Orangutans Online

The RSPO (Round table for Sustainable Palm Oil) is the world's only globally accepted organisation dedicated to sustainable palm oil production. Of the major UK supermarkets, Asda has led the way and shown full commitment, signing up to the RSPO. Also signed up are Marks & Spencer, and in all but name, Sainsbury's. This, however, leaves Tesco. The bad guy of UK supermarkets has another reason to be shamed - its refusal to act where others have led leaves it unconcerned about the source of palm oil in own label products. It goes without saying that the destruction of orangutan habitat for palm oil production is a critical factor in the population's downfall.

What can you do? Take action against Tesco and join BOSF and other groups in campaining against them, or write to the local managers. Alternatively - shop at Sainsbury's or Asda.

Some great news - for many years protests have been aimed at Safari World in Thailand, where 153 orangutans have been held and been forced to undergo public boxing matches. Despite the claims that they were the result of a suspiciously successful breeding programme, DNA testing has proved that at least 53 of them were born in Indonesia and are to be returned in the future. See more details here: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK69031.htm

Now according to the Jakarta Post and as reported here in the Bangkok Post - another 43 will be tested with the aim of sending them back home too. http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=92798

A report from Friends of the Earth today which contradicts earlier optimism - there are still current plans to create three million hectares' worth of palm oil plantations on Borneo. And it seems that the "mega project" of palm oil plantation creation along the Indonesian/Malaysian border is not actually abandoned after all ... read about it here. http://www.foe.org.uk/resource/press_releases/demand_for_palm_oil_trigge_12042006.html

Yesterday CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) commented for the first time on illegal trade in orangutans. Though not mentioning it by name, the concern over the smuggled orangutans in Thailand has been brought to their attention. See the statement here: http://www.cites.org/eng/news/sundry/2006/orang_utans.shtml

Pretty non-commital stuff though, and the chance remains to keep e-mailing Secretary General Mr. Willem Wijnstekers and demand more transparency: to simply ask him this time, "What is CITES trying to conceal regarding these orangutans, and are you concerned at the effect this is having on thereputation of CITES?" cites@unep.ch