Reply #41: Thread Summary 2: the current situation [View All]

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The situation has gotten particularly acute in Indonesia. Imagine the corrupting influence of this trade. Bribes and lawlessness in the Army, impoverished local populations, lost income for the governments, money flow into the pockets of a corrupt wealthy elite, etc.

Remember the tsunami and this areas need for hard currency. Remember al Qaeda. The criminal gangs don't give this cash to the United Way. They pay for protection.

It's not as hard to understand the destruction of the eco-system as it is to follow the money. It's not hard to imagine the mudslides after the monsoons, as in the Philippines. Think of the loss of productive land. You know what has happened to Haiti with it's deforestation.

And when the land can't sustain people they migrate, they go to the cities, they get angry.

"The UK was prompted to start the initiative after Indonesian government ministers said corruption in their country was so rampant that they did not have the power to tackle the supply of timber from the criminal gangs pillaging the forests."

For once, Tony Blair has taken the initiative. He has a plan.

"The development secretary, Hilary Benn, wants G8 environment and development ministers meeting in Derby tomorrow and on Friday to insist that all timber bought by official bodies in rich nations comes from properly managed forests."

The quotes are from the links above.