BRITISH PARLIAMENT CONSIDERS ORANG UTAN'S FATE

May 2, 2006

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Orang-utan campaign heads to Westminster

Tuesday, 02 May 2006 00:01

Leading members of Britain's campaign to save endangered orang-utans are to

lobby MPs at a Westminster reception this evening.

Hosted by Lib Dem MP Norman Baker and organised by Friends of the Earth, the

event will be attended by prominent orang-utan campaigners including

celebrity actress Joanna Lumley.

*They will attempt to highlight the plight of the orang-utans, whose

rainforests are being steadily destroyed by Britain's demand for palm oil*,

in an attempt to gain changes to the Company Law Reform Bill currently

passing through parliament.

* " Demand for palm oil is threatening the survival of these fantastic

creatures and it is shocking that our demand for cheap food and other

products is behind this, " Mr Baker, the party's environmental affairs

spokesperson, said.

*

" I believe we must take this opportunity to use the Company Law Reform Bill

to ensure that UK companies take more responsibility for the impacts they

have on the environment. "

At present British supermarkets including Tesco, Somerfield and Morrisons

are refusing to to an agreement on the " sustainable use " of palm

oil, showing a disinterest the Company Law Reform Bill could forcibly

change.

" The growth in demand for palm oil is putting pressure on precious areas of

rainforest in Borneo and Sumatra, threatening the survival of the

orang-utan, " Friends of the Earth oil campaigner Ed Matthew said.

" MPs have the power to do something about this and we urge them to take this

chance. "

Palm oil, harvested from the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, can be found

in one in ten products sold in Britain's supermarkets.[image: track]

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