The European
Parliament today voted to ban the import of illegal
timber.
Sarah Shoraka,
forests campaigner for Greenpeace, said: "This great new law will help to save
the forests in places such as the Amazon, Congo and Indonesia, and all the
wildlife that live there, like tigers, orangutans and
bonobos.
Posted by Willie — 4 May 2010 at 6:06pm
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Comments
The past few days have seen a couple of pretty important
meetings in Spain about the reform of the Common
Fisheries Policy (the CFP). You might not have seen much coverage, which isn't
that surprising when there's an election going on, nor when you appreciate that
very few people know what CFP stands for. Amongst fishy circles, the acronym
is often re-interpreted, but I'm too polite to say what the F would stand
for.
Britain today committed to launching a clean energy revolution which will create
thousands of jobs, help reduce carbon emissions and if delivered confirm the
country's position as a world leader on climate change. These developments will
put Britain in pole position for the
transition to a low carbon economy expected by the middle of this century.
The next twelve years will see Britain embark on an unprecedented push to build
clean energy projects as ministers across Europe prepare to embrace new, more ambitious renewable
energy targets.
Greenpeace understands that,under figures to be
announced tomorrow, the UK will be required to generate
around 15 per cent of its total energy (electricity, heat and transport) from renewables
by 2020. Different EU countries have been allocated different targets depending
on their circumstances.
The next twelve years will see Britain embark on an unprecedented push to build
clean energy projects as ministers across Europe prepare to embrace new, more ambitious renewable
energy targets.
Greenpeace understands that under figures to be
announced tomorrow the UK will be required to generate
around 15 per cent of its total energy (electricity, heat and transport) from renewables
by 2020. Different EU countries have been allocated different targets depending
on their circumstances.
Great grey owls hunt in the northern forests of Finland and European Russia
There are few remaining areas of ancient forest in Europe, but most of what is left lies in the far north, in Finland, Sweden and Russia. These forests are home to tens of thousands of indigenous peoples, including the Komi, the Nenets, and the reindeer-herding Sámi. They have also ensured the survival of species such as brown bears, flying squirrels and the highly endangered eagle owl.
Ever wanted to make a real difference to the world but never seem to have the time? Well, here’s a chance for you to help cut around 20 million tonnes of Europe’s carbon emissions, in about two minutes.
As an international organisation, we can campaign to protect forests in two key ways. Firstly, we take action by investigating the scene of the crime in places like Indonesia and the Amazon, where destructive and illegal logging is taking place. Secondly, by exposing those responsible for destruction, we take action in consumer countries like the UK that are creating a demand for cheap wood and agricultural products.
Whilst the Finnish government tries to assure the world that it upholds principles of sustainable forest management and forest protection, it continues to launder illegally and unsustainably logged Russian timber through its border into the European market and beyond.
Between June and August 2006, Greenpeace documented widespread illegal logging in the Russian Karelian Republic and the subsequent transport of illegally logged timber into Finalnd.
London - 19 September 2006: A Greenpeace International report released today reveals how illegally logged timber from Russia is being freely imported into Finland to factories including those of Stora Enso, which is partly owned by the Finnish State.
