This is such an infinitely important issue right now, and I really feel that it has not been given enough attention AT ALL, so please, please care enough to read this and help as much as you can by joining this boycott, sharing this info, and contacting companies, and any other people you feel can help, even prominent figures in the animal rights movement and celebrities.
I am sorry I had to use the words palm fruit a few times in this post. Please understand I am not at all trying to demonize fruit farming! Palm fruit is mainly used for the oil and I am just trying to be clear so my apologies if this seems offensive. Also, despite the fact that most of us are raw vegans and I mention certain cooked food products in this post, I am only doing so to spread info if we ever need to buy something for someone else, or share info with others who are not raw vegans.
I AM BEGGING YOU INFINITELY, to the best of your ability, please try to boycott palm oil/sugar, and other products from palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis)
ON AVERAGE, 300 SOCCER FIELDS WORTH OF RAIN FOREST ARE BURNED EVERY HOUR IN Elaeis guineensis FARMING. THOUSANDS OF INDIGENOUS FOREST DWELLING PEOPLE, AND CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES DO NOT STAND A CHANCE FOR SURVIVAL IF WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE DEMAND ON THIS INDUSTRY BY BUYING THESE PRODUCTS.
Elaeis Guineensis-Palm fruit products are labeled as:
Elaeis GuineensisPalm sugarPalmatePalm Oil Kernel or KernalPalmitatePalm Kernel or KernalPalm fruit OilPalm OilPalmoleinElaeis GuineensisN-Palmitic AcidPalm StearineCetyl PalmitateOctyl PalmitatePalmitic AcidPalm Stearine(Hydrated Palm Glycerides)Hexadecanoic AcidPalm fruit is also very likely to be or potentially labeled as the following:Sodium Laureth SulfateSodium Lauryl Sulfate(SLS)Sodium Lauryl SulphatesVitamin A palmitateGlyceryl StearateStearic AcidSteareth -2Steareth -20Sodium KernelateSodium Palm KernelateSodium Lauryl LactylateSodium Lauryl SulfoacetateHyrated Palm GlyceridesSodium Isostearoyl LactylayeCetyl PalmitateOctyl PalmitateCetyl AlcoholPalmityl AlcoholVegetable stearic acidVegetable oilVegetable fatGlycerinGlycerineVegetable glycerinVegetable glycerineCelluloseVegetable celluloseNatural flavorFlavor enhancerNatural flavoring(s)Flavoring, FlavouringVegan natural flavorsVegan natural flavoring(s)Cooking oilSodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS)Sodium or Calcium Stearoyl LactylateEmulsifier 422, 430-36, 465-67, 470-8, 481-483Anything with palmitate or palm in the namehydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oilsPlant based (…..(insert word here))Vegan butter flavor, Butter alternative, milk substitute, creamsubstitute, things like this.Anything containing the words “stearate, stearyl”Anything containing the words “cetyl, cetearyl”Vegetable brothPotentially any vague ingredient labeling, or any ingredient labeled with the word vegetable, plant based, organic, natural, vegetarian or vegan(anything, insert word here)
Just to give an idea, Palm fruit is mainly (but not only) found in:
Margarine (including Earth Balance)
Cookies (including Girl scout cookies, and a lot of vegan cookies)
Processed food
Soaps, detergents, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, makeup
Oil for frying at McDonalds and most other fast food restaurants.
Almost all dairy products as it is added to milk for Vitamin A
Almost all vegan milk and cheese, and many vegan meat alternatives
Many, many varieties of candy
Many types of candles
Vitamin capsules
The lives of MANY people and animals are in danger due to current palm fruit farming. ORANGUTAN MEAT is sold as a direct result of this industry. The endangered Orangutans are either shot, beaten to death, or INTENTIONALLY BURNED ALIVE in the absence of bullets, as they pose a threat to the crops. Endangered elephants have also been recorded to have been INTENTIONALLY BURNED ALIVE for the same reason.
This is a massive contribution to global climate change, considering how essential rainforest is it is for cooling the planet.
Many indigenous natives are losing their homes forever. People in this area are experiencing a dramatic rise in disease as a result of increased humidity, insect infestations and other problems due to loss of Rainforest. In some cases these diseases are fatal. Palm oil industries exploit workers terribly and commonly use child labor. Approximately 25 different pesticides are used in current palm fruit plantations, which are not properly tested for safety. Many workers are also experiencing disease and have even reported losing fingernails which is considered to be a result of the pesticides used. Most of the drinking water in these areas has become too contaminated to safely consume.
