Page - July 22, 2004
During a speech on February 14, 2002, President Bush made a commitment to combat illegal logging in developing countries. He ordered Secretary of State Colin Powell to develop an initiative to end this serious problem which "destroys biodiversity and releases millions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere."
Greenpeace activists protest fish farming in British Columbia
However, Greenpeace uncovered evidence that the United States was continuing to receive over $10 million worth of shipments after the Brazilian moratorium on mahogany exports.
On April 12, 2002, in an effort to have an illegal mahogany shipment seized by the U.S. and to call attention to the issue, Greenpeace activists boarded the APL Jade, the ship carrying the mahogany, to hang a banner reading "President Bush, Stop Illegal Logging." The action was aimed at calling at calling on the President to return all mahogany shipments from Brazil and to investigate companies that continue to buy it.