Rainforest Issues

ALERT! Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sells Out Democracy, Local Peoples and Resources to Red China's Mining Agency
<img alt="Time for PNG Prime Minister to Resign over mining corrption" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/somare_sell_png_red_china_sm.jpg" width="125" height="125" class="floatLeft" /><a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=png_ramu_mine">TAKE ACTION HERE NOW!</a> Sir Michael Somare [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=somare%20png">search</a>] - PNG's deeply corrupted PM, and once the great founder of this amazing country - is illegally clinging to power and giving away natural resources by gutting environmental law. PNG has Earth's third largest rainforests [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=png%20rainforests">search</a>] and important intact fisheries which are being threatened by his efforts to run roughshod over landowners, including those trying to stop the dumping of mine waste into Madang's bays and lagoons. Given his increasingly despotic and unbalanced behavior, it is clearly time for Mr. Somare to resign. DISCUSS THIS ALERT: <a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/">http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ecointernet">http://www.facebook.com/ecointernet</a> 

ALERT! Please Encourage Rainforest Action Networks New Leader to Work to End Primary Forest Logging
<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/ran_ny_protest_lg.jpg"><img alt="FSC is NOT rainforest safe" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/ran_ny_protest.jpg" width="120" height="120" class="floatRight" /></a> Sadly and Shockingly, Rainforest Action Network is one of the primary, crucial supporters of continued primary forest logging. Let them know they must resign from FSC and commit to ending primary forest logging. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebecca-Tarbotton/147667455249428?ref=mf&v=wall">TAKE ACTION HERE NOW!</a>: Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has a much needed new Executive Director Rebecca Tarbotton. For almost two years Ecological Internet has worked to get the once luminary old-growth protection organization to stop supporting Forest Stewardship Councils (FSC) certification of industrial 1st time logging of 500 year trees in millions of year old primary forest as well-managed while implying sustainability for throw away consumer products like toilet paper, paper and lawn furniture. RAN co-founded FSC and is a long-time staunch member. Getting major forest protection organizations like RAN and Greenpeace to resign from FSC is a necessary first step before together we can campaign to end primary forest logging as a keystone response to global ecological sustainability.

RELEASE/VICTORY: Ecuador Sets Major Rainforest and Climate Protection Precedent
By <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/">Earth's Newsdesk</a> and the <a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/">Rainforest Portal</a>, projects of <a href="http://www.ecologicalinternet.org/">Ecological Internet</a> CONTACT: Dr. Glen Barry, <a href="mailto:glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org">glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org</a> <img alt="Amazon roads from oil exploration and production destroy rainforests" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/amazon_rainforest_road.jpg" width="75" height="75" class="floatLeft" /> It is reported Ecuador will be compensated for leaving oil reserves in Yasuni National Park untouched. This is a major victory for Ecuador, the rainforest movement, and Ecological Internet who was the first to campaign internationally on the issue. Ecuadors government announced today it has reached a deal with the United Nations Development Program under which donor countries will compensate Quito for leaving oil reserves untouched in a large primary rainforest filled national park. Yasuni National Park [<a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=yasuni%20national%20park%20oil">search</a>] covering some 9,820 km2, or about the size of Massachusetts is thought to be one of Earths most biodiversity rich sites and is also home to several nomadic Indian tribes. Yasunis preservation (total protection, not sustainable management or conservation) would spare Earth some 410 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that contribute to global warming; while keeping biodiversity, ecosystems and cultures fully intact. The official signing is reported to be held on Tuesday. Ecological Internets Earth Action Network [1] was the first to campaign internationally on threats to Yasuni from oil exploration, successfully internationalizing the issue. This marvelous rainforest and climate victory is very gratifying and exciting, states Dr. Glen Barry, Ecological Internet President. Ecological Internet began to campaign in the early 2000s to protect Yasuni National Park from oil development, and continuously since. Like so many of our campaigns, it has just taken off. Our efforts were picked up by The Ecologist Magazine, and since then a large local and global movement has been built including the Yasuni-ITT Initiative, Scientists Concerned for Yasuni, Save Americas Forest and many other participants who share in this victory.

