MONDAY July 26, 2010

Hey Guys!

How was your weekend!!

Have You Heard??

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Hot Topic:

Banning of Illegal Timber

The Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has classified illegal logging as an “organized crime” which must be stopped.

Social organizations, justice organizations, and environmental development organizations are pushing for Australia to hurry along with the ban of illegal timber imports.

The way for Australia to really take on this ban is to not allow any timber products into the country which are not certified as coming from a sustainable and legal source.

Australia seems to be one o f the countries who is behind on the effort to minimize illegal logging.  In May of 08 the US enforced a ban by amending what is called the Lacey Act and earlier this month the European Parliament issued a ban on ALL illegal timber.

“Dr Mark Zirnsak, spokesperson for the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania, said: “The Australian Government needs to take regulatory action to address illegal logging to send a clear signal that it is committed to the fight against corruption globally and that as a country we do not seek to profit from corruption through the lower prices it delivers to consumers.” “

Each year approximately 452 million worth of illegal timber is imported into Australia.

Not only does illegal logging destroy species’ habitats, but also puts a huge strain on the local communities who work and survive on the legal logging business and who obtain food sources from the forest.

http://www.gmagazine.com.au/news/2143/australian-and-indonesian-groups-call-illegal-timber-ban