His Excellency Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia - Stop the massacre of wildlife in Indonesia; save the forests from destruction.
The Issue
It has been claimed that countless animals are being massacred in Indonesia and forest habitats destroyed for palm oil production and the resulting profit of the palm oil producing companies.
This deforestation is largely illegal - it has to stop and the laws already in place must be enforced.
Some of the most devastating fires the world has ever seen have been raging on the Indonesian islands of Borneo and Sumatra; the scale and speed of deforestation on these islands is shocking. According to a recent report by Viral Thread: “In the past 20 years, 90% of the Orang-utan habitat has been destroyed.”
It is estimated that as many as 50 Orang-utans a week are being killed and other species of wildlife such as the Sumatran tiger and the Sumatran rhinoceros - endemic to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra - could be extinct in the wild in just a few years. It has been reported that human populations are being forced to leave their land and they have no way of supporting their families, other than to work for the plantation owners. Many have suffered respiratory problems, with a number of deaths reported that have been linked to the fires.
The rate of clearance of tropical forest and peat forest for large multinational pulp companies, and the subsequent planting of palm oil plantations has shown that '' by 2012 Indonesia has surpassed the rate of deforestation in Brazil''(sourc:Bachelard M. ''worlds worst illegal logging in Indonesia, in Sydney morning herald 30.6.2014) . '' and became the fastest forest clearing nation in the world'' (source: ''Deforestation in Indonesia is double the governments official rate ''. in scientific American 30.6.2014).A report suggests that An estimated 80% of this is done illegally.(source: wikepedia 1.12.15).
Fires are encroaching on previously protected areas such as the Gunung Leuser National Park and the broader Leuser ecosystem, which are home to rare, unique, and critically endangered wildlife.'' The National Spatial Plan, which was established by the government and forbids any new permits on primary forest and peat land. Act No.26/2007 enables criminal charges to be brought against not only those who carry out illegal activities in the area, but also to those who give the permission that allows criminal activities to take place. A maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment can be applied, but has rarely been enforced.".(Source Wikepedia 1.12.15).
The increasing demand for palm oil from China has raised further concerns that Indonesia may plan to expand plantations and may lose 4 million additional hectares for palm oil bio fuel production. Concerns have been raised that New Guinea's Papua province may bear the brunt of the expansion of Indonesia's palm oil industry, which it has been reported aims to produce 40 million metric tons by 2020. According to Global Forest Watch, fires have been seen in the south east corner of Papua province, most of which were in the Merauke regency, where the palm oil industry has a strong foothold. Papua is home to pristine tropical rainforest and has an important biodiversity of flora and fauna only endemic to this island. If the Indonesian government goes ahead with the alleged plans then this land and all its wildlife could be destroyed forever.
The slash and burn practice of forest clearance has also ''made Indonesia the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases;'' it has been reported,''contributing to global climate change.Some have called this recent Indonesian crisis the greatest ecological catastrophe of the 21st century''(source: Monbiot G. The Gaurdian 30.10.15). but unfortunately this still goes unreported by mainstream media.
The palm oil companies and the companies that purchase palm oil as an ingredient for their products may not care about the destruction of the forests, the killing of wildlife or the displacement of people or their contribution to climate change - their only interest appears to be PROFIT for their shareholders.
CALL TO ACTION
We are calling on the people of the world to UNITE in protest of the killing of wildlife and deforestation of Indonesia's forests and respectfully request that the Indonesian government cease all deforestation and protect the forests, wildlife and human populations therein. Furthermore we request that they prosecute any companies or individuals who purposely conduct acts of illegal logging and clearing of forests.
Humanity has an ethical responsibility to preserve and maintain existing habitats for the future generations of wildlife and human populations.
Please sign this petition and share as widely as you can.
Petition amended and closed at 1.00am 14.12.15
Image courtesy of Craig Jones
The Issue
It has been claimed that countless animals are being massacred in Indonesia and forest habitats destroyed for palm oil production and the resulting profit of the palm oil producing companies.
This deforestation is largely illegal - it has to stop and the laws already in place must be enforced.
Some of the most devastating fires the world has ever seen have been raging on the Indonesian islands of Borneo and Sumatra; the scale and speed of deforestation on these islands is shocking. According to a recent report by Viral Thread: “In the past 20 years, 90% of the Orang-utan habitat has been destroyed.”
It is estimated that as many as 50 Orang-utans a week are being killed and other species of wildlife such as the Sumatran tiger and the Sumatran rhinoceros - endemic to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra - could be extinct in the wild in just a few years. It has been reported that human populations are being forced to leave their land and they have no way of supporting their families, other than to work for the plantation owners. Many have suffered respiratory problems, with a number of deaths reported that have been linked to the fires.
The rate of clearance of tropical forest and peat forest for large multinational pulp companies, and the subsequent planting of palm oil plantations has shown that '' by 2012 Indonesia has surpassed the rate of deforestation in Brazil''(sourc:Bachelard M. ''worlds worst illegal logging in Indonesia, in Sydney morning herald 30.6.2014) . '' and became the fastest forest clearing nation in the world'' (source: ''Deforestation in Indonesia is double the governments official rate ''. in scientific American 30.6.2014).A report suggests that An estimated 80% of this is done illegally.(source: wikepedia 1.12.15).
Fires are encroaching on previously protected areas such as the Gunung Leuser National Park and the broader Leuser ecosystem, which are home to rare, unique, and critically endangered wildlife.'' The National Spatial Plan, which was established by the government and forbids any new permits on primary forest and peat land. Act No.26/2007 enables criminal charges to be brought against not only those who carry out illegal activities in the area, but also to those who give the permission that allows criminal activities to take place. A maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment can be applied, but has rarely been enforced.".(Source Wikepedia 1.12.15).
The increasing demand for palm oil from China has raised further concerns that Indonesia may plan to expand plantations and may lose 4 million additional hectares for palm oil bio fuel production. Concerns have been raised that New Guinea's Papua province may bear the brunt of the expansion of Indonesia's palm oil industry, which it has been reported aims to produce 40 million metric tons by 2020. According to Global Forest Watch, fires have been seen in the south east corner of Papua province, most of which were in the Merauke regency, where the palm oil industry has a strong foothold. Papua is home to pristine tropical rainforest and has an important biodiversity of flora and fauna only endemic to this island. If the Indonesian government goes ahead with the alleged plans then this land and all its wildlife could be destroyed forever.
The slash and burn practice of forest clearance has also ''made Indonesia the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases;'' it has been reported,''contributing to global climate change.Some have called this recent Indonesian crisis the greatest ecological catastrophe of the 21st century''(source: Monbiot G. The Gaurdian 30.10.15). but unfortunately this still goes unreported by mainstream media.
The palm oil companies and the companies that purchase palm oil as an ingredient for their products may not care about the destruction of the forests, the killing of wildlife or the displacement of people or their contribution to climate change - their only interest appears to be PROFIT for their shareholders.
CALL TO ACTION
We are calling on the people of the world to UNITE in protest of the killing of wildlife and deforestation of Indonesia's forests and respectfully request that the Indonesian government cease all deforestation and protect the forests, wildlife and human populations therein. Furthermore we request that they prosecute any companies or individuals who purposely conduct acts of illegal logging and clearing of forests.
Humanity has an ethical responsibility to preserve and maintain existing habitats for the future generations of wildlife and human populations.
Please sign this petition and share as widely as you can.
Petition amended and closed at 1.00am 14.12.15
Image courtesy of Craig Jones
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Petition created on 8 November 2015