EARTH MEANDERS: The Rights of Earth
By Dr. Glen Barry, <a href="http://www.ecologicalinternet.org/">Ecological Internet</a> <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/earthmeanders/">Earth Meanders</a> come from <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/">Earth's Newsdesk</a> ...and All Gaias Creatures to Ecological Self-Defense <img alt="The Rights of Earth" src="http://www.ecoearth.info/blog/img/revolution_home.jpg" width="80" height="80" class="floatLeft" /> Gaia the Earth System [<a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=Earth%20System">search</a>] is alive and like any living entity has rights. Earth has a right to not be stripped of its vegetative skin, its flesh mined, body punctured by wells, ecosystems liquidated; and precious water, air and oceans tainted. Gaia has the right to peacefully exist and to be free of harm, violence or ecocide (to be murdered). Air, water, land and ocean ecosystems are Gaias self-regulating internal ecosystem organs. All Gaias creatures possess an equal claim upon a fair share of her bounty for continued existence. Yet Gaia has a right to prohibit at any time, using any means, any one species from over-running the biosphere and habitats shared by all. Sadly the industrial, speculative and unsustainable capitalistic economy benefiting some humans is killing Earth. This growth machine in population, economy and inequitable consumption has established as the norm an immoral, short-sighted way of life based upon eating ecosystems and children (or at least their future) to wantonly consume and grow a bit more. If cumulative impacts of human ecosystem destruction upon Gaia continue; the Earth System dies, taking humanity, all life and creation with her. The current paradigms emphasis upon growth at all costs is so pernicious that almost certainly only revolution, fundamental social change and personal transformation can eradicate it.

ALERT! Protest Madagascar's Breaking of Moratorium on Illegal Rosewood Log Exports from Protected Rainforests
<img alt="Resource anarchy continues to reign post-coup in Madagascar's rainforests" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/lemur.jpg" width="90" height="90" class="floatLeft" /><a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=madagascar_landgrab">TAKE ACTION!</a> Despite a recent two year moratorium on further illegal logging [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=illegal%20logging">search</a>] and export of precious timber from the protected areas of Madagascar, the government recently approved shipment of nearly $16 million worth of timber stolen from the country's rainforest parks. Post-coup illegal log and wildlife trade continue to threaten Madagacar's biodiversity rich rainforest [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=Madagascar%20biodiversity%20rainforest">search</a>] remnants, ecological sustainability and future potential for national advancement. Let Madagascar's transitional government, shipping industry, and French government know they will be held responsible for these ecological crimes. <a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=madagascar_landgrab">TAKE ACTION!</a>

RELEASE: Rainforest Action Network Expands Misleading Greenwashing of Primary Forest Logging
<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/ran_ny_protest_lg.jpg"><img alt="FSC is NOT rainforest safe" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/ran_ny_protest.jpg" width="120" height="120" class="floatRight" /></a> RANs recent rainforest safe book and luxury shopping bag campaigns show they value greenwashing primary forest logging [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=RAN%20greenwash%20logging">search</a>] and sustaining old growth timber markets more than ecological science showing without primary forest logging ban biosphere collapses. Ecological Internet renews demand that RAN stops promoting primary forest logging as a false solution to rainforest loss and diminishment, and resigns from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) immediately. Despite escalating international protest, Rainforest Action Network (RAN) continues to promote Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification of first time industrial logging of primary forests. RANs new Rainforest Safe Summer Reading List [1] and Gucci Shopping Bag [2] campaigns falsely claim FSC certified paper products are free of rainforest destruction. In fact, most FSC products come from the first time industrial logging of primary forests or from toxic, industrial monoculture plantations which displace old forests. Virtually all of FSCs tropical timbers and fibers come from such sources. The worlds rainforests, biodiversity, ecosystems, climate and biosphere are in a state of severe crisis and are collapsing; and the best Rainforest Action Network can do is continue lying regarding where FSC certified products come from, and shilling for primary forest books and shopping bags? As Americas largest rainforest protection group, RAN raises and expends more monies on behalf of rainforests than any organization, yet continues to insist FSC logging of primary forests protects rainforests. This old forest logging appeasement will continue to be challenged by biocentric ecologists. Unless this NGO greenwash ends, and we join forces to end primary forest logging, the future of Earth and all life are at stake, states Dr. Glen Barry, Ecological Internet President.

