Tong Tana December 1999 - Bruno Manser Fonds

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Switzerland Rubber tree plantations jk – In large Swiss wholesale stores one can find cheap products such as kitchen boards, curtain poles and more often also furniture made of rubber tree wood (Hevea). The following words are often written on the products, “Our contribution to the environment: this wood is from plantations.” Information as to species and origin is usually missing. Even environmental organizations found it sensible to use the wood when the tree stopped producing latex and no primary forest had to be cleared. The Malaysian umbrella organization of the timber industry MTC noticed the same thing. Enthusiastically it reported on new developments with genetically modified rubber trees which are not being planted for their rubber anymore but only for timber production. “Because the wood of the rubber tree is accepted internationally,” as Datuk Ismail Awang of the MTC stated. The BMF’s opinion is: ask for native Maplewood with your next purchase – the best for your household! Source: The Star, October 13, 1999 In praise! imagination. Where it was technically feasible, concrete was replaced by wood throughout the entire superstructure. Raw worked silver fir trunks serve as pillars. Instead of exporting downgraded stifled beechwood to Italy, it is made into massive wooden tables here in Switzerland, which possess a unique charm especially through their attractive colouring. Many thanks to the three united associations of the trades of Basel and the forestry school in Lyss for the invitation and the tour. Community campaign db – We congratulate the following communities on their decisions to renounce the use of wood from the exploited virgin forests in public buildings: Würenlos/AG, Rüte/AI, Schlatt-Haslen/AI, Wenslingen/BL, Malans/GR, Utzwil/SG, Ramsen/SH, Stein am Rhein/ SH, Nunnigen/SO and Lucens/VD. In the meantime 260 communities with a total population of 2,7 million and 5 cantons have made this decision. We are especially happy that all parts of the Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden renounce the use of wood from exploited virgin forests in public buildings. We are looking forwards for the corresponding decision from the cantonal government! Increased use of native wood bm – The Intercantonal Forestry School in Lyss proves with its new building, finished in 1997, that wood possesses unbeatable qualities if used with expertise and Ban on use of timber from non sustainable production permitted according to international law. bm – Public administrations can give preference to native wood and desist from using wood from virgin forests. They can request a serious proof of sustainable production. The study thus refutes the reasons stated by the Federal Ministry of Transportation (Bundesverkehrsministerium) in Germany in 1997 which suspended the 1989 ban on using tropical wood in the construction of federal roads by decree; the reason stated it would violate the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA, 1997). The legal report by Dr. Harald Ginzky can be ordered directly from: ROBIN WOOD, Postfach 10 21 22, D-28021 Bremen, email: robin_wood@umwelt.ecolink.org Halberds against tanks bm – “If we compare the careful sustainable management of Swiss forests with the industrial clearcutting practices in Canada, it becomes obvious that we stand no chance on the market; with our production costs, it’s like fighting tanks with halberds.” Remark of a Swiss forest owner, heard by a silent listener in the train. It seems that forestry is in a global state of war. The BMF’s suggestion for peace: local supply. 14 Forestry-school, Lyss
BMF Internal Where have the poison arrows gone bm – In the jungle among the primitive Penan people it is normal to respect the possessions of one’s neighbors. In civilized Switzerland one cannot recommend (anymore) leaving one’s things unattended even for a moment; there has been no clue to the whereabouts of my rucksack which I left in a hurry under a bush for want of a luggage locker on July 6 at the train station in Dietlikon – as well as its contents worth 3,000 Swiss Francs, including the quiver of poison arrows. Maybe a clairvoyant could help Nicole and Laura had practised shooting unpoisoned! arrows using a blowpipe at an event for children. When Thanks! dk – We would like to express a very big thank you to the following persons and institutions which supported us so generously in 1999: Jean-Jacques Belet, Ernst Beyeler, Erika & Jürg Binz, Michel Bovey, Samuel Buri, Arturo Cuéllar-Nathan, Ulla Dreyfus, Greenpeace Switzerland, Elsbeth Meier, Ruedi Mettler, Maria Meylan, Olivier Murset, Mark & Ursula Nussberger, Andreas Ochsenbein, Pro Natura, Renate & Alex Rabus, Gisèle Rappaz, Nanni Reinhart-Schinz, René & Monika Rohner , Marco Sager, Eira Schader, Irma Spaenhauer, Dr. Urs-Peter Stäuble, Barbara & Daniel Strub-Roth, Dr. Michael Tschanz, Veronika Von Stockar, Martin Vosseler, Arnold Witzig, Wolfgang Wolfsgruber, the cities Winterthur and St. Gallen as members of the Climate Alliance as well as the anonymous donors. Many heartfelt thanks also to the numerous contributors who keep supporting the BMF with smaller donations, every Franc is a commitment for us to continue! Without the voluntary helpers this would not be possible – thank you very much: Marco Bähler, Charlotte Bélet, J.J. Belet, Michel Bovey, Wädel Brunner, Dominik Bucheli, Marianne & Steve Dodd, Roger Graf, Guy-Betrand Jaquier, Brunone Morandi, Sarah Moylan, Chantal Pfiffner, Peter Rudin, Jürg Schär, Larissa Schönfelder, Michael Studer, Barbara Sturm, Norbert Vock, Mel & Ben. The web Since some time our newsletter can be read on our homepage “http://www.bmf.ch”. Apart from the newest information on the BMF you can also find almost all back issues of our newsletters. Events The exhibition of Bruno Manser’s diaries “Die Tagebücher des Bruno Manser” can be seen in the “Naturmuseum” in Lucerne until March 19, 2000. 15 Nicole, Laura and budgie Gino – Thank you! they heard that I got a fine over 1,000 Francs because of my all too great trust in the good in human nature, they made little “lucky parcels” out of toys such as Snurfs, stuffed animals and a pirate’s head mixed with sweets and sold them for 1 Franc on the street. They added their allowances to the proceeds and presented a proud 107 Francs and 10 cents, accompanied by budgerigar Gino, as a contribution to my fine – our heartfelt thanks! In future I will be more careful, yet I’ll keep believing in the good in mankind! Trees, forests and religions bm – Persons of different cultures and spiritual backgrounds have met for the fourth “Klingenthal Symposium” in France, in September 1999, to find common conclusions of the world religions about the safeguard and management of forests. Present were members of Bahaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shintoism, Taoism, Rationalists, Indigenous Peoples of Africa, Asia (including a Penan women from Sarawak), Australia, Canada, South America, a.o.. The result has been put on paper and can be ordered thanks to the organizers at: Jean Pierre Ribaut, Pax Christi – 27 rue Rabié, F-33250 Pauillac, fax: 33 (0)5 56 59 68 80, e-mail: “marie.cais@wanadoo.fr”
Page 1 and 2: January 2000 Newsletter on rainfore
Page 3 and 4: Sarawak - Malaysia Taib Mahmud - Ch
Page 5 and 6: Proposed Biosphere Area in Eastern
Page 7 and 8: Mutang Urud meeting in Malaysia, he
Page 9 and 10: Arson in Sarawak I jk - The forest
Page 11 and 12: Switzerland Derborence Sion A virgi
Page 13: With disdain! Arson in the rainfore

Tong Tana December 1999 - Bruno Manser Fonds

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