Forests Newsroom

Cargill Supplier Linked to Violence and Home Demolition in Indonesia

Release Date: 
Monday, August 29, 2011

 

CONTACT:

Laurel Sutherlin, 415.246.0161 laurel@ran.org

Rivani Noor, +62 816 320 5344 rivani@cappa.or.id

RAN Documents Test Case for Indonesia’s Late Breaking Forest Policy

Release Date: 
Thursday, July 14, 2011

Yesterday, a day after Indonesian Presidential advisor Kuntoro announced a potentially major shift in forest management policy, Rainforest Action Network (RAN) staff documented a test case for the government’s plans in the remote village of Muara Merang, in the Province of South Sumatra. The Indonesian government’s announcement includes the new allocation of 89,000 hectares for community-managed forest areas, a designation known as Hutan Desa.

Rainforest Action Network Statement on Cargill’s Commitment to Supply RSPO Certified Palm Oil by 2015

Release Date: 
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, Cargill announced new commitments covering palm oil products that it supplies to its customers in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, indicating that they should be certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and/or originate from smallholder growers by 2015. This goal excludes palm kernel oil products. The company will also extend its commitment to cover 100% of its palm oil products and all customers worldwide by 2020.
 

Cargill Supplier Connected to Illegal Logging; Allegations of Slave Labor

Release Date: 
Monday, June 20, 2011

CONTACT:
Laurel Sutherlin, 415.246.0161

IOI Corp's palm oil not green or sustainable

IOI Corporation, one of Malaysia's leading producers of palm oil, has failed to comply with the terms set by the RSPO Grievance Panel last month, says an international coalition of NGOs that has filed several formal grievances against IOI Corporation, an executive board member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

IOI Corp's palm oil not green or sustainable
malaysiakini
Friday, May 27, 2011

Making Girl Scout Cookies Better for the Planet

For Madison Vorva and Rhiannon Tomtishen, it all began with orangutans. Four years ago-inspired by the work of primate researcher Jane Goodall-the two friends from Ann Arbor, Mich., collaborated on a research report on the endangered primates to help qualify for their Girl Scout Bronze award, one of the highest prizes offered by the 3.2 million-member organization. Vorva and Tomtishen have both been scouts since they were five years old, and they take their roles and responsibilities seriously.

Making Girl Scout Cookies Better for the Planet
Time Magazine
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Greenpeace versus Mattel: A social media battle over rain forest [UPDATED]

The battle between Mattel, the world’s biggest toy company, and Greenpeace, one of the world’s largest environmental groups, moved into a social media combat phase Wednesday as more than 180,000 people viewed a spoof video of Ken breaking up with Barbie over rain forest destruction. The video, featured on various nations' Greenpeace sites as well as on YouTube, was translated into 18 languages.

Greenpeace versus Mattel: A social media battle over rain forest [UPDATED]
Los Angeles Times
Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Cookie Crumbles for Girl Scouts, as Teens Launch Palm-Oil Crusade

To earn their Girl Scout Bronze Award four years ago, Rhiannon Tomtishen and Madison Vorva set out to study orangutans.

Instead, they wound up investigating Thin Mints, Trefoils and Samoas.

What they uncovered soured them on the sweets and has put the Michigan teens at odds with Girl Scouts of the USA. Now they're on a march to change the recipe for Girl Scout cookies.

Their target: palm oil, which can come from places the primates live.

Cookie Crumbles for Girl Scouts, as Teens Launch Palm-Oil Crusade
Wall Street Journal
Friday, May 20, 2011

Girl Scouts Are Awesome: Saving the Rainforest From Their Cookies

Girl Scout cookies seem innocent enough. Besides the sugar and calories, what harm could they possibly cause? Quite a bit it turns out. Girl Scout cookies use a whole lot of palm oil, the controversial ingredient that is inextricably linked to rainforest destruction, violations of Indigenous rights, and the extinction of endangered species like orangutans, tigers, elephants, and rhinoceros.

Girl Scouts Are Awesome: Saving the Rainforest From Their Cookies
Good
Wednesday, May 4, 2011

4 rainforest activists arrested at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank

UPDATE: On October 11, 2012, Disney announced a comprehensive paper policy that maximizes its use of environmentally superior papers like recycled and eliminates controversial sources like those connected to Indonesian rainforest destruction. For more info, visit www.ran.org/disney.

Several protestors - two of whom were dressed as Mickey and Minnie Mouse - were arrested Wednesday in a short-lived demonstration after they chained themselves to a gate at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.

4 rainforest activists arrested at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank
Contra Costa Times
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
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