RELEASE: Papua New Guineas Indigenous Landowners Stripped of Land Rights as Chinese Communist Influence Grows
<img alt="Resistance Growing to Ecologically Devastating Chinese Mining Invasion of Madang, Papua New Guinea" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/png_ramu_mine_protest.jpg" width="100" height="100" class="floatLeft" /> PNG government amends Environment Act [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=PNG%20Environment%20Act">search</a>] with no debate to remove powers from landowners to challenge in court resource development projects on their customary land. Move reflects increased pressure by foreign developers, particularly Chinese governments mining agency, whose efforts to dump uncapped 100 million tons of mine waste on ocean floor in Madang Province has been thwarted by pressure exerted by successful legal efforts and campaigning. (Madang, PNG) - Indigenous landowners have been stripped of ancestral and constitutionally-protected land rights [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=PNG%20land%20rights">search</a>] by the government of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The fact that 97% of land has been under communal, customary land tenure has long been a source of pride, provided an important social safety net, and protected against resource corruption. Similar efforts pushed by the World Bank in the 1990s were met with national protests and over-turned. Ultimate power to irrevocably issue resource development environmental permits will now reside with the Department of Environment secretary, an office whos current and past occupants have long been known for flagrant corruption. The government, through the Environment Minister, Benny Allan, made changes to sections of the Environment Act 2000 to prevent landowners and concerned Papua New Guineans from interfering with industrial resource development projects destroying oceans and rainforests like the Chinese Ramu Nickel Mine in Madang and Exxon-Mobil Liquid Natural Gas project in the Southern Highlands. Without any warning or consultation, on May 27, 2010, the government of PNG introduced emergency legislation that dissolved the Constitutional rights of all landowners in PNG, including the right of Indigenous People to own land, challenge resource projects in court and receive any compensation for environmental damage. The bill was passed without being seen or debated by parliamentarians.

EARTH MEANDERS: United States of Ecocide: Spilling and Consuming Way to Oblivion
By Dr. Glen Barry, <a href="http://www.ecologicalinternet.org/">Ecological Internet</a> <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/earthmeanders/">Earth Meanders</a> come from <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/">Earth's Newsdesk</a> A great, free nation remains immobilized in the face of ecological collapse <img alt="A great, free nation remains immobilized in the face of ecological collapse" src="http://www.ecoearth.info/blog/img/oil_spill_pic.jpg" width="150" height="150" class="floatLeft" />The United States of America is an epic experiment, as despite great accomplishments and numerous imperfections, we share a long history of constantly striving to improve our union. As Americans settle in for Memorial Day to remember veterans of all stripes from great wars of world defense to more recent military adventurism it is appropriate to consider what the current Gulf Oil Spill says about the American way of life. Plainly, our addiction to oil and consumption in general threatens to destroy regional and global ecosystems the water, air, land and oceans upon which Americans, humanity and all species depend upon for habitat and life. America is truly exceptional. Yet it is not because of our materially excessive lifestyles, as best demonstrated by our wide girths and ample posteriors. There is more to America than consumption. Our greatness is primarily due to our wavering, imperfect yet unique commitment to freedom and liberty. Over two hundred years ago a just revolution was fought asserting individual liberties from monarchial authoritarianism. The principles of freedom and liberty were a gift to the world. This is what truly has set us apart. And despite two decades of consistent roll-backs in civil and human rights, Americans remain for now free peoples to prosper or expire. America has and continues to face many challenges repudiating slavery, enfranchising most, world wars and most recently the inevitable slowdown of economic growth as speculative, industrial capitalism runs its course. America has enjoyed for awhile super-sized living and grown to be what it is based upon liquidating ecosystems. We have progressed to the point where regional ecosystems are collapsing most obviously in the Gulf Coast, but throughout the vast country as ecosystems are dying. America now faces our most difficult and profound test ever, coming to terms with our deeply ecologically unsustainable lifestyles, and committing to national and global ecological sustainability. 

