Turning the Page: a video about the work of the Environmental Paper Network

Nordea Backs Away From Gunns’ Pulp Mill

Well, that was quick…. Two days of email and tweets later, and Nordea is at least distancing itself from Gunns. But the statement that “Nordea has not made any decision or commitment to finance the project in Tasmania,” is not that same as “Nordea will not finance Gunns.” Still, good news that Nordea is at least looking nervous. Here’s a press release from the Wilderness Society and Avaaz:

Tell Nordea to say no to Gunns

Avaaz.org is running a campaign to urge Nordea Bank not to finance Gunns Pulp Mill in Tasmania. Please send an email via the Avaaz website – but please re-write the suggested email. Nordea should have nothing to do with Gunns. Suggesting that Nordea might fund a Gunns’ pulp mill that is 100% based on plantation timber is not a good idea…. Below the video (from the Avaaz website) is the email I sent to Nordea. While the Gunns project staggers from one controversy to another, as the Wilderness Society points out “we’re not out of the woods yet“.

Update on MST occupation of Veracel land

More information and photos from the Movement of landless peasants (MST) in Brazil.

MST occupies Veracel area in Bahia

The Movement of Landless Rural Workers (MST) occupied 4,700 hectares of land in Eunápolis, state of Bahia, including land planted with Veracel‘s eucalyptus monocultures. Statement from the Alert Against the Green Desert Network (8 April 2009):

Brazil: Women impacted by eucalyptus plantations speak out

This month’s World Rainforest Movement Bulletin is focussed on women’s voices on plantations. The following article looks at the impacts of plantations on women in Brazil, and how women are leading the struggle against plantations.

Fisher-folk affected by Aracruz Celulose close the company’s private port

An article in World Rainforest Movement’s Bulletin 135 (October 2008) reports a protest at Aracruz Celulose’s port on 10 October 2008.

Groups call for Action on 21 September: International Day Against Monoculture Tree Plantations

This month’s World Rainforest Movement Bulletin focusses on the International Day Against Monoculture Tree Plantations. The Bulletin looks at why a campaign against industrial tree plantations is so important, provides materials to support the campaign as well as news and analysis from plantation struggles around the world.

Here are the contents of the Bulletin, followed by a press release about the International Day Against Monocultures.

International Day Against Monoculture Tree Plantations

The International Day Against Monoculture Tree Plantations has its roots in Brazil, where 21 September is the “Day of the Tree”. Activists campaigning against industrial tree plantations chose this symbolic date for a National Day of Struggle in Brazil against Monoculture Tree Plantations.

International Campaign against Stora Enso

On 11 August 2008, Via Campesina Brazil and the Movement of Landless Peasants (MST) launched an international campaign against the activities of the Swedish-Finnish pulp and paper company Stora Enso. Via Campesina Brazil is asking people to write to the governments of Sweden and Finland and to the head office of Stora Enso, to protest against the company’s operations in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. The letter is below. Representatives of Via Campesina and MST will visit the Finnish and Swedish embassies in Brazil this week, to deliver the letter.