Trees v People: how far will we go? for Fortune
August 29th 2007 23:41
I found this Fortune Mag Article more than slightly disturbing CLICK HERE
Basically a Carbon project was developed to benefit a Dutch not for Profit organisation formed by Dutch Power companies. The intention was to plant trees in the Forest Perimeter of the Mt Elgon National Park in Uganda so the Face Foundation could receive Carbon Credits then on-sell them to Carbon sinners. All seems pretty simple and standard except for the fact that Ugandan Farmers inhabited the area and lived off the land. Fortunately they have been granted an injunction to move back onto their land but it does beg the question of how far we should go to produce these Carbon credits, I mean isn't the whole point to create a better future for the planet, should a first world Charity be allowed to endanger the livlihoods of Third World farmers just to develop a Carbon Sink?
Seems like a very murky Grey area to me. if the company planting the trees was a for-profit organisation I am sure the alarm bells would have rung much sooner.
I am not saying we don't need to stop poor farming practises that are causing a lot of damage and are a big part of the problem but we can't just go around erasing peoples livlihoods and stop them from accessing their homes. It seems to be taking things a bit far. Life is hard enough in third world countries without us imposing our "new-age" philosophies on them.
I guess it all comes back to how successfully we have all been convinced this is the biggest issue facing our generation. I dont know what everyone else thinks but I think, yes we should all be aware of Climate Change so we can do our bit but we certainly shouldn't be programmed to accept behaviour we previously would have found inhumane. Any change needs to be within reason and fair to all parties involved, this process requires balance....SURELY......anyhow I thought a few others might be as disturbed as me, the article is worth a read.
cheers
Louie
Planting trees in Uganda to offset greenhouse-gas emissions in Europe seemed like a good idea - until farmers were evicted from their land to make room for a forest.
Basically a Carbon project was developed to benefit a Dutch not for Profit organisation formed by Dutch Power companies. The intention was to plant trees in the Forest Perimeter of the Mt Elgon National Park in Uganda so the Face Foundation could receive Carbon Credits then on-sell them to Carbon sinners. All seems pretty simple and standard except for the fact that Ugandan Farmers inhabited the area and lived off the land. Fortunately they have been granted an injunction to move back onto their land but it does beg the question of how far we should go to produce these Carbon credits, I mean isn't the whole point to create a better future for the planet, should a first world Charity be allowed to endanger the livlihoods of Third World farmers just to develop a Carbon Sink?
Seems like a very murky Grey area to me. if the company planting the trees was a for-profit organisation I am sure the alarm bells would have rung much sooner.
I am not saying we don't need to stop poor farming practises that are causing a lot of damage and are a big part of the problem but we can't just go around erasing peoples livlihoods and stop them from accessing their homes. It seems to be taking things a bit far. Life is hard enough in third world countries without us imposing our "new-age" philosophies on them.
I guess it all comes back to how successfully we have all been convinced this is the biggest issue facing our generation. I dont know what everyone else thinks but I think, yes we should all be aware of Climate Change so we can do our bit but we certainly shouldn't be programmed to accept behaviour we previously would have found inhumane. Any change needs to be within reason and fair to all parties involved, this process requires balance....SURELY......anyhow I thought a few others might be as disturbed as me, the article is worth a read.
cheers
Louie
Photo from Fortune Website
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Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
Sounds like a Corp Comm/PR/Marketing programme to me. While the end result of having more trees/a larger park is a good intent, I think the immediate benefits are reaped for a certain airline or the corporations behind it -- cynical...?
There's more to it than just wanting to be/to be seen as carbon neutral...
Comment by Louie
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
cheers
Louie
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I don't like it at all
Comment by Louie
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
talk about Global stupidity! Now this would rank right up there!
*Shakes head*
This disturbs me on so many levels it's not even funny...
Great post though to make people aware...
Take care,
Nick