ALERT! Brazil's Proposed Belo Monte Dam Damns Amazonian Rainforests and Peoples
The wild and free Xingu River is critical to maintaining intact the Amazon, its peoples, Brazil's national advancement, and the Earth we share <img alt="Brazilian government continues with plans to build the massive Belo Monte Dam" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/xingu_river.jpg" width="80" height="80" class="floatLeft" /><a href="/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=brazil_xingu">TAKE ACTION!</a> The Brazilian government continues with plans to build the massive Belo Monte Dam [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=belo%20monte">search</a>] on the Xingu River in the Amazon rainforest [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=Amazon%20rainforest">search</a>], despite massive domestic and international opposition. The 11.2 billion dollar dam will flood an estimated 500 square kilometers of the Amazon rainforest and threaten the survival of tens of thousands of indigenous and traditional peoples who depend on the Xingu River for their livelihoods. The Kayapó leader Raoni Metuktire, who gained international exposure touring the world with Sting, said indigenous men from the Xingu were preparing their bows and arrows in order to fight off the dam. "I think that today the war is about to start once more and the Indians will be forced to kill the white men again so they leave our lands alone.

RELEASE: Planetary Ecological Emergency Declared
Human pressures on Earth Systems nine life-support systems have reached a scale where people power revolutionary action may be necessary and warranted to stop abrupt global environmental collapse From <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/">Earth's Newsdesk</a> and <a href="http://www.newearthrising.org/">New Earth Rising</a>, projects of Ecological Internet (EI) Contact: Dr. Glen Barry, President, Ecological Internet <a href="mailto:glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org">glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org</a> <img alt="Earth passing tipping point as life-support systems failing" src="http://www.ecoearth.info/blog/img/revolution_home.jpg" width="80" height="80" class="floatRight" /> Ecological Internet (EI) today declares a planetary ecological emergency [<a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=planetary%20ecological%20emergency">search</a>]. On the basis of overwhelming new ecological science indicating Earth is past the tipping point and key global ecosystems and life-support systems are failing EI calls for an immediate and escalating peoples power Earth Revolution on behalf of Earth, all her life, and the human family. A recent highly significant scientific paper entitled Planetary Boundaries: A Safe Operating Space for Humanity[1] highlights the numerous means by which the Earth Systems life-support systems are failing. The natural right of all species to take all necessary actions to protect themselves, their habitat and do what is necessary to avoid ecocide is thus activated. This is not a drill. The human family faces the imminent collapse of the biosphere the thin layer of life organized into ecosystems, upon an otherwise lifeless planet that makes Earth habitable. Marshes and rivers and forests and fish are far more than resources they and all natural ecosystems provide for humanitys habitat and existence upon Earth. A few centuries of unprecedented explosion in human numbers and surging inequitable consumption are needlessly destroying being for all living things. Environmental movement accommodation and compromise have not brought required policies necessary to avert widespread ecosystem collapse, or to lay the basis for achieving global ecological sustainability. 

ALERT! Resistance Growing to Ecologically Devastating Chinese Mining Invasion of Madang, Papua New Guinea
<img alt="Resistance Growing to Ecologically Devastating Chinese Mining Invasion of Madang, Papua New Guinea" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/png_ramu_mine_protest.jpg" width="100" height="100" class="floatLeft" /><a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=png_ramu_mine">TAKE ACTION HERE NOW!</a> Chinese government owned China Metallurgical Construction (MCC) corporation's efforts to establish the massively destructive Ramu Nickel mine in Madang Province [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=ramu%20mine%20madang">search</a>], Papua New Guinea the largest investment in metal exploration and mining by the Chinese outside of China is in serious jeopardy. Local landowners are successfully initiating court cases and protests to demand mine tailings not be dumped into the sea poisoning fish stocks and causing extreme ecological destruction or the mine be stopped. The entire project has been mismanaged, marked by shoddy construction; and disregard for local rights, life, and marine and rainforest ecology. Chinese mining investment in Madang against local wishes can only be described as an invasion of sovereign peoples, and will be resisted at all costs.

