For the love of tigers, people across the US hit the streets this weekend. As few as 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild in Indonesian rainforests and these majestic animals are classified as critically endangered. Unfortunately, companies like Asia Pacific Resources International Limited and Singapore-based Wilmar International havedestroyed more than two-thirds of the endangered tigers habitat to make way for pulpwood and palm oil plantations.
Thats why this past weekend we came together for tigers. Many of the household products we know and love contain palm oil. Its everywhere and an important commodity for rural communities and the economy in Indonesia. While palm oil production can be good,companies like Wilmar International (the worlds largest palm oil trader) are significantly contributing to rainforest destruction and habitat loss of the majestic tiger.
And dirty palm oil is ending up in our products! Currently companies like Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmoilve, Johnson & Johnson and PepsiCo are getting palm oil that could be destroying tiger habitat, and they have no way to stop it.
When consumer companies implement a No Deforestation Policy that ensures palm oil in their supply chains is free from forest destruction, land conflict and human rights violations we will no longer be fearful for the tigers and orangutans that live in the paradise rainforests of Indonesia.
From New York, NY to San Diego, CA people all over the US took action to show their love for tigers, because we still have a long way to go until we transform the palm oil industry and end forest destruction.
But we can do it, and we must do it. So future generations inherit a world where tigers exist outside of zoos and storybooks. So we can maintain a balanced global environment and not accelerate carbon contributions to climate change. We must be fearless for forests.
