Palm Oil: A New Mission
Exams - Are - Over
It's highly likely you've seen maps like this before. Nothing new. The same old environmentalist's cry for support, coupled with pledges for donations. But wait. Take a moment to really study these images.
During this past year, A Levels took their footing and I'm afraid the blogging had to take a step back. Nonetheless I am grateful for the ideas and concepts I've learned and, hopefully, they will come of good use here.
This Summer, I've decided to focus on one topic: Palm Oil.
All the way from production to distribution to consumption. It's use, detrimental environmental effects and what alternatives we have. An ever pressing issue, I hope to showcase our entanglement with such monstrous acts and how we are, consciously, walking into our own extinction. The aim: to reduce the unsustainable use of palm oil. For this, I need your help.
Indonesia is the biggest producer of Palm Oil globally. What's more, "less than 10% of companies in Borneo (an island of which almost two thirds lies in Indonesia) produce palm oil using sustainable methods to an international standard." - According to a BBC documentary in 2018; Red Ape: Saving the Orangutan.
It was this documentary which inspired my mission. I knew the issue with Palm Oil was bad, but I guess I failed to grasp just how bad. And that's me, someone who has written blogs specifically on the environment for over a year! I'm not saying I am an exemplar environmentalist, but I thought I understood global environmental problems reasonably well. It has now been made so vividly clear to me that my naivety has inevitably led to deforestation.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b2n9v0/natural-world-20182019-4-red-ape-saving-the-orangutan
Please, watch this documentary. Share this documentary. Act on this documentary.
All that's left to show you are three screenshots from Red Ape.
It's highly likely you've seen maps like this before. Nothing new. The same old environmentalist's cry for support, coupled with pledges for donations. But wait. Take a moment to really study these images.
1950: pre-industrialisation of Borneo - before mass logging of hardwood took hold.
2000: Logging rates fall as Palm Oil is becoming popular. The Palm Oil market booms.
2017: 66 million tonnes of Palm Oil is produced annually.
I was born in 2000. Environmental issues had primarily been, up to this point, something caused before my existence. Today's problems were simply an accumulation of pollutants and controversial politics starting from the Industrial Revolution in the 1800's right up until studies in the 1990's concluded that multi-million dollar oil industries had funded studies in which climate scientists denied that human-induced global warming was a thing. - I honestly thought things would (and were) only getting better from here.
The issue with deforestation has accelerated in contrast. It is set to continue on this path as social, economic and political issues are so heavily intertwined with the industry. And I, as a consumer, have contributed to such devastating acts.
After the documentary was over, I decided to have a quick look at what stuff in my house had palm oil in it. I was surprised, disappointed, to say the least.
It wasn't in the crisps or baked beans. It wasn't in the yoghurt or the ready meals or many items in the fridge at all.
It was in the toothpaste.
It was in the moisturiser.
It was in the shampoo.
It was in the bread.
It was in the cereal - the organic cereal which I'd been buying because I thought I was doing good.
It is in some biofuels. Bio-fuels.
It can be found in products disguised in over 1000 names - no wonder it's difficult to stay clear of.
It was upsetting to see that much of what I've pledged and promoted over the past year has had limited effect on the consumption of palm oil in my household.
There is no more time for excuses. All this time, the effects have worsened and we have carried on as usual. It's time to address the issue in the household and with major corporations. Yes, the citizen has a choice but the consumer is driven by bargains. Since palm oil is used to make products relatively cheap, we need to make sure that only sustainable methods of production are used so that those people who have no choice but to purchase the cheapest goods can do so without the guilt. Heck, I wonder if it's even possible for me to survive University in a sustainable way!
The first step is with you.
Here are some current petitions against deforestation:
H _ M
:)
Bibliography:
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