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The toolkit was designed to help anyone, especially young people, learn about the issues affecting the rainforests of Southeast Asia and take action.
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Hello!
Hopefully you have found this toolkit because you too are interested in issues that affect the people, animals and environment of Southeast Asia. I have assembled all of this information and resources as part of my Girl Scout Gold Award to help other youth in their journeys to create change.
My involvement with this issue began 7 years ago, when I started a Girl Scout project that changed my life. While doing research on endangered animals, my friend and I came across the endangered orangutan and made the connection between the Girl Scout cookies we’d sold since childhood and the destruction of the orangutan’s rainforest habitat. As 11 year olds, we set out to change the policy of our own organization and years of campaigning later, we have made some success. The Girl Scouts now have a policy in place to address their palm oil use and while that’s only a step in the right direction, it is progress.
So my message to all of you is that YOUth can make a difference and change the world. Use this toolkit however you’d like. Read through the whole thing, or pick out the parts that are most relevant to you. This toolkit is also available online at www.projectorangs.org/toolkit, and there you can find some exclusive digital content.
If you use the toolkit, please consider checking out the online site to take a short survey about your experiences.
If you have any questions, want someone to bounce ideas off of, or have any comments, please feel free to contact me at any time. I’m here as a resource for you!
Rhiannon [email protected]
1
My Journey 3
About the Orangutan 4
Other Species Affected by Destruction in Southeast Asia 5
Deforestation Education 6
About the Palm Oil Industry 7
How do We Change the Palm Oil Industry? 8
Youth Currently Working on this Issue 9
Organizations to Use as Resources 10
What do I Eat that Contains Palm Oil 11
How To: Write a Letter of Complaint to a Company 12
Contact Information for US Companies 13
How To: Design an Online Petition 14
How To: Fundraise 15
How To: Present to Others 16
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Table of Contents
My journey to advocate for the endangered orangutan began seven years old, when I was only eleven years old! My friend, Madison Vorva, and I decided to work together in order to earn the Girl Scout Bronze Award. We were doing research on endangered animals and came across the orangutan. Reading stories of the destruction of their rainforest habitat in Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly for the production of palm oil, horrified us. We began checking all of the products on our pantry shelves for palm oil, and were shocked to find how common this ingredient was in our everyday lives. One day, out of habitat, we flipped over a box of Girl Scout cookies. Believe it or not, the cookies we’d been selling since childhood were contributing to rainforest destruction and human rights abuses! Determined, we set out to raise awareness about this issue and to convince Girl Scouts USA to adopt a responsible palm oil policy. Our efforts began in our local community, with presentations, a petition and a letter writing drive. Slowly, with the support of environmental and social organizations, we were able to develop our efforts onto a national platform. An online petition we started on Change.org even gathered over 70,000 signatures from concerned consumers! As a result of the grassroots organizing and our ability to tell our story in some major media outlets like the Wall Street Journal, NPR, ABC World News, and the MSNBC, we were able to meet with Girl Scout executives in 2011 at their headquarters in New York City. Six months after that meeting, they announced a new palm oil
policy! While this policy does not do enough to ensure that environmental and social issues are not occurring, it is at least a positive step in the right direction. Since then, Madison and I have continued to engage with the Girl Scout organization, and have also done extensive work on educating individuals all across the country about this extremely important issue.
3
My Journey
4
About the Orangutan
Orangutans are native to the
islands of Borneo and Sumatra, in Southeast Asia.
The word “orangutan”
means person of the forest. It
comes from the Malay language.
Orangutans are critically
endangered. It is estimated that there are 6,500 Sumatran orangutans left in the
wild and approximately 35,000 Bornean orangutans.
There are three main reasons orangutans are endangered: habitat
destruction due to illegal logging and the palm oil industry, and being killed due to the illegal pet trade
industry.
A baby orangutan can fetch up to
$60,000 on the black market.
Orangutans eat bark,
leaves,flowers, insects and
several hundred kinds of fruit.
