We call on the EU to abandon targets for biofuel use in Europe

31 January 2007

Open Letter

To: The Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and citizens in Europe

We are extremely concerned by the plans as presented by the European Commission to adopt a mandatory target for biofuel use in transport. Implementing these measures means that the EU will risk breaching its international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity and human rights; because, as set out below – the proposed targets will amongst other things ... read more

Posted on 01:27 PM in Agro Fuels, Joint Open Letters, Indonesia, Publications, Environment & Climate
Tags: agrofuel ("biofuel"), biodiversity, food security, Indonesia, human rights, environment and climate, certification

Open letter to European Commission Biomass Action Plan and the European Biofuel Directive

Berlin, January 3, 2007

Dear Madam, dear Sir,

on January 10th, 2007, the European Commission is going to make an announcement about the review of the Biomass Action Plan and the European Biofuel Directive.

In December 2006, the European Parliament recognized that the lack of clear environmental standards and safeguards could have significant negative effects, such as an increase in tropical deforestation, agriculture intensification and biodiversity losses in Europe and abroad, while failing to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For producer countries like ... read more

Posted on 09:05 PM in Agro Fuels, Human Rights, Indonesia, Land & Indigenous Rights, Publications, Rainforest, Environment & Climate, Watch's Open Letters
Tags: agrofuel ("biofuel"), European Union (EU), Indonesia, land rights, palm oil, plantations, rain forest destruction, environment and climate

(Deutsch) WestLB im Goldrausch

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German version

Posted on 11:19 AM in Indonesia, Mining, Publications, Environment & Climate, Watch Indonesia! in the Media
Tags: mining, Germany, Indonesia, protest action, Sulawesi, environment and climate, economy and business

Joint letter on UPM-Kymenne’s cooperation with APRIL

December 20th, 2006

To:
Jussi Pesonen
President & CEO
UPM-Kymmene Oyj                                               

Dear Jussi Pesonen,

We, the undersigned citizens’ organisations, are deeply concerned about UPM-Kymmene’s on-going supplying of pulp from Asia Pacific Resources International Ltd (APRIL). APRIL’s operations in Riau Province, Indonesia, are causing irreplaceable destruction of nature and social problems.

UPM has been involved with APRIL nearly ten years. During this time main problems of APRIL’s operations — supplying fibre from natural forests, large-scale conversion of rainforests for pulp ... read more

Posted on 04:14 AM in Economy, Labor & Corruption, Joint Open Letters, Human Rights, Indonesia, Land & Indigenous Rights, Publications, Rainforest, Environment & Climate
Tags: biodiversity, Indonesia, carbon, land rights, plantations, rain forest destruction, Sumatra, environment and climate, economy and business

(Deutsch) Watch Indonesia! fordert Verzicht auf Biodiesel aus indonesischem Palmöl

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German version

Posted on 03:18 PM in Agro Fuels, Indonesia, Publications, Environment & Climate, Watch Indonesia! in the Media
Tags: agrofuel ("biofuel"), European Union (EU), Indonesia, carbon, human rights, palm oil, rain forest destruction, environment and climate

South-East Asia’s Peat Fires and Global Warming

November 10th, 2006

-for immediate release-

Joint Press Release by Ecological Internet, Biofuelwatch, Watch Indonesia! and Save the Rainforest (Germany)

At Nairobi, governments are debating the future of the Kyoto Protocol and action to prevent the most serious impacts of climate change. So far, they appear to have ignored to address one of the greatest single sources of carbon emissions: the destruction of South-east Asia’s peatlands and forests. The annual emissions from annual peat and forest fires ... read more

Posted on 12:46 PM in Disasters, Joint Press Releases & Statements, Indonesia, Publications, Rainforest, Environment & Climate
Tags: Indonesia, carbon, plantations, rain forest destruction, environment and climate

(Deutsch) Urwaldschutzgesetz abgelehnt
Handel mit illegalem Holz bleibt straffrei

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German version

Posted on 11:52 AM in Indonesia, Publications, Pulp & Paper, Rainforest, Environment & Climate
Tags: Government of Germany, illegal logging, Indonesia, rain forest destruction, environment and climate

Indonesia: Trouble At The Mill. UFS To Open New Wood Chip Mill

WRM Bulletin 111, October 2006

By Chris Lang

Later this year, United Fiber Systems plans to open a new 700,000 tonnes a year wood chip mill at Alle-Alle on the island of Pulau Laut. The mill is the first step of UFS’ proposed pulp developments for Kalimantan. The wood chips will be exported to feed pulp and paper mills in China.

For more than a year, UFS has been involved in negotiations to take over the 525,000 tonnes ... read more

Posted on 02:41 PM in Indonesia, Publications, Rainforest, Environment & Climate, Watch Indonesia! in the Media
Tags: Indonesia, Kalimantan / Borneo, pulp and paper, plantations, rain forest destruction, environment and climate

(Deutsch) Kahlschlag zertifizieren?

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German version

Posted on 04:33 PM in Agro Fuels, Indonesia, Land & Indigenous Rights, Publications, Rainforest, Environment & Climate, Watch Indonesia! in the Media
Tags: agrofuel ("biofuel"), poverty, indigenous people, Indonesia, carbon, land rights, palm oil, plantations, rain forest destruction, environment and climate, certification

(Bahasa Indonesia) Meneropong Indonesia

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Indonesian version

Posted on 01:53 PM in democracy, Human Rights, Indonesia, East Timor, Politics & Democracy, Publications, Environment & Climate, Watch Indonesia! in the Media
Tags: democracy, German-Indonesian relations, Germany, Indonesia, human rights, NGO, East Timor, environment and climate