The “Roundtable for Sustainable Palm” is a deeply corrupt organization, appealing to consumers who are somewhat aware of the situation, and care. The truth is The Roundtable is basically an arm off the industry itself, and exists to sell more palm fruit products under the claim that they are sustainable. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. Check out the following CRITICAL INFO about the lies of the Roundtable, World Wildlife Fund, and “sustainable” palm fruit products.
http://www.actforclimatejustice.org/2010/03/png-big-ngo-greenwashin...
http://forest4climate.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/palm-oil-its-covered... ...... http://www.grist.org/article/whats-in-your-food-thats-destroying-or...
http://www.greenmedia.info/6590
http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1027-group_of_12_scientists_vs_oxley....
http://lasojamata.iskra.net/en/node/81
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2009/aug/20/cadbury...
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/reports/illegal-forest-clearance...
http://www.greenrightnow.com/wabc/category/business/greenwashing/
http://www.toxicsoy.org/toxicsoy/news/Artikelen/2009/11/3_Artikel_1... http://www.rel-uita.org/agricultura/palma_africana/con_ricardo_carr...
THERE IS NO CURRENT RELIABLE SOURCE FOR SUSTAINABLE PALM FRUIT PRODUCTS!!! All palm fruit products must be boycott if you truly care about this situation, PLEASE.
I feel that one of the most serious problems facing the animal rights movement is the failure of the vegan community to grasp this FACT. Please remember that ORANGUTAN MEAT is sold as a direct result of this industries success, which is further fueled by every product containing palm fruit, including the heartbreakingly enormous amount of vegan products, for example earth balance, and almost all vegan milk and cheese. (Despite the fact that most of us are raw vegans and I am talking about cooked vegan products, this is still important info to share with others who are not). There are many vegan products without palm fruit. I am listing the commercially available vegan cheese and milk in this letter that do not contain palm fruit if you look to the list of products that do not contain palm fruit I am including.
A small sample list of products containing NO palm fruit. (There are many, many more):
Soap- Kiss my face brand PURE OLIVE OIL SOAP(some of their other soaps may contain palm oil) Shampoo & conditioner- Shikai brand Toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.- Uncle Harry's brand toothpowder, Uncle Harry's brand toothpaste, most other Uncle Harry's brand products
ECODENT brand anise, mint, and extrabrite toothpowders
Cookies:
Back to Nature brand
chocolate chunk cookies
crispy oatmeal cookies (contain honey)
golden honey oat grahams cookies (contain honey)
Mini chocolate chunk cookies
Vegan milk:
Rice Dream ORIGINAL CLASSIC ricemilk, NOT enriched or vanilla Westsoy –various soymilk, some contain palm fruit, read ingredient labels
Vegan cheese:
Dr Cow nut cheese
Road’s End Chreese sauce mixes
To the best of my knowledge Allison’s gourmet vegan bakery does not use any palm fruit
Again, I am not trying to encourage anyone to eat cooked or processed food by posting this, just trying to give as much info as possible.
Just a few of the species in danger of extinction if these practices continue, are endangered critically endangered Asian Elephants, critically endangered Sumatran Orangutans, critically endangered Sumatran Tigers (estimated 250 left),and critically endangered Sumatran Rhinos(fewer than 400 estimated left).
THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ANIMAL WELFARE EMERGENCY.PLEASE, I AM BEGGING YOU INFINITELY TO JOIN THIS BOYCOTT.SUPPLY=DEMAND, ANY BOYCOTTING, COULD MEAN ENOUGH SQUARE FEET OF PAINFOREST LEFT INTACT TO SAVE THE LAST LIVING JAVAN RHINO OR TIGER, OR AN INDIGENOUS FAMILY FROM LOSING THEIR HOME, AND POSSIBLY THEIR LIVES DUE TO DISEASE.
You can also help by calling the Indonesian Consulate and asking they put an immediate stop to this criminal activity at (213) 383 - 5126, and PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION!!!!!!!!! If you are willing, please contact anyone you feel can reach a larger audience on this including any prominent figures in the animal rights movement, even celebrities you feel would speak out about this. Also, please contact companies and ask them to remove Elaeis guineensis from their products. For more articles and general information on palm oil/fruit, visit Friends of the Earth at www.foe.org/, and search for palm oil.
Replies