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Concerned for Orangutans in Indonesia, US Girl Scouts Lobby for Sustainable Palm Oil
February 10, 2012

This 2011 file photo from Mlive.com shows Rhiannon Tomtishen of Ann Arbor, Mich., left, and Madison Vorva of Plymouth, Mich. The 16-year-old Girl Scouts began a campaign last year to stop the Girl Scouts’ use of palm oil that they said was being harvested in ways that threatened the habitat of endangered orangutans in Indonesia and Malaysia. (AP Photo/Mlive.com) This 2011 file photo from Mlive.com shows Rhiannon Tomtishen of Ann Arbor, Mich., left, and Madison Vorva of Plymouth, Mich. The 16-year-old Girl Scouts began a campaign last year to stop the Girl Scouts’ use of palm oil that they said was being harvested in ways that threatened the habitat of endangered orangutans in Indonesia and Malaysia. (AP Photo/Mlive.com)
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sicepot
10:10pm Feb 11, 2012

The use of palm oil for cooking is not that high I believe since its not as healthy as other oils.. its the demand from other chemical industries that is high

Valkyrie
5:22pm Feb 11, 2012

Picking on little girls wong? Hmmm....why don't you try me for size?

Someone said I am a serious person. He might be right so, take a shot wong!

For starters...why don't you try rid yourself off some genes from your nearest relative?

devine
5:00pm Feb 11, 2012

waky; the palm industry drives more people out of their natural habitate than creating jobs... the only ones that win are the ruthless conglomorates. There is thousands of other possibilities to earn an honest living...

devine
4:56pm Feb 11, 2012

wongndeso: wong again. Can you really never see anything positive???

riamrt: yes, true and sad. However I think it is not a job issue but rather an education issue...


DrDez
4:24pm Feb 11, 2012

in the mean time wong the Indo palm oil producers will continue to rape the nation, ravish its forests and rice fields, destroy villagers oh and kill the poor who get it their way... Nice priorities you have..

United Nations. The United Nations on Thursday recognized two US teens as International Forest Heroes for their efforts to cut the use of Southeast Asia palm oil, some of which comes from Indonesia, because production is linked to rainforest destruction.

The girls’ interest in palm oil grew out of their concern from the age of 11 for endangered orangutans and their shrinking rainforest habitat in Indonesia and Malaysia, where much of the world’s palm oil originates.

The two 16-year-old Girl Scouts from Michigan, Rhiannon Tomtishen and Madison Vorva, who shared the award with four others from different nations, were recognized for campaigning to get Southeast Asian palm oil out of Girl Scout cookies.

They were among 15 finalists from 14 countries nominated for the prize honoring grassroots forest conservation efforts, marking the International Year of the Forest.

Last year, their efforts led to the Girl Scouts of the USA announcing a switch towards sustainable palm oil by 2015 as an ingredient in its Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos and other fund-raising cookies.

Also sharing the prize were Paul Nzegha Mzeka of Cameroon, Shigeatsu Hatakeyama of Japan, Anatoly Lebedev of Russia and Paulo Adario of Brazil.

“Each hero embodied innovative approaches and grass-roots initiatives that make a direct impact on the forests to which they have dedicated themselves,” a UN statement said.

“While these Forest Heroes come from varied backgrounds, they share a common courage, passion and perseverance that serve as inspiration to anyone wishing to make a difference for forests.”

The girls were nominated for the award by the Union of Concerned Scientists.

“We are so honored to receive this award and it’s truly humbling to have our work recognized on the world stage,” said Vorva.

In 2007, they launched Project ORANGS (Orangutans Really Appreciate and Need Girls Scouts) to persuade the Girl Scouts to replace the palm oil in Girl Scout cookies with a sustainable alternative.

Last year, Girl Scouts of the USA and Kellogg’s, which produces cookies, developed a plan to transition to sustainable palm oil by 2015 and also pledged to reduce palm oil use across its entire product line.

Agence France-Presse