The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, recently discussed the issues of environmental impacts of palm oil production and logging with the Malaysian Prime Minister, who subsequently dismissed all allegations, asserting that NGOs involved in the campaign for sustainable palm oil are pro-soya and anti-palm.

See the link: http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=226811

Please take a moment to email Mr Prescott to thank him for taking this matter to the Malaysian PM and encourage him to continue to work towards solutions with the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia. Mr Prescott can be reached at: john.prescott@odpm.gov.uk

Here is a sample letter:

Dear Mr. Prescott,

I would like to thank you for discussing the matter of the environmental impact of palm oil production with the Prime Minister of Malaysia recently. I refer to an article posted at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=226811.

In response to the Prime Minister’s allegation that the NGO's behind this campaign are anti-palm and pro-soya, I would like to refute that statement.  We do not support the development of soya in forested areas any more than we do the development of palm oil in forested areas. We have no connections with the soya industry, and we are in no way "anti-palm."  We are quite simply calling for the SUSTAINABLE production of palm oil.  Mr Azmi also says that no logging takes place in gazetted areas.  Conservationists on the ground in Malaysia tell a different story.  Additionally, logging, both legal and illegal, particularly for the development of palm oil, takes place in non-gazetted areas which are still considered High Conservation Value Rainforest.  Malaysian companies and investors also play a huge part in the conversion of High Conservation Value Forests in Indonesia for the development of palm oil, including in the area set aside for the Heart of Borneo. Furthermore, many illegal logs find their way into Malaysia and are falsely given a green light as sustainably-sourced timber. An indication to the Malaysians' lack of commitment towards sustainable production of palm oil is the fact that they plan to hold a major industry convention in Kuala Lumpur precisely at the same time as the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil is meeting in Singapore.

I hope you will continue to discuss this matter with your counterparts in Malaysia and Indonesia, and continue to draw attention to this most critical of matters whilst searching for solutions.

Kindest regards,

Michelle Desilets

Director
BOS UK

www.savetheorangutan.org.uk

"Primates Helping Primates"