VICTORY! Madagascar Reinstates Rainforest Protections Following EI Led Global Public Outcry
<img alt="VICTORY! Madagascar Reinstates Rainforest Protections Following EI Led Global Public Outcry" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/lemur.jpg" width="90" height="90" class="floatRight" /> Madagascar's transitional government last week reinstated a ban on rosewood logging [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=Madagascar%20rosewood%20ban">search</a>] and exports, following prolonged and growing pressure over illegal logging of its national parks spearheaded by <a href="http://www.ecologicalinternet.org/">Ecological Internet</a>. As reported by Mongabay, the decree (no. 2010-141) prohibits all exports of rosewood and precious timber for two to five years. With the export ban in place, the fate of 10,000-15,000 metric tons of already illegally logged rosewood awaiting export remains uncertain. It is also unclear whether illegal loggers and traders will be prosecuted [1]. These issues, getting this moratorium to be permanent, and working to demonstrate community development from standing primary and restored rainforests will require continued vigilance and campaigning. Yet, two important points have been made. It is again demonstrated that it is possible to end rainforest logging. And the emergence of an empowered global movement committed to protecting and restoring old forests and other ecologically sufficient policy necessary to achieve global ecological sustainability is again powerfully demonstrated, says Dr. Glen Barry, EI President. 

FB ALERT & RELEASE: Protest Greenpeace and Rainforest Action Networks Censoring of Facebook Criticism of Their Support for Primary Forest Logging
By Dr. Glen Barry, <a href="http://www.ecologicalinternet.org/">Ecological Internet</a> <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/earthmeanders/">Earth Meanders</a> come from <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/">Earth's Newsdesk</a> Genuine and growing concern with their ongoing, publicly undefended support for Forest Stewardship Council certified primary forest logging destroying an area two times the size of Texas deleted, blocked and reported to Facebook as terms of use violations <img alt="Protest Greenpeace and Rainforest Action Networks Censoring of Facebook Criticism of Their Support for Primary Forest Logging" src="http://forests.org/blog/img/amazon_rainforest_canopy.jpg" width="80" height="80" class="floatLeft" /> Greenpeace US and International, as well as Rainforest Action Network, are censoring comments of concern regarding their support for sustainable forest management of old forests including primary rainforests [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=sustainable%20forest%20management%20primary%20forests">search</a>] on Facebook and their blogs. <a href="http://www.ecologicalinternet.org/">Ecological Internet</a> has been at the vanguard of working to protect and restore primary and old growth forests [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=protect%20restore%20primary">search</a>] globally by ending their industrial logging and other developments. Unfortunately this has required campaigning to confront Greenpeace[1] and Rainforest Action Network[2] two of the strongest supporters of continued primary forest logging. As Greenpeace condemns censorship by Nestle[3] of a YouTube video showing their use of oil palm at the expense of orangutans, and RAN blasts Facebook censorship of its use of tar sands financier RBC Banks logo, both groups are systematically removing criticism of their support for first time industrial primary forest logging from their facebook pages and blogs. To who are these groups accountable, asks Dr. Glen Barry? For years these groups have inconsistently promoted logging primary forests and have gotten away with ignoring genuine widespread concern that such old forests are key to solving the biodiversity and climate change crises.

RELEASE: French President Sarkozys Dangerous Deforestation Doublespeak
Pledges to work to end deforestation as French company prepares to ship illegal logs from Madagascar From <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/">Earth's Newsdesk</a>, a project of <a href="http://www.ecologicalinternet.org/">Ecological Internet</a> (EI) You can still TAKE ACTION on this matter at: <a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=madagascar_landgrab">http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=madagascar_landgrab</a> <img alt="Resource anarchy continues to reign post-coup in Madagascar's rainforests" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/lemur.jpg" width="90" height="90" class="floatRight" /> (Paris, France) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy last week said rich nations must do more to help fight deforestation, as he hosted a Paris conference on saving the world's forests. Sarkozy stated defending the world's forests demanded more aggressive funding. "Those who don't want to do anything are those who don't want to pay," he said in an opening address. He reiterated his appeal for a tax on financial market transactions worldwide that could be earmarked for a global climate fund. These are good ideas, yet President Sarkozy is guilty of dangerous hypocrisy as a French company continues to threaten Madagascars rainforests. As Sarkozy argued the need to stop deforestation, shipments of illegal rosewood are being readied for export in Madagascar by a French company with the tacit approval of the French government. Some 4,000-5,000 tons of rosewood will be shipped under the auspices of Delmas, according to Derek Schuurman, who has published papers on the illegal logging crisis for the Madagascar Conservation Journal and TRAFFIC. "An estimated 200-270 containers are likely to be exported in March," says Schuurman. The French and mainstream media worldwide has largely been silent on the crisis even though it threatens Madagascar's rainforest, people, and wildlife. Ecological Internets global network has already delayed, though not permanently stopped, these illegal rosewood shipments[1].