Up to 80% of the Indonesian rainforests
orangutans call home have been
destroyed
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Other Species Affected by Habitat Destruction in Southeast Asia
Spectral tarsier
Asian tapir
Phalaenopsis gigantea flower
Sumatran rhinoceros
Fishing cat Bornean gibbon
All photos from ARKive (www.arkive.org)
Bornean peacock-pheasant
Extend of Deforestation in Borneo
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Deforestation Education
Even though Indonesia has only 1% of the
world’s land area, its rainforests contain 10% of the world’s plants, 12% of mammals and 17% of all bird species.
The Indonesian government has announced plans
that would convert another 44 million acres (the area of Missouri) into oil palm plantations
by 2020.
The United Nations’ Environment Program has predicted that 98% of Indonesia’s forests
could be gone by 2022.
Deforestation in Indonesia alone is responsible for 5%
of global greenhouse gas emissions That’s more emissions than all of the cars,
trains, and buses in the United States
combined.
In Indonesia and Malaysia, there are currently 16 million acres of active palm oil plantations, an area equal to
roughly the size of West Virginia.
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About the Palm Oil Industry
What is palm oil?
Palm oil is produced from the fruit of the oil palm, a plant native to Africa. However, it is now grown primarily in Southeast Asia on massive commercial plantations. It is used as an ingredient in everything from baked goods to candy bars to cosmetics.
How can I tell if a product contains palm oil?
Check the ingredients label! Palm oil has a number of derivatives, so unfortunately sometimes it can be difficult to spot. Keep an eye out for: palm kernel oil, palm fruit oil, sodium lauryl sulfate and palmitic acid.
What are the issues associated with palm oil?
Although the oil palm is originally from Africa, most palm oil today is commercially grown in Southeast Asia. Rainforest land is being slashed and burned to make room for massive industrial plantations. This deforestation leads to the destruction of habitat for the endangered orangutan, as well as a number of other plant and animal species. In addition, large amounts of greenhouse gases are released during the clearing of rainforests; this has made Indonesia the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world. And finally, palm oil has been linked to human rights abuses such as child and slave labor.
What is “sustainable” palm oil?
Many companies have joined an organization called the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The RSPO brings together all members of the supply chain with the goal of promoting the growth and use of sustainable palm oil. The RSPO does not have strong enough guidelines for environmental and social safeguards, and the minimal regulations that exist are rarely enforced. For example, the RSPO’s guidelines do not include any sort of regulation on greenhouse gas emissions. The weak standards of the RSPO mean that being a member, or using RSPO certified “sustainable” palm oil, does not mean that a company and their products are rainforest-safe.
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How do we change the palm oil industry?
As consumers, the people who purchase products, we have an enormous amount of power to change the palm oil industry because companies listen directly to us! If we convince companies like McDonalds, Kellogg’s, etc. to use deforestation-free palm oil, then they are able to influence palm oil supplier who then influence the practices that growers use on the ground in Southeast Asia.
When you encourage companies to change their palm oil policy, what should you ask for? Remember that the RSPO is not enough because it does not have enough safeguards against environmental and social issues! In addition to hiding behind the RSPO, companies may claim that they purchase GreenPalm certificates to offset their use of palm oil. This means for every ton of palm oil they use, they purchase one certificate (roughly a $1 apiece) which provides incentives for growers to use safer methods. The Girl Scouts, for example, have placed this logo on every single cookie box. However, this logo doesn’t change anything happening on the ground it only changes the products’ package!
Instead of advocating for companies to completely remove palm oil or for them to use sustainable palm oil as defined by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, demand companies develop deforestation-free supply chains. This means the palm oil is legal, traceable, and does not contribute to social or environmental issues. By encouraging companies to use deforestation-free palm oil, growers will be forced to change their methods eventually ensuring that all of the palm oil being grown is done so safely, even palm oil being exported to China and India, the two largest markets, where there is currently no demand for safeguards. After being targeted by Greenpeace, Nestlé worked to develop the first-ever deforestation-free supply chain. This is a great palm oil policy to point to as an example of the right thing!
