If you were caught selling pirate DVDs, it would be no surprise if you were fined or even sent to jail. After all, you would be breaking the law.
But when companies in Europe buy or sell illegal timber from the last of the world's ancient forests, nothing happens. They won't even have the timber confiscated. Astounding, there are no laws to stop illegal timber or timber products from ending up in your local shops or even in your home.
However, we now have an opportunity to change this and you can help. The European Commission is asking what the public, timber industry and politicians think about the best way to stop the flood of illegal and destructively logged timber that pours into Europe each day. So we've made it nice and easy for you to tell them, 'Ban illegal timber'.
Everything from furniture and plywood to books and toilet paper could be made from this timber that has been felled in forests around the world without proper regard for the environment or the communities who live there. When you buy these products it could result in the loss of habitat for many unique and endangered species as well as contributing to a chain of human rights violations in forests around the world.
Europe plays a key role in fuelling demand for timber products, as it is one of the world's largest users of timber. Even our own government, as we've repeatedly demonstrated, has been unable to abide by its own procurement policies and illegal timber continues to appear on their building sites.
But in the UK and the rest of Europe there is no law to stop the flood of illegal and destructively logged timber entering the market. We want to see that change.
We want laws to stop illegal and destructively logged timber being sold in Europe and so do more than 160 other environmental, labour, and human rights organisations. Eighty companies have also asked for legislation to outlaw illegal timber.
You too have the right to say that things must change.
Sorry - the consultation closed on 5 March 2007, but find out what else you can do to help save our ancient forests.