ALERT! Let Rainforest Action Network Know Global Ecological Sustainability Depends Upon Ending Old Forest Logging
<img alt="RAN supports ancient forest logging" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/ran_revel.jpg" width="80" height="80" class="floatLeft" /><a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=ran_ancient_forest_logging">TAKE ACTION!</a> Rainforest Action Network [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=rainforest%20action%20network%20fsc">search</a>] is a key supporter of failed Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) [<a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=forest%20stewardship%20council">search</a>] efforts to sustainably log tens of millions of hectares of primary and old-growth forests for lawn furniture, toilet paper and other throw-away consumer items. As <a href="http://ran.org/donate/events/lake_chalet_party_march_18_2010/">RAN celebrates its 25th anniversary</a>, let them know old forests will never be fully protected as long as they and others unquestioningly support certified yet ecologically unsustainable first-time industrial primary rainforest logging. Demand RAN vigorously defend their support for first-time primary rainforest logging over an area two times as large as Texas, or resign from FSC immediately. Encourage RAN to spend the next 25 years working to protect and expand old forests to maintain a habitable Earth.

EARTH MEANDERS: The Rainforest Movement Is Dead Long Live the Old Forest Revolution
By Dr. Glen Barry, <a href="http://www.ecologicalinternet.org/">Ecological Internet</a> <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/earthmeanders/">Earth Meanders</a> come from <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/">Earth's Newsdesk</a> <img alt="The Rainforest Movement Is Dead Long Live the Old Forest Revolution" src="http://forests.org/blog/img/amazon_rainforest_canopy.jpg" width="80" height="80" class="floatRight" /> Old forests including <a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=tropical%20rainforest">tropical rainforests [search]</a> are the ultimate expression of life, evolution and ecology. Here untold co-evolved species and genetic diversity exist and interact with each other and their environment to provide ecosystem services water, nutrient and energy cycling required for a habitable Earth. All intact terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems are important, yet rainforests are disproportionately so, given their tremendous species numbers and carbon stores. Few rainforest activists fully understand their ecological importance to continued being, or they would work only for full old forest protection and restoration. When primary rainforests are lost, it is inevitable that local ecological and social conditions deteriorate, regional weather and species distributions deviate, and the global biosphere and its ability to maintain conditions for life are weakened. Rarely if ever do viable ecosystems remain to provide the same amount of ecological and development benefits as the intact standing old forests that were destroyed for the profit of the national and global elite. Virtually no one benefits from rainforest logging other than small numbers of loggers and green logging apologists who falsely say it can be done well. 

RELEASE: Global Campaign to Protect and Restore Old Forests Gaining Traction
Campaigns to end industrial primary rainforest logging in Papua New Guinea and Madagascar based upon ecological science, and meant to end corruption and ecological harm By <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/">Earth's Newsdesk</a>, a project of Ecological Internet (EI) CONTACT: Dr. Glen Barry, <a href="mailto:glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org">glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org</a> <img alt="Forests logged industrially for the first time are permanently ecologically damaged in terms of composition, structure, function and dynamics" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/png_logging.jpg" width="90" height="90" class="floatLeft" /> Ecological Internets (EI) ongoing campaigns in <a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/2010/01/alert_protest_madagascars_lega.asp">Madagascar</a> [1] and <a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/2010/02/take_action_delmas_shipping_a.asp">Papua New Guinea</a> [2] (PNG) to end <a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=primary%20forest%20logging">primary forest logging [search]</a> (please continue to take action below), is part of EIs global networks <a href="/campaigns/">campaign to globally protect and restore old forests</a>. Ecological science reveals forest and other terrestrial ecosystem destruction to be a primary cause of climate change, biodiversity loss, water and soil degradation, and social disintegration. Yet forest policy-makers, including major environmental groups, continue to assert sustainable forest management and FSC certified logging of primary and old-growth forest logging is possible and desirable. They are wrong, as ecologically intact old forests are vital components of Earths biosphere and are the optimal land cover to absorb and hold carbon long-term, while maintaining biodiversity and operable ecosystems, and the Earth System. The term old forests is used to encompass primary unlogged forests, late successional natural regrowth, and planted mixed-species forests regaining old-growth characteristics. Forests logged industrially for the first time are permanently ecologically damaged in terms of composition, structure, function and dynamics. It is becoming abundantly clear that ending industrial diminishment and working for the full protection and restoration of old forests are a keystone response to climate change (to say nothing of biodiversity, ecosystem, water and poverty crises). More of the Earth's terrestrial ecosystems and old forests in particular have already been lost and diminished than required to maintain an operable climate, all species and a fully operable biosphere. 

