7/29/2019 Editorial Blog Entry
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Ancient Forests: Protector or Profit
How would it feel spending each and every day fighting for a
breath of fresh air?What about living in a world where the climate
is unstable? Thousands of differentspecies could become extinct
along with even more types of plant life. If ancient forests
continue to be destroyed, these scenarios could become reality
in the future. Ancientforests provide homes to approximately
two-thirds of animal and plant life that can befound on land. They
are also depended on by millions on people for survival and
containsome of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. I consider
this a moral issuebecause it affects life on a number of different
levels. In addition to destroying theforests that helps some people
survive, deforestation companies also destroy thehomes and lives of
millions of animals. It includes destroying the homes of animals
aswell as actually killing the animals, directly and indirectly.
This destruction is steadilyincreasing the number of extinct
species while also making it more difficult to savethose, and
other, endangered species There is also the issue of the
climatedeteriorating which can cause unusual weather patterns,
severe weather, and even
global warming. That definitely threatens the lives of humans,
along with all other life onthe planet. In most places around the
world, it is illegal to kill for a profit, much less kill,so why is
it different for deforestation companies to do it?
One issue that I personally have had to think about is that the
Hong KongShanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) was involved in
funding the forest-destroyerSinar Mas. At first it didnt seem like
a problem until I realized that one of my creditcards was with
Household Bank and provided by HSBC. I was helping to fund
thedestruction of forests all over the world every time I paid my
credit card bill. Even thoughit was a small amount, after adding it
up from every other card holder with them, thatamount can grow to a
noticeable amount. Fortunately, according to a blog posted byrolf,
HSBC has dropped Sinar Mas from its investment management funds
(Rolf, 2010).
This is important in a few ways. Now, not only is less funding
available to support thedestruction of forests, but those people
with cards from HSBC arent funding it either.Its also beginning to
gain momentum with other companies following the same actionsand
dropping investments that fund forest destruction.
The main basis for judgment I have is the destruction. Just
because there is aprofit to be made doesnt give companies, like
Sinar Mas, the right to go in and destroyeverything in sight to
gain that profit. Countless lives are affected by the
destructioneveryday in more ways than one. Instead of being lenient
and revising laws that put theforests in danger, stricter laws
should be made to prevent more damage. A primeexample is Brazil.
Based on an article on Greenpeace USA, on July 6, 2010,
theBrazilian Forest Code, a law that protects the Amazon, was
threatened by a Special
Commission that voted in favor of changes to the Code
(Sebastionbock, 2010). Therevision reduces the amount of land set
aside for Legal Reserves in the Amazon bylandowners from 80% to
50%. Imagine having 30% fewer plants, animals, and
homes.Destruction of the magnitude could have severe effects for
many years into the future.