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Youth Currently Working on this Issue
Allie Boyer (Purses for Primates):Allie Boyer has been advocating for the orangutan since she was only seven years old. Her original focus was to spread the word about the plight of the original, so she began by passing out flyers about palm oil in her local community. Recently in 2010, she started her own non-profit to raise money for Orangutan Outreach. Her non-profit is called Purses for Primates (www.pursesforprimates.com) and she collects gently used purse to re-sell at purse parties where 100% of the proceeds go towards orangutan conservation. She has already raised $8,000 and hopes to raise much more.These funds support release programs for orangutans so that they can go back into the wild after they have been rehabilitated in an orphan orangutan center.
Abbie Barnes (Songthrush Productions)Award winning 17 year old wildlife film-maker, presenter and conservationist Abbie Barnes, has been raising awareness on a wide variety of environmental concerns for over four years; in particular, about palm oil. At the age of 15 she spoke in the European Parliament about the importance of labelling the innocuous ingredient, helping influence the decision that all vegetable oils must now be labelled on food product packaging in the EU by 2014. Following winning second place in the 2013 International Action for Nature Eco-Hero Awards, she is now a designer and team member of the new international event World Orangutan Day, which took place on 19th August 2013. More info on how to get involved: http://www.worldorangutanday.org/index.html In the future, Abbie aims to combine her knowledge on environmental issues with her film-making and presenting, to create documentaries that highlight the importance of conservation in our natural world, and to show what many natural history programmes fail to portray; the threats to the wildlife that they are filming.
Over the next week, read the ingredients label on everything you buy or eat and see which products use palm oil! Here’s some examples of products to get you started though.
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Organizations to use as Resources
Orangutan Outreach’s mission is to save the critically endangered orangutan and protect their rainforest home. Through Orangutan Outreach you can learn about the current situation on the ground, adopt an orangutan or find ways to advocate for this endangered species here in the United States. www.redapes.org
The Union of Concerned Scientists is a nonprofit, science-based advocacy group. They provide up to date scientific information about deforestation in Southeast Asia, as well as lead campaigns within the United States to advocate for awareness and use of deforestation-free palm oil. www.ucsusa.org
The Rainforest Action Network is an organization who uses hard-hitting tactics to encourage large corporations to adopt environmental and social safeguards. Their AgroBusiness division does extensive work with palm oil so you can get involved by taking action through their current campaigns or getting ideas to start your own. www.ran.org
Although Roots & Shoots does not specifically work on rainforest issues, they should still be thought of as a resource for you in pursuing your passion. Founded by Dr. Jane Goodall, Roots & Shoots is a network of young people all across the country working on issues close to their heart. The Roots & Shoots website features a directory of projects groups have done if you’re looking for inspiration, and a variety of resources to help you do any kind of service or activism you’re interested in. www.rootsandshoots.org
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What do I eat that contains palm oil?
Labeled as: partially hydrogenated palm and/or palm kernel oil
Labeled as: palm oil
Labeled as: palm oil and vitamin A palmitate
Labeled as: palm oil
Labeled as: partially hydrogenated palm oil and palm kernel oil
Labeled as: hydrogenated palm oil
Labeled as: sodium lauryl sulfate Labeled as: Glyceryl Stearate and Stearic Acid
Labeled as: stearic acid, Sodium Palmitate and Sodium Palm Kernelate
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How To: Write a Letter of Complaint to a Company
Introduce why palm oil is an issue
Explain why you’re upset and make it as personal as possible! Ex. “___ is one of my favorite foods”
Do some research on what the company’s current palm oil policy is and explain that the RSPO is not enough.