Action Alert: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Logging Violence and Corruption Flare in Ramu, Madangs Mighty Rainforests
<img alt="Resource anarchy continues to reign post-coup in Madagascar's rainforests" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/shooting_victim_leg.jpg" width="100" height="100" class="floatRight" /><a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=png_ramu_rh">TAKE ACTION!</a> Local landowner initiated court case has shut down logging for two months. The PNG Forest Authority's review of the granting of the right to log to notorious <a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=rimbunan%20hijau">Rimbunan Hijau [search]</a> of Malaysia in Ramu River valley expected soon. Industry and corrupt government officials pulling out all stops to re-grant permit to this violent and corrupt criminal-enterprise. Massive cash payments and brutal violence to intimidate communities resisting logging is rife. Yet local protest to logging continues to intensify in <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=madang">Madang [search]</a>, as do calls to end all industrial primary rainforest logging in PNG. <a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=png_ramu_rh">TAKE ACTION!</a> <h4><a href="http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/donate/png_ramu/">Donate to Ramu/Sogeram Landowners Resisting RH & primary rainforest logging</a></h4>

ALERT! Protest Madagascar's Legalization of Rosewood Log Export from Protected National Parks
<img alt="Resource anarchy continues to reign post-coup in Madagascar's rainforests" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/lemur.jpg" width="90" height="90" class="floatLeft" /><a href="http://www.climateark.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=madagascar_landgrab">TAKE ACTION!</a> Delmas shipping, a subsidiary of French shipping giant CMA-CGM, is being pressured by the transitional Madagascar government to ship hundreds of containers of illegally logged ancient rainforest logs from Madagascar to China anytime soon. Post-coup illegal log and wildlife trade continue to threaten <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/shared/search/welcome.aspx?searchtext=Madagascar%20biodiversity%20rich%20rainforests">Madagacar's biodiversity rich rainforest</a> remnants, ecological sustainability and future potential for national advancement. <a href="http://www.climateark.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=madagascar_landgrab">TAKE ACTION!</a>

EARTH MEANDERS: Ode to Madang
By Dr. Glen Barry, <a href="http://www.ecologicalinternet.org/">Ecological Internet</a> <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/earthmeanders/">Earth Meanders</a> come from <a href="http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/">Earth's Newsdesk</a> Yet another paradise lost? <img alt="'PNG's Prime Minister Somare Illegally Selling Madang Landowners' Resources" src="http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/img/png_ramu_logging_sm.jpg" width="100" height="100" class="floatRight" /> Prime Minister Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea is ruling as a Mugabe like thug bent upon becoming a tin-pot dictator. Once a great man that led his country to independence, Mr. Somare is now using his Grand Chief status for corrupt personal, family and tribal gains illegally and immorally allocating huge swathes of his great nations forest and marine resources without landowners prior and informed consent. On the bidding of Somares increasingly despotic and erratic leadership, Papua New Guineas (PNG) natural assets are being sold off to invading Asian business interests destroying rainforest, ocean, water and land as well as the resource and ecosystem rich nations future development potential. Will one man big man Sana or not single-handedly destroy Earths third largest remaining contiguous old rainforest expanses for personal gain? Nowhere is this more evident than in Madang Province, PNG, which contains some of Earths last remaining mostly intact tropical and marine ecosystems in the world. The Jewel of the South Pacific includes large ancient rainforest tracts, huge tuna and other fisheries, and barely explored mineral deposits; as well as beautiful, loving and peaceful people. Madangs rainforests and oceans feed and house all its citizens, regulate national and regional climatic patterns, and make the Earth habitable by providing global ecosystem services. As Somare flits about in his new high-end private jet (who paid for that?) signing illicit business deals with Asian cartels and otherwise stealing Madang and the nations resources (including attempts to corner nascent carbon markets), Madang and PNGs infrastructure including schools, hospitals, police and roads are in shambles.