"Fonterra's involvement in rainforest destruction and the
massive climate impact this causes is criminal. This ship's cargo
has contributed to the release of up to 364,000 tonnes of carbon
emissions. That's the same as the emissions from 127,000 cars over
a year. Fonterra and John Key have taken no steps to stop this
climate crime which is why we're taking action today."
The activists stopped the palm kernel cargo from beig unloaded
for over 12 hours.
Fonterra came out and denied responsibility for the shipment but
there is no denying that this shipment is headed for Fonterra's
nationwide dairy herd.
For the last weeks all Fonterra has done is mislead the New
Zealand people. It has not done its homework on the supply of palm
based animal feed and has been caught out in its involvement in
rainforest destruction. Greenwashing its way out of this will not
work and the only option left is for Fonterra to stop the
imports.
A quarter of the world's production of Palm Kernel Expeller
(PKE) animal feed, an economic product of the Indonesian and
Malaysian palm industry, was imported into New Zealand last year
with the majority going to feed dairy cows. Around 95 per cent of all New
Zealand dairy farms are shareholders within Fonterra
Also today on the defensive was RD1 which is a half-owned
subsidiary of Fonterra. It claimed Greenpeace's actions are
damaging New Zealand's overseas reputation.
But it is Fonterra which is putting New
Zealand’s clean, green image at risk by its involvement in tropical
rainforest and peatland destruction which comes at a huge cost to the
climate.
Imports for palm based animal feed in 2008 would have
contributed up to 20 times New Zealand's domestic air travel
emissions. It is time for Fonterra to come clean on its climate
crime and for John Key to put an end to the country's involvement
in this destructive and unnecessary trade.