills Forests and Climate' the Rainbow Warrior has anchored next to a palm oil tanker blocking it in port. Our ship is stationed close enough to the tanker that the tug boats can't get it out of dock.

The sharp contrast between the pristine rainforest and the area destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations in Indonesia. Enlarge Image

Palm oil: Cooking the Climate

If, as you read this, you're tucking into a KitKat or dipping into a tube of Pringles, you might be interested to know that these products contain palm oil that is linked to the destruction of forests and peatlands in Indonesia. As our new report "How the palm oil industry is cooking the climate" shows, it's a recipe for disaster.

Greenpeace activists work with locals to halt drainage by constructing dams on the peatland canals. This will prevent the peatland from drying out and releasing carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. Enlarge Image

Indonesian forest destruction dammed

Our volunteers and local forest communities have halted the destruction of an area of swamp forest in Sumatra, Indonesia. They are building five dams across three-metre deep canals used in logging and draining peatland for conversion into a commercial palm oil plantation.

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