DeforestAction: Project Borneo

thanks Steve :)

OK so the comment board kind of garbles the URLs but I think you folks get the idea {:(|)

thanks Steve :)

I would be there if I was in Sydney. I have also started an 'awareness' facebook page and have started an 'event' - for petitioning the governments to protect rainforests

Michelle, you may want to check out Rainforest Action Network if you're not already familiar. They tend to create great pre-made materials, including the types of petitions you mentioned, for you to send out and forward to others. Also, if you message me your email address, I can send you a bunch of materials related to a renewed "Don't Palm Us Off" type campaign that I'm working on with colleagues to petition governments to enact legislation mandating all products containing palm oil be labeled as such. We have all sorts of email lists you might be interested in ;)

Hey Steve - absolutely that sounds great, I have heard of this Network but havn't looked into it too much, but definitely keen to find as much material that will help out with government action. I am adding you as a friend as we speak so you should receive a message/email from me soon!! Thanks for the info!! :)

:)

For anyone interested in writing to corporations asking them to stop using palm oil, check out my blog post @ http://spob.tigblog.org/post/4450107?content=update
Most relevant for Aussies, but feel free to appropriate it for anyone!
thanks xo

Howdy All, well it certainly is getting exciting. and depending on where i look there is 7 maybe 9 days left. good luck to everyone. I'm of to Borneo next week for 2 months please check my blog out and keep up to date. im doing some work with another Conservation Group in the Malaysian state of Sabah. - Here's what i'll be up to - http://mickytort.tigblog.org/post/4439871 - feed back is much appreciated.

Give Thanks
Torty

Hey All, Here's a Google Doc for your perusal! I put in a list of 300 of the major companies using palm oil in their products, a canned letter you can use to write them to express your concerns and request further information/action, and a bunch of links to organizations that those of you looking for related employment opportunities in Indonesia may want to check out:
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ASOFRBdql1Y7ZGN4NjJwNGRfM2M5MjN6ZnBm

And here is a Google Doc of how palm oil is hidden on ingredients labels for food and non-food products alike. I'm sure you're all familiar with the elusive "vegetable oil," or the buried "Vitamin A palmitate," but this list includes over 40 more euphemisms for palm oil that you might find surprising. Check it out:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zONy138eNrtGCgqUKv-CxDCvgVY-S61SBvElGfzSmdk/edit?authkey=CLDzlu0I

confused whom to VOTE! If my VDO is available here and if you like it, PLEASE vote for me! :))

howdy, anyone else having friends log in and register for voting. then getting a message that says they have already cast their vote. its happened to 2 people so far

Hi mickytort, I'd be happy to look into that for you. Can you email me directly (robert [at] takingitglobal.org) and I'll do everything I can to help fix the problem.

Just for clarification, the deadline for voting is the 18th at midnight GMT?

In response to the chick who works at the body shop (sorry can't find your comment)...
I did some research and according to their website, the body shop uses "sustainable" palm oil. Just curious - is this the best solution? Trying to decide what products to buy...
Any feedback anyone?
The site I was looking at was http://www.thebodyshop.com/_en/_ww/services/pdfs/Values/PalmOilPositionSeptember2006.pdf

Thanks,
Laura

Ooh. Just found a great online palm oil free shopping guide for Aussies:nhttp://www.orangutans.com.au/Orangutans-Survival-Information/Helping-you-buy-responsibly-Palm-oil-free-alternatives.aspx
Sorry to keep posting, but I just want to learn as much as possible!

Don't apologise SPOB, it's what we're all here for cause we're keen as too! :)

Great to see so many interesting videos! Good luck to all the other candidates!

Hey Taking it Global team, not sure what happened, but the info that comes up to the right of my video disappeared. It was up at one point, is there something that I need to do? Thanks

First large-scale map of oil palm plantations reveals big environmental toll
http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0307-koh_palm_oil.html

Hey, I'm the body shop girl! I know a lot of people would prefer completely palm oil free products, but I think as I remember the sustainable palm oil comes from farms that meet strict environmental criteria and meet criteria relating to human rights and working conditions...in colombia if I remember rightly. It's because the body shop wants to help out small farmers who are trying to do the right thing in developing countries, where it would be so easy for them to completely ignore the environmental risks and/or legal working conditions.
If you're in a store, just ask the girls to check what has palm oil in it and they may know or may have to get out 'the big ingredients book'. As I remember it's more the eye makeup that needs some moisture in it that contains palm oil...
Hope this helps! :)

I write this on behalf of my daughter Lauren... she is currently living in a very remote part of Africa on the Venetia Nature Reserve, Limpopo Province (even google earth can't find the exact location!!!) and communication is difficult (yes there are still places in the world where the internet is very unreliable), how- ever I did speak with her yesterday and she wanted me to thank everyone who has supported Project Borneo and her bid to be an action agent... SO THANKYOU :)

Oooopppss Lauren is the girl sitting down with the Indianna style hat on!!!

For anyone that is curious about learning GIS (the versatile mapping technology Dr. Smits uses in so many of his projects), you can go to this link below to download a free trial version of ArcGIS Desktop 10. This is the industry standard for almost all GIS applications. You can check out YouTube for all sorts of free tutorials for beginners. Also feel free to shoot me a message!
http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/eval-help/index.html

I know there is at least one person interested in biochemistry in the group. For her and all others that may be interested, this is Dr. Smits' patent for his ethanol production unit and methodology to convert the sap from the Sugar Palms to usable, sellable fuel for rural communities. You must save the people to save the forest! Check it out:http://www.google.com/patents?id=5DfYAAAAEBAJ

Hey steve awsome posts. I was actually just googling GIS stuff. I haven't used GIS for almost 7 years. definately a bit rusty so thans for the post

Does anyone know how to see how many votes we have? Or is there no way to tell?

Not currently - but votes are just one way we'll be deciding on who is selected!

By the way, we've fixed the issue with URLs sometimes not linking correctly, so all the links posted should work now, and future links posted in comments will work correctly :)

We'll have an announcement in the next few days with specific details on the timing for the Borneo trip, and we're also finalizing an extension of the contest with some of the extra time we have before the filming begins, because we've received a lot of interest from new entrants!

These videos are all amazing, they should all be proud of themselves to want to change the world