Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Sumatran Tiger Campaign Meets Success

Melbourne Zoo
In February, WWF identified twenty US grocery chains that stock paper products branded by Paseo and Livi, two of the fastest growing brands of toilet paper in the US. Asia Pulp & Paper makes the products and it is destroying Sumatran rain forest in the process. AP&P participated in laying the foundation for the Senepis Tiger Sanctuary, but was caught red-handed in 2011 by Indonesian environmental coalition, Eyes on the Forest,  clear cutting within the sanctuary's borders. These forests are the last home of the critically endangered Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae). Within four weeks of being told of the company's destructive practices, 15 of the 20 chains stopped buying Paseo and AP has made a public committment to avoid AP&P fibre for its private-label brands. US Person urges his readers who want the Sumatran tiger to survive not to buy these  brands of paper products. If your regular store stocks these products, ask the store manager to stop selling them, and tell the manager why buying responsibly produced products is so important for our planet's future. WWF has produced a map and instructions for identifying retailers who still sell AP&P paper products. Ask yourself this: what is more important to you, the survival a magnificent animal in its natural home, or another brand of toilet paper among an already bewildering illusion of choice? Your voice counts and your actions on behalf of Mother Nature work! So this Earth Day do something that matters.