Saturday, February 16, 2008

Veghel Family Supports Masarang Sugar Palm Project

Saturday, 16-February-2008 - Veghel - Read an article in yestersday's newspaper about wood processing machines going from Veghel to a factory in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. It's part of Dr Willie Smits' initiative to replace oil palm tree plantations with sugar palm tree plantations which are more friendly for the environment. the Masarang Foundation's goal is "to save the environment through the active role of the local people." It's complicated how the demand for palm oil created by Unilever, Nestle and Cargill (see trade link) is causing destruction of tropical rain forests and the creatures which live there, including the orangutan.
http://www.orangutan.com/thepeople/dr_willie_smits.htm
http://www.brabantsdagblad.nl/brabant/2232502/We-eten-het-regenwoud-hier-zelf-op.ece
http://www.brabantsdagblad.nl/regios/udenveghel/2647651/Houtfabriek-op-weg-naar-Indonesie.ece
http://www.brabantsdagblad.nl/regios/udenveghel/article2493324.ece
http://www.masarang.or.id/english.htm
http://www.indonesia-ottawa.org/information/details.php?type=news_copy&id=3421