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This blog comes from our friends at End of the Icons.
In an amazing global response to the tragedy in Tripa, thousands of people all around the world have emailed the President of Indonesia and key stakeholders calling for the law to be enforced and this precious peatland to be saved. We are happy to tell you it is already working. We are making a difference.
After thousands of you signed the petition, the chairman of the REDD+ Taskforce, Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, sent a team of lawyers to Tripa. They are on the ground collecting evidence right now. Your voice is effective. Now, we need your help to launch the next phase of the campaign to save Tripa and its inhabitants: a 48-hour Twitter jam.
Tweet to the influential people who can help us in this case. The law is on our side, momentum is on our side, now we just need to make certain the court is on our side, and the criminals get punished for destroying Tripa! Use hashtag #savetripa in your tweets to help make it a trending topic. Foreign Minister Martyn is active on twitter, so we know he is one person who will get the message loud and clear — the whole world wants justice for Tripa. Here are some tweets you can post:
- Dear Minister @martynatalegawa the world is watching how Indonesia enforces the law in Tripa! http://ow.ly/a0kaL #savetripa
• The Indonesian President has received thousands of emails, let’s keep his attention focused!
Dear president @soesilobambang we want to see JUSTICE in Tripa. This is our demand http://ow.ly/a0kaL #savetripa
• The Minister of Forestry is responsible for deciding what forests get to live and what forests get cut down.
Dear Ministry of Forestry @zul_hasan you have to make sure JUSTICE is served in Tripa http://ow.ly/a0kaL #savetripa”
• The Minister of Agriculture should be investigating palm oil companies operating illegally all over Indonesia.
Dear Minister @suswono palm oil company PT Kalista Alam is breaking the law in Tripa http://ow.ly/a0kaL #savetripa”
• The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights has to make sure justice is served in court on April 3rd (more on that below).
Dear @KEMENKUMHAM the world demands JUSTICE to be served in Tripa http://ow.ly/a0kaL #savetripa “
• Originally the area of Forest that PT Kallista Alam is destroying was part of a multi-billion dollar forest protection deal between Norway and Indonesia. The people of Norway must be outraged that their money is going up in smoke!
Dear @Kronprinsparet Norwegian taxpayer money is going up in smoke because of corrupt Indonesian officials http://ow.ly/a0oQ7 #savetripa
• World Bank funds are used both for protection and destruction of the Leuser Ecosystem, the wider area in which Tripa lies. We’re asking them to investigate.
@WorldBank money is used to fund the destruction of protected #orangutan habitat in Indonesia http://ow.ly/a0oMo #savetripa
• The United Nations’ Great Ape Survival Partnership (GRASP) lists Tripa as a priority site for orangutan protection. We’re asking UNEP GRASP, UNEP and UNESCO to investigate.
Dear @graspunep Tripa is a priority site for the protection of Orangutans http://ow.ly/a0oMo #savetripa Dear @UNEP Tripa is a priority site for the protection of Orangutans http://ow.ly/a0oMo #savetripa Dear @UNESCO Tripa is a priority site for the protection of Orangutans http://ow.ly/a0oMo #savetripa
Burning protected forests and peatlands is against multiple Indonesian laws, and we will continue to watch this investigation very closely. In less than 48 hours, the court of Aceh will be announcing the judge’s verdict in the case against the major culprits in burning forests in Tripa, the PT Kallista Alam oil palm company and former governor Irwandi Yusuf. Allowing palm oil permits within the Tripa Peat Swamp Forest is against the law, as it is an integral part of the Leuser Ecosystem, home to rhinos, elephants, clouded leopards, tigers and of course, orangutans. Tripa is protected by the National Spatial Plan established by government regulation 26/2008 under the National Spatial Planning Law number 26/2007. “This is really a test case,” said Chik Rini, a World Wildlife Fund campaigner, noting that while it’s not uncommon for timber, pulp, paper and palm oil companies to raze trees in protected areas, few developments have occurred in Tripa, an area that seems so obviously off limits. “If they get away with it here, well, then no forests are safe.”
Find Reports, Photos, Film, Media and more on our website: EndoftheIcons.wordpress.com.
The Independent wrote one of the most complete and accurate media stories to come out so far: Up in smoke: ecological catastrophe in the Sumatran swamps.
~~ Happy tweeting everyone! Please share this widely! – ~~ Never underestimate the power of your friends! ~~