The animals need your help people

[mycats]

Did you know that palm oil, which is loads of things like soap etc is usually produced in such a way that destroys the habitat or orangutangs? they will be extinct in 12 years!!! I am emailing all the major supermarkets asking when they will be selling stuff made from the certified (synthetic) stuff.
I wrote
"I am writing to ask when I will be able to buy products from your stores that I can be sure are only made using certified palm oil? I know supermarkets are claiming to to 'aiming' to cut down on their use of natural palm oil the production of which is destroying the habitat of the orangutan habitats, I have faith that NAME OF SHOP" will not support this travesty. thank you" Soooooo if loads of people also do it they might listen, come on people we cant let the poor things get extinct! I have emailed Tesco, safeway, co-op can you think of ant others? More info here: http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/biodiversity/ca se_studies/palm_oil/index.html

[wildwood]

While I admire your effort, this will not make any difference to the orangutan or tiger.

The people who plant the palm trees are living in one of the most populous countries in the world and they have to make a living to exist. If not palm trees it will be something else - corn/cereals for bio-fuel is the present favoured cash crop.

A solution would be to find some other way for that population to earn a crust without harming the eco system, but we are talking many millions here, not a few thousand. If the Indonesian govt. was a bit more pliable, a large proportion of Sumatra could be turned into a sanctuary as a tourist heaven and provide an income for many. This has worked in Africa where now the elephant herds need to be culled annually because their numbers are to large for the environment and they are literally eating their habitat.

[mycats]

Good points thank you. But I have to feel I'm at least trying, or at least not participating in it, I want to have a choice.
Good idea abut a sanctury but I think I have even less contol over that than the oil lol

[Clanad]

Additionally, the way palm oil is produced has nothing to do with the endangerment of the orangutan. Not that it helps, but the crop is so valuable to the farmers now that they have greatly increased its production. The Orangutans raid the crops and eat the tender shoots which will become the next crop. Simply fencing the crop off or snaring and removing the ape would take care of the problem, but it's not seen as a necessity.In line with wildwoods suggestion, alternate methods of protecting the crop without harming the ape is a good plan...

[wildwood]

I was more thinking about the native forest that is cut down annually to make room for palm trees, thereby destroying the habitat. If the 'natives' have to resort to another cash crop because palm oil farming becomes uneconomical, even more forest will be cut down as other crops need a lot more room to produce the same financial return as palm trees. One acre of palm trees will probably produce as much cash return as 5 acres of cereal - although I am only guessing at that.

Pretty much a catch 22 situation.