Specifically reference that regardless of the amount of palm oil they use, they can still play an important role in the industry
Don’t forget to include your address or an email address so that you can see the company’s response
Point to Nestlé as a example of a company moving in a positive direction and encourage the
company you’re
writing to to follow in their footsteps
July 20th, 2013
Kellogg’s Consumer AffairsP.O. Box CAMBBattle Creek, MI 49016
Dear Kellogg’s,
I am writing today after recently learning that your products contain palm oil, an ingredient which results in the destruction of tropical forests, endangers thousands of species and contributes to human rights abuses.
After learning about the negative impacts of the palm oil industry, I have chosen to only purchase rainforest-safe products, so Kellogg’s lack of a deforestation-free palm oil policy concerns me.
I know that Kellogg’s is currently purchasing GreenPalm certificates and is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, but these actions do not do enough to ensure the safety of the rainforest communities being affected by this issue. I would like to see Kellogg’s go above and beyond the existing policy to adopt a source of palm oil that is legal, traceable, and truly deforestation-free. I know that Nestlé is in the process of implementing such a supply chain and would like to urge Kellogg’s to follow in their footsteps. Although Kellogg’s may only use a small fraction of the world’s palm oil, you have an enormous opportunity to be a leader in the industry.
Please work to remove deforestation and human rights abuses from your products.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rhiannon Tomtishen[Insert Your Address]
You can use this information to get in touch with several large companies who use palm oil in their products! Information current as of September 18th, 2013. To find information on more products, please check out the Products on American shelves that contain palm oil page.
Company Contact Person Email Address General Mailing Address
Avon Tod Arbosgast (VP Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility
[email protected] Global Headquarters777 Third AvenueNew York, NY 10017
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Ron Martin (VP Global Sustainability & Social Responsibility)
[email protected] 300 Park AvenueNew York, NY 10022
ConAgra Foods Gail Tavill (VP Sustainable Development)
1 Conagra DrOmaha, NE 68102
General Mills Steve Peterson (Sourcing Director- Supply Chains Operation Division)
P.O. Box 9452 Minneapolis, MN 55440
Mars Sarah Schaefer (Director, Global Programs and Partnerships)
6885 Elm StreetMcLean, VA 22101
Proctor & Gamble Peter White (Director, Global Sustainability)
[email protected] 1 Proctor & Gamble PlazaCincinnati, OH 45202
PepsiCo Jeff Einspahr (Sr Director of Global Vegetable Oils)
7701 Legacy Drive Plano, TX 75024
Hershey James George (Vice President Corporate Responsibility)
[email protected] 100 Crystal A DriveHershey, PA 17033
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Contact Information for US Companies
Petition are a great way to get a lot of people involved in your campaign and to convince your target that this is an issue worth addressing!
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How To: Design an Online Petition
Step #1: Choose your target
Maybe you want a company to adopt a rainforest-safe policy for their products or for a business to donate a percentage of their profits to conservation efforts. Choose WHO you want to target and decide WHAT you want them to do or change.
Step #2: Decide where you want your petition to be located
We recommend Change.org, a site that is easy to use and allows anyone anywhere to start a petition, but you’re welcome to look around to see if there are other platforms you’d rather use.
Step #3: Create the actual petition
If you decide to use Change.org, you only have to input three things: •Who you want to petition•What you want them to do•Why this is important
Step #4: Promote your petition
Send the link to your petition out to your friends and families and ask them to sign and share it with others you know. Think about reaching out to organizations already working on similar issues to see if they’d be willing to share it on their social media accounts. Maybe your school or another group that you’re a part of in your community would want to help you.You can contact local or national news outlets, tell them what you’re doing and see if they’d be willing to cover your petition. Get creative and get the word out there!
Raising money is a great way to support conservation efforts on the ground, or help fund groups working on activism projects in your home country!
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How To: Fundraise
How can I raise money?
1.Bake sale-- you can even make it
palm oil free and raise awareness!
