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E MAGAZINE U.S. Against Sustainability Requirements for Rainforest Timber March 22, 2005 Reporting by Roddy Scheer Despite backing from the majority of the G8 nations currently meeting in Derby, UK, the United States is opposing a British proposal calling on industrialized nations to combat illegal logging in the world's threatened rainforests by banning the purchase of timber harvested in unsustainable manners. U.S. opposition to the proposal came to light via a leaked State Department memo stating concerns that without participation by fast-growing developing nations, the plan was doomed to failure in the face of building booms across China, India and elsewhere. British officials came up with the controversial plan at the prompting of Indonesia, where corruption is so rampant that authorities are unable to stop gangs of poachers from logging in protected rainforest lands. The UK's delegates to the G8 meeting say that the U.S. is merely interested in keeping the price of timber down for the benefit of American companies. "This is outrageous," says Faith Doherty of the UK's Environmental Investigation Agency. "U.S. business simply doesn't want any restrictions on its own practices." Whereas the U.S. claims that restricting timber purchases would be ineffective without the participation of developing countries, Doherty and other proponents say the success or failure of the proposal, much like the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, hinges more on American participation. _________________________ Peter Anderson, President RECYCLEWORLDS CONSULTING 4513 Vernon Blvd. Suite 15 Madison, WI 53705-4964 Ph: (608) 231-1100 Fax: (608) 233-0011 Cell: (608) 698-1314 eMail: anderson@no.address web: www.recycleworlds.net CONFIDENTIAL This message, and all attachments thereto, is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C., Sections 2510-2521. This message is CONFIDENTIAL. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, then any retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Please notify me if you received this message in error at anderson@no.address and then delete it. |
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