As I keep saying environmental issues are human issues, environmental destruction hurts people. A perfect example of this is the fact that deforestation causes erosion and erosion causes flooding and landslides. In Indonesia floods and landslides caused by erosion caused by deforestation are costing human lives. In Northern Sulawesi a flash floods and landslides have killed 17 people (Indonesian landslides and flash floods death toll rises. The Guardian. January 17, 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/17/indonesia-landslides-flash-floods-death-toll-sulawesi). On the island of Nias an entire village was swept away by a flood killing at least 60 people (Mydans, Seth. Landslides and Floods Take a Toll in Indonesia. New York Times. August 2, 2001. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/02/world/landslides-and-floods-take-a-toll-in-indonesia.html). In Southern Sulawesi flash flood killed 185 people (Death toll increases in Sulawesi. BBC News. June 22, 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5100994.stm). On the island of Ambon a landslide killed 14 people (Indonesia Landslide Death Toll Rises to 14. IBTIMES.TV. June 20, 2012. http://tv.ibtimes.com/indonesia-landslide-death-toll-rises-14-4883). In Sumatra a flood killed 30 people (Flood death toll reaches 30 in Indonesia’s Sumatra. The Washington Post, December 24, 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/24/AR2006122400058_pf.html). These are just a few examples of the lives that have been lost due to deforestation in Indonesia. Stopping deforestation in Indonesia is not just about saving nature, people are dying.
A Review of Mongabay
This post is part of an open ended series of posts that review business on their social and environmental record. These posts are designed to help readers decide how to spend their money.
This post is a review of Mongabay. Mongabay is an internet environmental news company founded in 1999 by Rhett Butler. Mongabay is a news company dedicated to providing people with information about the environment and encouraging environmental awareness. Mongabay is an excellent source of information and an excellent company. I highly recommend checking them out at http://www.mongabay.com.
A Review of News Corp
This post is part of an open ended series of posts that review business on their social and environmental record. These posts are designed to help readers decide how to spend their money.
This post is a review of News Corp. News Corp is a media company owned by the arch conservative Rupert Murdock, headquartered in New York City, and founded in 1979. News Corp owns a number of companies including: HarperCollins Publishing Company, Zondervan Christian Publishing Company, the Times, the New York Post, the Wallstreet Journal, National Geographic, Smartsource Magazine, Fox, FX, Fox News, and Fox Business News. News Corp has a mixed record. News Corp tends to make written publications from paper from the rainforest destroying company Asia Pulp and Paper. While, the Times have been reasonable and reliable and National Geographic has been unbiased and science based, Fox News is another story. One only has to watch Fox News and have a brain to see that they are totally biased towards the right wing. I will admit that this blog is biased towards the left wing, but that brings out a problem with Fox News, they call themselves fair and balanced. I may not be fair and balanced, but at least I never said that I was. I recommend not buying from companies that advertize on Fox News.
A Review of Wal-Mart
This post is part of an open ended series of posts that review businesses on their social and environmental record. These posts are designed to help readers decide how to spend their money.
This post is a review of Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is a chain of stores the company is headquartered in Arkansas and was founded in 1962. The majority of Wal-Mart’s products are manufactured in China. Much of the paper Wal-Mart uses for packaging Wal-Mart uses comes from the rainforest destroying company Asia Pulp and Paper. Wal-Mart has a history of ignoring environmental regulations and labor laws. They also have a history of sexist discrimination and using illegal tactics to bust unions. All I have to say is don’t buy from Wal-Mart.
Indonesian Government Being Sued for Failure to Enforce Forest Protection Laws
A report from the Earth Island Journal entitled: “See You In Court” states that a class action lawsuit has been brought against the government of Indonesia by a number of Indonesian citizens for its failure to enforce its own forestry laws. The lawsuit claims damages from smoke inhalation from burning forests, flood damage because the forest was not there to hold back the water, and various damages related to climate change because deforestation in Indonesia contributes climate and is the reason that Indonesia has the third highest carbon footprint in the world behind China and the United States. If successful this lawsuit could open the floodgates to a number of other lawsuits that could be brought against the government of Indonesia.
This lawsuit brings up an important point and that is that environmental issues are human issues. This is not like a lawsuit brought by Greenpeace or the Sierra Club. The plaintiffs in this lawsuit have damages that directly affect their own lives. Environmental problems cause human problems. Environmental issues are not about people vs. nature, they are about the powerful vs. the less powerful.
A Review of Endangered Species Chocolate
This post is part of an open ended series of posts that reviews businesses based on their social and environmental records. These posts are designed to let readers know the social and environmental impacts of how they spend their money.
This post is a review of Endangered Species Chocolate. Endangered Species Chocolate is a chocolate company that is fair trade, organic, and donates 100% of its profits to wildlife organizations. I highly recommend buying from this company.
A Review of Earthbound Farms
This post is part of an open ended series of posts that review business on their social and environmental record. These posts are designed to help readers decide how to spend their money.
This post is a review of Earthbound Farms. Earthbound Farms is the largest organic farming company. They have a commitment to quality and to sustainable organic farming practices. The use companion crops and beneficial habitats to control pests, and crop rotation to control parasitic fungi. I highly recommend buying from Earthbound Farms.
A Review of Chiquita
This post is part of an open ended series of posts that review businesses on their social and environmental record. These posts are designed to help readers decide were to spend their money.
This post is a review of Chiquita. Chiquita is a fruit company based in North Carolina. Chiquita was originally the United Fruit Company but in 1970 they changed their name to disassociate themselves from their past. The United Fruit Company was founded in 1899. The United Fruit Company had a history of supporting dictatorships in Latin America and getting the CIA to help them. They also had a history of violent attacks on unions in Latin America. The worst such attack was in Columbia in 1928 it was backed by the U.S. Marine Corps and is known as the Banana Massacre. The exact number of dead has never been confirmed but estimates range from 47 to 2,000. More recently Chiquita has made connections with Latin American drug lords to protect their products. I highly recommend avoiding the purchase of products from this company.
A Review of New Belgium Beer
This post is part of an open ended series of posts that reviews businesses based on their social and environmental records. These posts are designed to let readers know the social and environmental impacts of how they spend their money.
This post is a review of New Belgium Beer. New Belgium Beer is a beer company based in Colorado; they opened in 1991. New Belgium Beer has the first 100% wind powered brewery. They are 100% employee owned. They are pioneers in water conservation and they donate a lot to charity. I highly recommend buying from this company.
A Review of Anheuser Busch
This post is part of an open ended series of posts that reviews businesses based on their social and environmental records. These posts are designed to let readers know the social and environmental impacts of how they spend their money.
This post is a review of Anheuser Busch also known as Budweiser. Anheuser Busch is a beer company headquartered in St. Louis and founded in 1852. As beer companies go Anheuser Busch is the biggest polluter contributing to climate change, and adding toxic chemicals to the air, water, and soil. I highly recommend avoiding the purchase of products from this company.