2.Penny Wars-- get groups within your
school or other gathering places to
compete to see who can bring in the
most change
3.Talent Show/Concert-style event
4.Root Beer Float sale
5.Recycling challenge-- collect cans
or bottles and donate the proceeds
you receive from a recycling center
6.Raffle/Sweepstakes
7.Wristbands-- order custom ones
online and sell them for a markup
8.Garage sale
9.Dress Down Day-- convince your
school administration to allow
students to wear casual clothes if
they donate a certain amount
10.3v3 Basketball tournament-- or
ping pong, or soccer, whatever
sport you’d like!
11.Lemonade Stand
12.Walk-a-thon-- or bike-a-thon, or
dance-a-thon!
How do I know where to donate my money?
First of all, pick a specific cause you would like to support (rainforest preservation, orangutan rehabilitation, rhino conservation, etc). Then do research online to see what organizations are working on that issue. Before deciding upon one, you may want to check out Charity Navigator, a website that allows you to learn more about an organization’s credibility. If you have any questions at all about how the money you donate will be spent, contact the organization! They should be happy to explain what projects they’re working on and what your donation will help fund.
What if I want to fundraise for a project or idea I have?
If you have a great activism or awareness project in mind but need funds to complete it, you may also choose to fundraise to support that effort. Just make sure it’s clear to people participating in your fundraisers where exactly the proceeds are going! You may want to think about crowdfunding (funding a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, usually through the internet). There are many sites online dedicated to crowdfunding where you can post what you would like to do and encourage viewers to donate directly on your profile page. There are even crowdfunding sites dedicated solely to youth. If you’re interested check out Piggybackr, Kickstarter, or do some research on the other platforms out there!
Now that you’ve learned about the environmental and social issues occurring in Southeast Asia, one of the best ways to help make a difference is by sharing what you’ve discovered with others! If you’re interested in presenting, but need help putting together materials please check out the online toolkit for an example
powerpoint and script (www.projectorangs.org/toolkit).
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Where can I present?
Get creative! Talk to your teachers or administration to see if you can present within your school, whether that’s in a classroom, an assembly or during another time slot. Think about groups in your community that might be interested in hearing about all that you’ve learned. For example: Girl or Boy Scout troops, the youth group at your church/synagogue/mosque, those at your local nature center, etc.
What do I talk about?
Share everything you’ve learned about, especially things that you found particularly interesting. Explain the environmental and social destruction occurring in Southeast Asia, and be sure to talk about how we in developed countries can play a role. Give listeners easy ways to get involved (check products for palm oil and write a letter, etc) so that after they’ve been inspired by your presentation, they know how to take action.
I get nervous presenting! What should I do?
Almost everyone has a little big of nerves when it comes to talking in front of others. But when you care about an issue, it’s worth it to put yourself out there for your cause. Take a deep breath and remember that this can be fun! Practice a lot beforehand, and maybe even try your presentation out on a friend or sibling so you can see what works and what doesn’t. Once you start, just smile and remember that even if you make a mistake, the audience won’t know so just keep going!
How can I jazz my presentation up so it’s more fun and exciting?
Photos are always a nice touch! If you want to have something more interactive though, think about quick activities your audience members could participate in. You could pass out ingredients labels and see who is correctly able to determine which products contain palm oil. Or ask participants to name as many animals they know that call the rainforest home. Or ask how many products they think come from the rainforests and then show them some examples (chocolate, certain types of wood, medicines, etc).
I have given a lot of presentations in my local community, and am ready to branch out. Now what?
There are lots of opportunities, especially for youth, to share your message on a larger platforms. TEDx events are a great spot to start looking for places to speak! Check online to see which events are accepting speaker proposals and then submit your story (hint-- TEDxRedmond is a great one run by youth for youth!) In addition, you can do research on national conferences or gatherings you think your message would tie in well with and contact the organizers. Use the internet as a resource to search for opportunities and ask your family, friends and other contacts to keep an eye open for speaking engagements they think could be a good fit.
How To: Present to Others
