Madagascar, Lemur and Spies - Natural World doc, 2011-12 ep10 of 13

My post on the Gibson Facebook page:

"Hey Gibson.  I just watched episode 10 of 13, of the BBC series, Natural World (Madagascar, Lemurs and Spies).  That was interesting.  Apparently you used to buy illegal rainforest hardwood from Madagascar - the source of the demand.  Illegal loggers would make your guitar parts right in Madagascar to ship to you.  Wasn't too impressed by Gibson's response either, ie, 'Madagascar is really screwed up anyways.'

"If someone hadn't risked their life to get evidence and prosecute you, you'd still be doing it.

"Shame on you, Gibson."

-me

The point is, a kind of lemur which is amazing - "Silkies", the "ghost of the forest" (as they are so shy) are being destroyed due to the usual reason - loss of habitat.

Madagascar is screwed up because of people like you, Gibson guitar-makers.

. . .

A few days later...

The response so far - not from Gibson but from some random Americans:

"Ricky Underwood: What is so DUMB about people like this guy is they don't ever think that amybe, just maybe some one is replanting TREES for future generations. Tree huggers..... 

"Slick Camden: think u best take message to china. still doing it 

"Nonavee Dale: Trees take along, long time to grow. So do forests. 

"Nonavee Dale: Ricky - the logging was illegal, poachers were taking logs from their national parks because the country was too politically unstable to do anything about it. So you don't believe in law and order? That would be the only way such things (replanting at the right rate) could be organised. So you believe that you can take what you want. I'm not a treehugger, humans won't be able to live either soon if this sort of behaviour continues.

 "And Ricky - I'm a woman, not a guy."


From BBC's website:

Sascha Von Bismarck

Sascha is a Harvard graduate and ex-marine who runs the Environmental Investigation Agency in Washington DC. He is passionate about defending the environment and making corporations and governments take responsibility for their actions. Sascha spent six years lobbying to get the Lacey Act Amendment passed into US law and believes strongly that it is the way forward. In his view it has the potential to revolutionise world trade – when for the first time the companies who create the demand for precious wood – like Madagascan ebony and rosewood, are held to account if they have imported illegal wood. But he has no illusions about the mountain still to climb. Even if the music industry is a small part of the problem compared the China, it can become the spearhead of the solution. With the Lacey Act behind him, Sascha is continuing his battles to save the World’s forests.


Erik Patel

Dr. Erik R. Patel is a primatologist who earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University and his Masters from the University of California at Berkeley. He has worked in Madagascar every year since 2001 studying the behavioral biology and conservation of one of the most critically endangered primates in the world, the silky sifaka lemur (Propithecus candidus) both in Marojejy National Park and the Makira Natural Park.


Link to more on this program here.

Fair Trade Warriors - All Good bananas in New Zealand)

Fair Trade Warriors! (Get 'em while they're young.)

In NZ, the only certified Fair Trade bananas are All Good Bananas! I live North of Auckland, and buy mine at the New World in Orewa, or the Fruit World in Silverdale.

Update October 2012: Pak'N Save in Albany didn't sell them.  I tried to talk to the produce manager (Al) but he basically walked away from me halfway through my question, muttering something under his breath about their cost.  But I didn't give up - I had the idea to make a public post on the Pak'N Save Facebok page about it.  I knew, from working in the AUT's student movement office who were operating and responding to students on their Facebook page that a marketing team would notice every comment of this new medium.  My hunch worked.  After a comment or two - they started selling them!  Coincidence? 

Horrified by the mountain

...of crap that came with our new dryer. AND the mountains of cling-film that came with our new couch. I didn't expect it, so it wasn't avoided. I would rather the couch had come dented and dirty, truly. But worse than a huge ball of cling film was the mound of polystyrene ("styrofoam" in Canada). That stuff never goes away (doesn't break down). I find it almost criminally irresponsible that it is still used.

Step 1. Phoned the appliance store that sold me the dryer to ask if they would take back the polstyrene. They wanted to help, but would only throw it in the rubbish instead of me. They said that the manufacturer wouldn't reuse it.

Step 2. Researched alternative places that would recycle it. There were only two places locally. One was Expol, which makes and installs polystyrene insulation under floors.

At first I was going to take it there, but now I am having second thoughts. Why contribute to a business that creates more of the same problem? We don't need polystyrene under floors either, where it will also one day be a waste problem.

Step 3 is going to be calling Haier directly, and asking them to take back their perfectly "good" horrible packing material. If they don't take responsibility for it, I can start communicating with them and making some small change there.

Small change, anyone? Watch this mountain.

Update 16 August 2012.I ended up getting tired and overwhelmed, and...I should have done something about it, but I just wanted you to know I actually didn't.

Companies are changing though, so if I ever do get a new appliance (which I will, we will need a better water saving washing machine, and dishwasher at some point since we live on tank water), I will stop it at the source and tell them I don't want the packaging. I can at that point make sure the action is accompanied with letter or even a Facebook comment. I have helped create action with Pak'N Save before by nagging on Facebook from time to time (about Fair Trade bananas). There is nothing wrong with communication structures like Facebook for companies to communicate with the public. Then, actually, their marketing communications team has to figure out how to respond to it officially - which is a good thing.

In fact - I should make a comment right now...far easier than writing letters (and more effective too).




I did it! http://www.facebook.com/liveahaierlife

How hard was that? Posted the photo above, and: "Sorry - just had to pass something on. I got a Haier dryer last year - which is working great, thanks. Just was wondering if there was an option in future to give back all the polystyrene or program to recycle it? Just not very good from a waste (environmental) perspective."

It's good to be nice. If it's not said with love, would you listen?


17 August 2012

Hey, they got back to me!

"Hi Nonavee, in NZ most retailers have some form of recycling available at their warehouse operations. We are more than happy to accept your packaging at our locations in Auckland or Christchurch (13 Kerwyn Ave, East Tamaki Auckland or 79 Shands Road Hornby, Christchurch) and will recycle the packaging and old Haier appliances as well if required. :) Hope this is helpful."

That is great. If only I contacted them directly at the time. I could have shipped it or taken it over there... which although it's a pain in the butt would assist in their process of learning to deal with it. Next time -