UK News
Prince Charles calls for halt in deforestation of rainforests
May 15, 2008, 7:02 GMT
London - Britain's Prince Charles Thursday called for a halting of logging in the world's rainforests which he said would be the greatest single contribution to alleviating the effects of climate change.
Mechanisms had to be devised to pay poor countries to prevent them felling their rainforests which were the earth's 'air conditioning system,' the prince said in a BBC interview.
It was 'crazy' that rainforests were worth more 'dead than alive' to some of the world's poorest people as they are being felled for timber, food and bio fuels.
'When you think they release 20 billion tons of water vapour into the air every day, and also absorb carbon on a gigantic scale, they are incredibly valuable, and they provide the rainfall we all depend on.'
Ways had to be found to ensure people living in the rainforest were adequately rewarded for the 'eco-system services that their forest provides the rest of the world.'
'The trouble is the rainforests are home to something like 1.4 billion of the poorest people in the world. In order to survive there has to be an effort to produce things which tends to be at the expense of the rainforest,' said Prince Charles.
He named Brazil and Indonesia among the countries were action needed to be taken most urgently.
The prince, who takes a keen interest in environmental issues, called on governments, big business and consumers to demand an end to logging in the rainforest.
He said the time was right to persuade business to play its part because there was increasing concern about global warming.
Waiting for all the new technologies to come on stream was not going to be soon enough, said Prince Charles. If deforestation did not slow down soon there would be 'far more drought and starvation on a grand scale.'
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Older Talkback
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I was listening to the today programme and the world service as they gave massive air time to Prince Charles.
I was puzzled; does the BBC or the Royal Family think Brazilians will care about this spoilt rich kid’s opinion?
Then it occurred to me, if Brazil chops down the Amazon forests Prince Charles won’t be able to heat his dozen or so palaces, and other residences, run and maintain his hundreds of cars, etc live the luxurious lifestyle he is accustomed to and still stay carbon neutral (lol) with cheap carbon offsets.
Prince Charles has apparently offered Lula da Silva a job as cleaner to his personal footman, after he steps down in 2010.
Why do notables get condemned for stating scientific facts? Maybe some folks like to be prejudiced for any reason they see fit. Maybe some folks are just plain blind to reality.
Go ahead and contribute to making a wasteland of the environment. Just count me out.
The USA is a capitalistic system and we have reforested 60% of forests east of the Mississippi since the 1700's. At current rate, we will reforest almost 100% in the next 60 years. In fact, we have even added 1,000,000 acres of what can be construed as 'old growth' (there is no such thing: the correct term is 'first growth') which is another way of saying we have more trees that are so old they are now dying.
In fact, it was Europeans who actually started deforesting the world, certainly true here in the United States, not really the indiginous peoples. Corrupt governments the world over, are the real benficiaries, regardless of their system. Other, less, or even non-capitalistic governments who are engaged in doing this;
Russia - had 51% of the worlds softwood supply, which they are chopping as fast as they can.
Nigeria - their forests are in danger of disappearing, totally, in the next 40 years, for firewood to cook, in an nation that exports oil and natural gas. Go figure...
Brazil - Has been engaging in widespread habitat destruction for decades.
China - has net habitat loss.
In fact, it would be easier to list the nations who are NOT destroying habitat.
Governments, not corporations, determine what is cut on public lands. It's a pity that fact is wasted on His Highness...and you.
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tonny from belgiumMay 15th, 2008 - 07:28:05
Perhapsthe tropical rainforrests arehome to thepoorest partsof the world popûlation,however the deforrestation does nothing to improve their lifestyle.The logging is performes by cronies of the localdictators,Indonesia being a good example .The ecosystem is continuously destroyed by businessmen that gor rich during the Suharto era,still holding the reignsof economical power and hence the real political power .The introduction of democracy has only repainted the facade of the regime .All remains thesame;forrest are destroyed,palmtreesfor the production of oil are replacing them,the money goesonly to a few.Behind the sceneasKorean,Chinese logging companies areexporting the wood manufteredinto paper,teak wood furniture ornating gardensof Europe and the USAalike .At present the pace of destruction is so rapid that the jungle of kalimantan,one of the biggest island in the world might disappear in twodecades .Horrible thoughts of the demise of humanity are the promise those companies leave to our children.In thename of corporate profit.Just another face of capitalism digging our grave.
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