Today is World Rainforest Day

 

Dear Friend of The Nation,   Today is World Rainforest Day and despite being a day of celebration, we here at Rainforest Action Network wonder, how many years do some of our world’s most precious rainforests have left? When forests are intentionally burned to clear land for cattle and soy crops, rainforests disappear at alarming rates…    Scientists are warning that without drastic intervention, the Amazon could literally dry up and turn into a savanna — a grassy plain with few trees — in less than 10 years. That means that the world’s largest rainforest could disappear, along with all of the wildlife and cultures that have called it home for centuries.   So we’re sounding the alarm. From the Leuser Ecosystem in Indonesia to the Amazon rainforest in South America, rainforests are home to the greatest biodiversity on Earth, and without them, we are ALL in danger. From providing clean water, fresh air, and food, rainforests are critical life support systems for everyone — no matter where you live.   In honor of World Rainforest Day, will you join us in our fight against some of the biggest corporations driving deforestation?   Corporations like Procter & Gamble, who continue to source forest-risk commodities like palm oil and paper from the very worst producers. One of them, the Royal Golden Eagle group, has connections to Indigenous land theft, child labor, and clearing of endangered orangutan habitat in Indonesia.   Earlier this month, to remind P&G how serious this trail of destruction is, we blockaded a roadway at their headquarters with a giant banner that read, “From Indonesia to the Boreal. P&G: Destroying Lives for Profits.” When police arrived, they told us to stand down. We refused. Because the next 10 years will determine the future of rainforests around the globe. We’re fighting to keep these critical ecosystems intact — but these corporations looking to make a quick profit off of their destruction are slow to change. These campaigns can take years, so that’s why we’re calling on you to add your name. Tell Procter & Gamble it’s time to clean up their act  This World Rainforest Day I’m excited to share this opportunity with you to take direct action against one of the biggest brands driving rainforest destruction. We know the problems we’re facing are big, but countless activists just like you helped us secure No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation (NDPE) commitments from mega banks Chase and MUFG. We know that change is possible.   Act now: Tell Procter & Gamble that they can do more to preserve the last remaining rainforests.   Thank you and Happy World Rainforest Day,    Robin Averbeck Forest Program Director Rainforest Action Network