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The President’s Initiative
Against Illegal Logging, announced in July 2003, brought much needed visibility
to illegal logging practices around the world. While it mostly repackaged existing
U.S. Agency for International Development projects, it also offered support for
developing countries against the illegal harvesting and sale of timber products
and promised to "protect forests and the livelihoods that depend upon them."
Conspicuously absent from the initiative, however, was language actually banning
the import of illegal timber into the United States. Six months after the initiative’s
launch, illegal timber and wood products continue to enter the country and there
has been little or no effort to enforce the initiative’s promises. The
Sierra Club also believes that the initiative should be strengthened to defend
the human rights of environmentalists in these countries, who often risk their
lives to protect the forests.
The Porto de Moz region of Brazil, located in the state of Para, is one area
that would benefit from the enforcement of this initiative. The area’s
20,000 residents scratch out a simple living from fishing, small-scale hunting,
subsistence farming, and the sale of forest products. Much of Para has already
been exploited by loggers, cattle ranchers, and land speculators, and there are
increasing incidences in the area of lawlessness, violence, intimidation, and
even murder.
Tell Secretary Powell that the people of Porto de Moz, and environmental defenders
in communities like it around the world, need protection to guarantee their survival,
and the survival of the forests.
Dear Secretary Powell:
The Porto de Moz region of Brazil has become a battleground between forest
communities and commercial timber companies. Efforts to block the shipment
of illegally harvested
timber and create protected extractive reserves have come under direct
assault by loggers, cattle ranchers, and land speculators. I urge you to
protect
the forests of Porto de Moz through the President’s Initiative Against
Illegal Logging, and assist Brazilian authorities in bringing order to
this once peaceful
community.
It’s time for the Bush administration to take action against the illegal
timber practices taking place in Porto de Moz and communities like it. Strengthening
the president’s initiative to include protection of environmental
activists willl be an important step in stopping human rights abuses associated
with
the illegal trade of timber.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
City/State/Zip
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