Nature Alert: Operations Against Illegal Mining and Logging

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Operations Against Illegal Mining and Logging

Monday, 24 August, 2009 | 12:36 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Indonesian Police Headquarters is carrying out operations to eradicate illegal mining and logging in West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and Bangka Belitung.

According to Brigadier General Suhardi Alius, Director of Certain Criminal Actions on last Friday (21/8), the operations started in early August and are limited operations to support regional police.

He mentioned that in West Kalimantan, the police have confiscated 82.5 ton of tin sand and detained two suspects with the initials HH and FL.

In Bangka Belitung, the operation was held in three cities/regencies. Two tons of tin was confiscated and seven suspects detained.

While in Central Kalimantan, an operation to fight illegal logging was carried out. “We found 6,600 meters of logs without documents,” he said.

Titis Setianingtyas

http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2009/08/24/brk,20090824-194050,uk.html

Hall of Shame for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Palm Oil Industry.

Nothing can prepare one for the sight of the systematic extermination of orangutans by the government of Indonesia.

Look at the photos and news articles on these pages in the context of a statement the President made to the media on 10th December 2007.

“In the last 35 years about 50,000 orangutans are estimated to have been lost as their habitats shrank. If this continues, this majestic creature will likely face extinction by 2050,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the launch of an orangutan conservation plan at the climate talks in Bali.

“The fate of the orangutan is a subject that goes to the heart of sustainable forests … To save the orangutan we have to save the forest.”

Statements like these are most welcome, but unless backed up by action, such words fall on deaf ears within the Ministry of Forestry....who are busy granting licences to cut down the very forests the President says they should protect!

When you think you are to busy to help, please could you reflect for a moment on .........

The following extract refers to environmental problems in general. I just hope you find it as thought provoking and relevant to orangutans as I have.

"This is such a shocking and unpalatable fact that most people deny it, or they just don't want to think about it. They believe as individuals, they can do little about it, so push it to the back of their minds. But I can't do that.

When something has to be done, we need to do it. It doesn't matter how big the challenge is or how hard the solution; if I know something is wrong, and I am in a position to help, I will do my best to make it right." Duncan Bannatyne, successful British businessman.