Bathing in the blood of Orangutangs

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0703/S00377.htm

http://palmoilandtheenvironment.blogspot.com/2007/02/products-containing-palm-oil.html

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/palmoilproducts/

http://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/education/default.asp?sectionID=428 <-Reputable

http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3585/columnists/12662/the_bad_oil.html <-Reputable source, and reasonably unbiased

Run a search, you guys, this stuff is fascinating and there's tons and tons of information out there.





Friends, I have learned of a tragedy. Tim-tams, the most wholesome wonderful cookie that could possibly be mass produced in the great nation of New Zealand, are made with palm oil. "So what?" you ask, "Palm oil sounds like it's healthy for you! I'll bet it lends a tropical flair to your cookies!" Palm oil comes from palm trees (duh, Samantha). Palm trees come from palm plantations (uh-oh). Palm plantations, like all mono-crop fix-its, is leading to hardcore habitat loss (and ruining soils). In countries like Indonesia, palm plantations are replacing rainforest and habitat for great apes, sumatran tigers, and many other less charismatic animals. What can we do in New Zealand and abroad? Like with any environmental issue, vote with our money. Support alternatives, support locally produced cookies, support making your own cookies, support local farmers, support green initiatives, support social justice, support sustainable living. Many soaps, shampoos, lotions use palm oil, too. Orana park is part of promoting knowledge about palm oil. An interesting thing about New Zealand, I've heard some of the field trip moms complain about, is that companies don't have to be even close to as accurate about their ingredient labels as they do in the US and it is hard to know what one is getting.

Also, I know that many of the links I've provided aren't exactly, "Official" looking, but they aren't unnaccurate.