McDonald's Australia has admitted to using Palm Oil in their products during their online Q&A

In case this is the first you've heard of it (which would be a little odd!) the production of Palm Oil is the single largest contributor to the decline of Orang-utan Populations.

In short, Palm Oil is killing Orang-utans. McDonald's is using Palm Oil. McDonald's is therefore killing Orang-utans.

Of course, McDonald's puts a positive spin on it, claiming that it sources its Palm Oil from Peninsula Malaysia which isn't involved in "not involved with the deforestation and displacement of orang-utans".

But that's not exactly the truth. Peninsula Malaysia is currently being used as a rehabilitation area for unhomed Orang-utans, and even has an Orang-utan hospital: http://www.theage.com.au/world/malaysian-orangutan-hospital-sparks-controversy-20090531-brfk.html. And even though most accept that such a measure is not the way to save the Orang-utan, it's far from the morally benign source McDonald's claims it is.

So while McDonald's may not be killing the parents, they're burning the orphanage, and that isn't even taking into account the native fauna that IS being destroyed by deforestation in Peninsular Malaysa.

McDonalds also claims it sources its Palm Oil from "Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and source the majority of (our) palm oil from RSPO members." and that "the RSPO promotes palm oil production practices that help to reduce deforestation, preserve biodiversity and respect the livelihoods of rural communities."

However, Greenpeace UK has this to say about the RSPO:

"Industry efforts to bring this deforestation under control have come through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). It was set up in 2001 to establish clear ethical and ecological standards for producing palm oil, and its members include high-street names like Unilever, Cadbury's, Nestlé and Tesco, as well as palm oil traders such as Cargill and ADM. Together, these companies represent 40 per cent of global palm oil trade.

"But since then, forest destruction has continued. Many RSPO members are taking no steps to avoid the worst practices associated with the industry, such as large-scale forest clearance and taking land from local people without their consent. On top of this, the RSPO actually risks creating the illusion of sustainable palm oil, justifying the expansion of the palm oil industry.

"Our investigations - detailed in our report Cooking The Climate - found evidence that RSPO members are still relying on palm oil suppliers who destroy rainforests and convert peatlands for their plantations. One member - Duta Palma, an Indonesian palm oil refiner - has rights to establish plantations on land which theoretically is protected by law."

There is no such thing as Sustainable Palm Oil, just as there is no such thing as Sustainable Fossil Fuels, the two concepts are completely incompatible.

If you sell cocaine, you are supporting drug cartels. If you use Palm Oil in your products, you are supporting the murder of Orang-utans and many other wonderful lifeforms in the forests of Asia, no matter how "sustainable" you may think the practice.

McDonald's, you are destroying the rainforests of Malaysia. As much as you try to wash your hands of it they are covered in the blood of Orang-utans and every other animal whose home you have destroyed to cook a two dollar burger.

If you care about the future of these gentle creature, I beg of you, tell McDonald's what you think of Palm Oil!

To learn more about Palm Oilm, visit this page.