For example, the popular organization Greenpeace is out there trying to protect the rain forests in the Congo. It is the second largest rain forest on earth and is losing much of it’s forestry due to the amount of illegal logging that goes on. This forest is very important to millions of people! It is the way they get their food, water, shelter, and livelihood from fishing and farming. To the Democratic Republic of the Congo the culture depends fully on this forest. Hearing this I would think people would obviously want to end the logging. But no, they have granted the logging industries 15 million hectares of land for them! In return they get bags of salt and sugar and beer worth less than $100. Also the logging industries promise to build more schools and hospitals but that rarely even occurs and it’s reported in people protests intimidation tactics are used by the industries. Wow, I was so shocked and annoyed hearing this. Do you know how many animals, such as gorillas and chimpanzees and humans suffer from this? The people of DRC must feel it is good for them right now receiving all the goodies, but in the long run the whole environment will suffer from this.
This is the second most important forest in the world next to the Amazon. Yet we're still taking so much from it.
At this rate, the UN predicts that by 2040 two-thirds of the forest will be demolished.
Over 10,000 species of plants, 1,000 species of birds, and 400 species of mammals.
Short video that sums up the consequences of logging in the Congo from the Greenpeace website.
Luckily there are organizations like Greenpeace who take the time and effort to try and stop this from happening. They are campaigning for appropriate protection of intact forests and earn rights for the people and animals that depend on the forests. Their campaign pushes for stricter regulations to kick out illegal loggers from the forests in the Congo. This is such a good thing they are doing because illegal loggers take so much from the land excessively. Kicking them out will prevent even more logging to occur to the further 15 million hectares of land. Maintaining the existing number of logging activity is also vital, to keep the loggers from taking too much. What Greenpeace is doing is so important to the whole earth! Imagine 15 million hectares of land becoming extinct, how much damage it would do to the environment. This is an example of how Greenpeace was a positive human intervention was used on the biodiversity of out ecosystem, helping eliminate illegal logging in the Congo! 
Picture of Greenpeace protesting against logging in the forests of Congo.
References
Greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/forests/africa
www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/forests/what-a-carve-up-the-con-in-the-congo-logging-industry
Pictures from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2008/jun/17/forests.conservation#/?picture=335086924&index=4
BLOGS I COMMENTED ON
http://claudia-d-123.blogspot.com/2010/09/green-quest-green-diagnostics.html#comments
http://nicolesbioblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/greenpeace-activists-occupy-arctic-oil.html#comments
It's comforting to know that there are people out there who care. They actually want to protect the earth and they're getting others to help. I think they are taking on a huge responsibility that will in turn benefit our environment. I'm glad that Greenpeace is making it their priority to save these various species. Not only are they protecting our hectares of land, but Greenpeace is also trying to protect all human beings.
ReplyDeleteI feel shocked to hear about the 15 million hectares are being cut down because of our selfish needs. Its not fair that they did not do as promised about building schools. However, I feel comforted by the fact that greenpeace protested to these illegal logging. Greenpeace works for a better future for all living things and thats how we should all be. Keeping a balance in the world leads to better living.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this, it seems to me that the illegal loggers are taking advantage of the People of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The people there feel that they've landed a good deal because their country isn't fully developed yet and they don't know how much the land is worth. The people also don't know that these loggers are destroying the homes of countless animals and their country. Greenpeace needs to warn the locals of the consequences of 15 million of hectares being destroyed. They need to work together to put a stop to this. Greenpeace is going in the right direction, protecting the rainforest means protecting the planet, humanbeings, and helping the DRC keep developing.
ReplyDeleteHey, from reading your blog I have realized that this campaign that I've never heard about is really amazing. It is a good thing because as you said, they are doing this because illegal loggers take so much from the land excessively, which will lead to kicking them out and will prevent even more logging to occur to the further 15 million hectares of land. Many organizations and campaigns like Greenpeace is showing many people out there that not all humans are the most invasive species towards the environment. Greenpeace is one of the organizations that help the biodiversity of our ecosystems. Good job!
