{"id":6140,"date":"2020-10-28T23:20:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-29T07:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/eastasia\/?p=6140"},"modified":"2020-10-29T00:56:01","modified_gmt":"2020-10-29T08:56:01","slug":"how-hong-kong-links-to-amazon-deforestation-and-what-we-can-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/eastasia\/blog\/6140\/how-hong-kong-links-to-amazon-deforestation-and-what-we-can-help\/","title":{"rendered":"How Hong Kong links to Amazon deforestation and what we can help"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We protect forests as our source of ecology, maintain our climate and protect the Earth we call home. Among these forests, the Amazon is the earth’s vital ecosystem and carbon sink.<\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace has initiated a global preservation effort for the Amazon rainforests for 27 years, and our Hong Kong team has been stepping up with a local angle since 2019, so more community members can join the cause. Now, we\u2019ll start with the recent development of the fires in Amazon, then we\u2019ll explore why and how Hongkongers can help in \u201cProtect the Amazon\u201d. Albeit far, this green gem\u2019s fate actually has something to do with our eating habits. <\/p>\n\n

Amazon is up in flames, the destruction as of September<\/h2>\n\n

Brazil is in flames. Amazon, the world\u2019s largest tropical rainforest, has experienced two consecutive historic fires in two years. While more than 1 million hectares of forest were burnt in Amazon in 2019<\/a>, the fire in 2020 is probably the worst in 10 years. But things are getting worse as the fires are returning and spreading to more biodiverse areas, which 23% of the rainforest is affected so far. (data source: https:\/\/lasa.ufrj.br\/news\/burned-area-pantanal-2020\/<\/a>; based on data as of 27 September. The error range of the report is +\/- 20%, which may affect the calculation of the total affected area.<\/p>\n\n

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Large-scale fires has destroyed 23% of the Pantanal in central and western Brazil, threatening this tropical wetland that is home to endangered jaguars and has very high ecological value \u00a9 Leandro Cagiano \/ Greenpeace<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Amazon matters, globally<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

We\u2019re losing forests the size of a football pitch every two seconds, which agricultural expansion is responsible for 80% of the loss. So companies and governments worldwide must stop trading with those who destroy our forests and make drastic cuts in producing meat and dairy products. Economies should be sustainable and human-focused, after all.<\/p>\n\n

The situation has been deteriorating since Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019. His government has not only sacrificed Amazon for economic growth but has been hindering efforts in preservation and laying blame on the indigenous community. This inevitable will make our climate crisis a lot worse, with Brazil in ashes and millions of people at stake.<\/p>\n\n

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The Fazenda Bacuri farm in Par\u00e1, Brazil was fined 2 million reais for deforestation last year. More illegal wildfire sites were found in the farm\u2019s restricted areas in August 2019. This farm will be supplying cattles to JBS\u2019s slaughterhouse in Marab\u00e1 until at least April 2020. As of August 2020, there are still records of wildfire hotspots in the restricted areas despite an official ban. \u00a9 Christian Braga \/ Greenpeace<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

And, here\u2019s the link to Hong Kong<\/h2>\n\n

Did you know Brazil’s \u201cdeforestation meat\u201d is one of Hong Kong’s primary meat sources?  JBS, Marfrig and Minerva, the three key beef suppliers to the city and supplying 60% of the frozen beef and offal imported from Brazil in Hong Kong in 2017, are known for their unethical practices and destruction in Amazon.<\/p>\n\n

Farms have been illegally clearing Amazon forests to raise cattle for these three corporations. While these suppliers disavowed such practice, as they only regulate their direct suppliers, ‘deforestation meat’ continues to persist. As of August 2020, there are still wildfire hotspots in areas where these corporation’s suppliers operate despite official bans.<\/p>\n\n

To save Amazon, we must push for change in Hong Kong. Since mid-August, Greenpeace Hong Kong has reached out to local supermarkets checking on their procurement on Brazilian beef and whether JBS, Manfrig and Minvera are their suppliers. We have been in conversations with the local chains including ParknShop, Wellcome, Kaibo, Dachang, Yata , AEON, CR Vanguardand, City’Super, and Marks & Spencer.<\/p>\n\n

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The Fazenda Bacuri farm in Par\u00e1, Brazil was fined 2 million reais for deforestation last year. More illegal wildfire sites were found in the farm\u2019s restricted areas in August 2019. This farm will be supplying cattles to JBS\u2019s slaughterhouse in Marab\u00e1 until at least April 2020. As of August 2020, there are still records of wildfire hotspots in the restricted areas despite an official ban. \u00a9 Christian Braga \/ Greenpeace<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

We\u2019ve launched a petition campaign on \u201cAmazon Day\u201d on 5 September to gather community voices to add on our efforts to protect Amazon. We urge local retail chains and international fast-food restaurants to disclose the source of meat and phase out \u201cdeforestation meat\u201d.<\/p>\n\n

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The Fazenda S\u00e3o Jos\u00e9 farm in S\u00e3o F\u00e9lixdo Xingu, is a direct supplier of JBS and Marfrig for their slaughterhouses in the state of Para. Fire hotspots were found on the property Between 10 and 31 August 2019. This drone photo was taken in August this year as part of our investigation. \u00a9 Christian Braga \/ Greenpeace<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

The early impacts of the \u201cdeforestation meat\u201d investigation<\/h2>\n\n

Our \u201cSay No to deforestation meat\u201d petition under the Protect the Amazon project has already gathered many who love the Earth and care about the climate crisis. Here are some of our early achievements from the recent efforts:<\/p>\n\n

1.Three companies responded initially<\/p>\n\n

Yata: Rarely sell Brazilian beef<\/p>\n\n

City’Super: Not selling Brazilian meat<\/p>\n\n

AEON: Stopped supplying Brazilian meat since 2017<\/p>\n\n

2.Our in-depth investigation by the team gained traction on major local media. South China Morning Post\u2019s headline wrote as “Nearly a third of HK’s beef comes from deforested areas of Amazon rainforest, new Greenpeace study shows<\/a>“; major Chinese newspaper including<\/p>\n\n

Apple Daily and Oriental Daily News also made coverage on our investigations.<\/p>\n\n

3.PARKnSHOP, one of the supermarket giants in Hong Kong, later also responded: JBS meat products are currently available, but will use other suppliers once the current stock is depleted.<\/p>\n\n

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Two ways you can continue to help Protect the Amazon:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n