Activists Speak Out

"I took action to stop illegally logged mahogany from Brazil from entering the U.S. because I feel that it is an issue that needs to be addressed by the U.S. Government, primarily President Bush. The environmental destruction caused by logging in the Amazon, not to mention the human and social impacts, is unacceptable and the laws forbidding these activities need to be enforced. If the government is unwilling or incapable of preventing the illegal logging of mahogany in Brazil, I am willing to do my part to make a difference."

--Adrienne

"In April of last year, I chose to document direct action that stemmed from Greenpeace's discovery of a shipment of illegally logged mahogany destined for the U.S.. Greenpeace took this action to have this contraband seized by the U.S. and to raise awareness of our government's lack of action to protect the Amazon rainforest from further devastation. Because the majority of Brazilian mahogany is exported to countries such as the United States, our leaders must work to create and enforce laws that will stop illegally logged wood from entering our country. As a photographer, my role is to document this crime, perpetrated by our government's apathy, and to create imagery that will compel others to speak out against this destruction of our world's last remaining forests."

--Laura

"On April 12, 2002 I was arrested in Miami along with several other Greenpeace activists for protesting a shipment of illegal mahogany into the United States. I have worked on forest issues for many years and have seen first hand devastating forest destruction from the Amazon basin to the Russian Far East and here at home as well. I also know that the United States is the largest importer of forest products in the world and that we do not have enough laws to ensure that our marketplace is not fuelling illegal and destructive practices abroad. If the U.S. does not demand that we stop importing illegally produced forest products then illegal products will continue to pour into this country. Illegal logging has been linked to corruption, slavery and the arms trade. I am not against the trade in forest products, or for that matter the trade in mahogany. I'm just firmly against the illegal trade and simply cannot believe that the U.S. turns a blind eye in the face of overwhelming evidence. All you need is a bill of sale and you can import wood, from anybody, anywhere. There are good forestry practices and there are bad, and the bad can be worse than you can imagine. I believe that consumers have the right to know whether or not the products we buy are supporting illegal activities or if they are from reputable suppliers. This should not be too much to ask."

--Scott

As a U.S. citizen I believe it is my civic duty to stand up against the injustice that the Bush Administration and the U.S. Government is participating in by allowing the import of illegally logged mahogany from Brazil. This is why I risked personal freedom -- to highlight the fact that the APL Jade was carrying mahogany robbed from indigenous people who make their existence in the Amazon Jungle. In order to get to this wood, "mahogany kingpins" enslave and sometimes murder people, not to mention the fact that they introduce disease into isolated tribal areas, which can destroy whole villages. The Amazon Rainforest is a treasure that should be preserved and respected by all people. This is why the government of Brazil has made the logging of Mahogany illegal. The Bush Administration should be at the forefront of this preservation and not be an accomplice to criminal acts that will ruin the Amazon Rainforest for generations."

--Jeremy

As Greenpeace is being prosecuted in the U.S., illegal logging continues in the Amazon. Read Jeremy's personal accounts of his work in the Amazon this past November:

• November 16 - 17, 2003
• November 18, 2003
• November 19 - 20, 2003
• November 21, 2003
• November 22, 2003
• November 25, 2003
• November 26, 2003