ReplyDelete-Anker Gonsalves
Before your blog, I never realized how much logging goes on around the world. Not only does the biodiversity of our ecosystems suffer, humans also suffer as we also rely on the forests for certain supplies. I think Greenpeace is doing a great thing by helping to protect the forests. Illegal logging should not be happening at all and the fact that they are making a negative impact on the ecosystems is not right.
ReplyDeleteWow. I'm surprised the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo are succumbing to the deforestation of their rainforest. I guess the saying is true, 'desperate times calls for desperate measures'. But like you, what I don't understand is why the citizens of DRC are allowing themselves to receive goods that won't last a lifetime while in exchange, letting logging companies harm the environment and harm themselves to a much more permanent state.
ReplyDelete15 million hectares. All for what? Companies are looking forward to plowing land just to make money. It's not only harming the biodiversity of the forest let alone our biomes and our planet, but we will soon see the problems it will cause us when the effects of climate change begins to hurt us.
I think Greenpeace and other non-profit organizations like it are doing a good job by standing up for biodiversity and realizing the long term effects. I wouldn't say great because the problem still occurs. But like most people, we tend to acknowledge the problem and not do anything about it. They are not only helping out, but they're also educating people about the negativity of deforestation.
I was completely surprised after reading your blog about the logging industries 15 million hectares of land because of the damages that we've caused and the greediness that we've showed. But at the same time I feel happy because of the Greenpeace and how they're making an effort to save the world from all of this. I think that without Greenpeace and other organizations we would be suffering right now. Our world won't be that great and people would be affected from all these diseases and the unhealthy environment. If we continue to clean our environment, everyone would live a happy life with each and everyone of us.
ReplyDeleteAt times, the human race can be overtaken by greed and forget the importance of the biodiversity in our ecosystems, both locally and globablly. Organizations such as Greenpeace strive for the good treatment of our earth. I was shocked to hear the horrible ongoings in the Rebublic of Congo. Deforestation is one of the largest problems our current society faces, yet large logging companies still act selfishly. Its disheartening to hear that the workers involved in these operations are being paid unfairly. Along with the long term effects, this is another example of how deforestation can be unforgiving to humans. Luckily, the strong efforts made by Greenpeace can slow down the process. I can only imagine how their determined campaign strategies have slowed down illegal deforestation not just in the Republic of Congo, but in many other areas across the globe. Thanks to Greenpeace, I can sleep better knowing that there are actually people who are taking action.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI find this all very terrible seeing that these loggers are cutting 15 million hectares of land just for their needs of salt, sugar and beer. It's very inconsiderate to leave the animals suffering from all this deforestation. We should understand that this forest is very important for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and we really need to respect that!
ReplyDeleteAll in all, it's great that the Green Peace Organization is trying to make a change and is helping as much as they can. We all need to help and try to make a positive move!
It's really shameful how these people are practically bribing these innocent people for salt, sugar and beer. They're destroying nature, destroying the rain forest because of greed. But on the other hand, there are these amazing people and organizations who are trying to make everything right. They are trying to save the natural environment and I really respect that. I also liked how you put that video in your blog, it's a fun thing that children can understand, but understand the seriousness of the situation. Good job, Vanessa!
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame to see that people are so ignorant in life to just take something that is not theirs. It has shown that greed has overtaken some of these people. Many animals have lost homes due to illegal logging, all for nothing. The loggers have been deceiving those living around the rain forest providing an unfair trade-off of salt, sugar, and beer worth less than $100 for 15 million hectares of land.
ReplyDeleteOn the plus side, it's great to know that there are people who actually care; people who actually wish for change. I can only imagine the changes that could be made if everyone were to have the same motivation as Greenpeace. I hope they succeed in abolishing illegal logging.