In the weeks before the London summit, letters were sent to all of
G-7 heads of state asking that they immediately address their
involvement in the destruction of rainforests in Sarawak, and
refer to this at the summit meeting. The G7 nations have been
responsible for importing over 60 per cent of timber cut in
Sarawak in the last decade.
Following the failure at the London summit to take account of G7
involvement in the Sarawak logging crisis, actions are being held
to continue and increase the pressure on the world's seven largest
economies, and other consumer nations to end their links with
rainforest destruction in Sarawak.
Actions were held last Thursday, July 25th, in Bonn and London, on
the day that the Long Ajeng logging blockade had been orderd to be
broken by the Sarawak State Government. The Long Ajeng blockade
was set up three weeks ago by 350 Penan people, stopping access to
the last primary forest areas capable of supporting the remaining
nomadic Penan. In Bonn a blockade was set up on the driveway
leading to Chancellor Kohl's office. Ten activists, representing
the 25 groups involved in the German Rainforest Campaign dumped 2
tonnes of sawdust on the road and held a press conference
highlighting the chancellor's failure to address German
involvement with rainforest destruction in Sarawak. The Campaign
called on the German government to stop timber imports from
Sarawak, as recommended by the European Parliament and the German
Senate, until the catastrophic impacts of the logging industry
have been addressed. The London RAG targetted the Malaysian
Tourist Authority in Trafalgar Square, handing out leaflets on
"Sarawak; loggers paradise", and urging people to see the Sarawak
Rainforest Tour, currently on display at every British hardware
store and building site.
Last Friday a vigil was set up outside the Malaysian consulate in
Munich. Activists from Pro Regenwald are determined to maintain
the vigil around the clock during the coming weeks.
The second week of September has been chosen for coordinated
follow up actions in the G7 countries; by then news will be
available on fate of the Long Ajeng blockade, and it allows enough
time for EVERY group around the world that is concerned about
Sarawak to plan actions and support activities in solidarity with
the tribal people of Sarawak. Don't wait until then of course if
you have good ideas for actions in the mean time, but do try to
arrange something between the 8th and the 15th of September. We
want to keep the heat on consumer country governments until they
take action!
In the medium term, October 7th has been declared an international
action day for the Penan. In Germany NGOs will show their
solidarity with the tribal peoples of Sarawk by holding a
nation-wide protest day against the timber trade. They are hoping
to organize 60 actions throughout the country on that day.
A briefing kit on Sarawak has been prepared by SiMBA (the
Singapore, Malaysia British Association) and is available from
London RAG: tel and fax: 44 81 806 1561.
Other actions in support of the Sarawak forests and forest peoples
in the last few weeks have included: a timber ship blockade in
Nantes, France; a port blockade in Bremen, Germany; a timber port
action in Sarawak; actions at the G7 meeting in London, and at the
Malaysian Embassies in the Hague and London. Altogether, these
actions have generated a lot of press and increased the pressure
on Northern governments to take responisibility. Please help to
keep up this momentum of action, while the forests of Sarawak
still stand...
Please prepare an action for September and October directed at the
responsibility of your government. Please inform me if and when
you are planning actions on Sarawak: gn:panderson fax:31 20
5236500, tel: 31 20 5236555. Documentation of the actions that
take place will be compiled and distributed, so please send press
clippings, photos etc.
Axe the trade, not the forest peoples, Patrick Anderson