GREENPEACE PRESSURING MULTINATIONALS'

WHY Western NGOs especially GREENPEACE are pressuring the Multinational Companies to stop buying palm-based products from Malaysia & Indonesia? Do they take into consideration factors such as below:-

1) Palm Oil is Environmentally Friendly Crop.

2) Malaysia presently has a clear forestry policy for 50-60% of the country land area under permanent forest. http://www.ceopalmoil.com/question-of-sustainability/

3) Palm Oil productions requires less energy & land compared to other vegetables oils.

4) Millions of Asians rely on the job from the oil palm industry; for their living. This is what we call TRUE CSR! http://www.worldgrowth.org/palmoil/

5) The POOR needs to eat & so does the rest of the world!

I agree with James that the European authorities should investigate Greenpeace for misleading consumer's mindset!

Please read the article below and share it with your friends!

 

Opinion

The Multinationals' Dilemma -- Gratify the Greens or Protect the Poor?

By James M. Roberts

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/08/18/james-m-roberts-multinationals-dilemma-greens-protect-poor-greenpeace-nestle/#content

Published August 19, 2010 | FoxNews.com

 

Greenpeace and other radical green groups are big on "corporate social responsibility" (CSR). What constitutes CSR, you ask? Among other things, the willingness to let the "green" agenda trump sound business practices.

 

Of late, the greens have taken to pressuring Western multinational companies to forswear buying paper and palm-based products from the Asian tropics. The campaign thrills Greenpeace donors, but threatens lasting harm to millions of men and women in poor nations.

 

Timber, paper and palm oil produced in the tropical belt are valued for their high quality and low cost. But radical greens oppose any commercial development in the tropics, which they want to preserve as pristine wilderness. And so they harass the multinationals, accusing them of razing the rainforest and destroying habitat for orangutans, tigers, and other endangered species.

 

The gambit works. Global food giant Nestlé recently suspended imports of palm oil from Asia. So have Unilever and Procter & Gamble.

 

Now retailers Wal-Mart and Carrefour are under fire for buying paper goods from the Asian region. And mega-bank HSBC is being pressured to halt economic development projects in Indonesia, Malaysia and other developing countries.

 

But in pressing its cause, Greenpeace willfully ignores some inconvenient, yet vitally important facts. For starters, palm oil is environmentally friendly. On a per-liter basis, palm oil production requires less energy and land-and fewer fertilizers or pesticides-than other vegetable oils.

 

What's more, Indonesia and Malaysia--both major palm oil and paper producers--have put 25 percent and 50 percent of their forest cover, respectively, off limits to development and established extensive wildlife protection efforts. In other words, both nations are being socially responsible.

 

So what's the real driver behind the anti-development campaigns led by European green groups? First, let's consider Europe's vegetable oil producers, timber producers and paper manufacturers. They don't much like competition from the Asian market.

 

European policymakers know protectionism is illegal, so they are trying to block imports on environmental and public relations grounds. EU member states support radical green groups which then demonize trade in foreign goods. What European policymakers and companies can't do legally in global trade courts they are trying to accomplish instead via the court of public opinion.

 

Western multinationals shouldn't go along with what amounts to illegal protectionism that threatens to undo the decades-long drive to open markets led by Western nations.

 

But there is an additional and important moral dimension at play, too. Left unchecked, the Greenpeace campaign will inflict massive economic misery on some of the world's poorest nations. Tens of millions of Asian men and women rely on the jobs and economic growth provided by their export industries. How is it socially responsible to deny a livelihood to them and their families?

 

Nestlé and other firms shouldn't ignore these socially irresponsible tactics. For example, in a shameless effort to alarm consumers, a recent Greenpeace-produced ad hijacks Nestlé's iconic "Kit Kat" bar (which contains palm oil) and implies that-by using palm oil-Nestle harms orangutans. But the ad is a lie. The governments where the palm oil is produced are protecting their wildlife.

 

Instead of quietly egging them on, European authorities should be investigating Greenpeace for possible trademark or copyright violations in its malicious and willfully misleading appropriation of Nestlé's brand. Consumer goods companies and global retailers should not let anti-business zealots manipulate those brands for political gain and the benefit of special interests.

 

Running a large, global business is hard work, and success takes singular focus. Great harm can result when big companies are distracted and moved "off task" by the narrow interests of activist groups and their political supporters. It is time for Western multinationals to make a stand for real economic progress and development and take a stand against the scare tactics of Greenpeace and its ilk.

 

James M. Roberts is Research Fellow for Economic Freedom and Growth in The Heritage Foundation's Center for International Trade and Economics.

PALM OIL SHORTIES COMPETITION

Let's take a look at how students do their part in spreading awareness on palm oil through film!

I was invited by a friend to attend the Palm Oil Shorties Competition Award held in Aliyaa Restaurant Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur recently.

I know somehow there were many issues pertaining to palm oil in Malaysia. I feel many of us are aware of the basics; palm oil is for cooking! But we may have overlooked the factor that it also helps poverty eradication, helping the poor for a better living and a very sustainable wonderful crop! This inaugural competition aims at increasing public awareness on the subject of palm oil, and to highlight the positive aspects of the million dollar industry. 

Really impressed when Fried Chillies a local media group that took the initiative to come up with this competition. During the award show, I noticed many youth group were interested in this topic as it is about Malaysia their home country and the crop that provides food for millions around the world. Their interest were shown via short films and I would like to share the links for your viewing!

http://www.palmoilshorties.com/index.htm

I have to congratulate the team for this excellent effort and also congratulate Steven Yap the Palm Oil Shorties 2010 Winner.

Looking forward for more of this activities to get our people to appreciate palm oil! The more we know the more we can defend it from the western NGOs that endlessly attacks on Malaysian Palm Oil!

To learn more, you may also see here:-

http://www.worldgrowth.org/

http://www.ceopalmoil.com/

Kumi Naidoo - Letter for you

Lets all send this letter across to all our fellow friends & not forgetting to GREENPEACE!!!

Many negative allegations posted by Western NGOs (Greenpeace/ Friends of The Earth) towards Palm Oil, I came across this interesting piece from www.palmoiltruthfoundation.com entitled "Palm Oil: An Open Letter to Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Greenpeace International". How does Kumi Naidoo judge the unfairly attacks undertaken by GREENPEACE towards Palm Oil the crop that feeds the world and eradicates poverty in most developing countries?

Highlights from the letter:
1) Kumi Naidoo - at the age of 15 African born became an activist, leading student demo towards eliminating 'Apartheid' (social and political policy of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by white minority governments in South Africa from 1948 to 1994)
2) Kumi has always been passionate about human rights, poverty eradication and gender equality, he even proved them with hunger strike.
3) Now being the Executive Director of GREENPEACE Int, Kumi is faced with and will have to grapple with mass volume of baseless attacks by this NGO.
4) Greenpeace has been an NGO always attacking on Palm Oil, from killing orang utan, destroying forest, using bigger land space and leading to global warming and etc. Nevertheless in this letter, the writer has lay-out various factual data to defend palm oil. In addition, expressing his views towards Kumi.
5) Writer questioned Kumi, if we were to take Kumi's past conduct, an active activist elivating poverty, human rights and etc. How would he now act when Greenpeace an NGO he is attached with from an environmental group, has morphed into a shameless lobby with a twisted extremism!

Full letter:
http://www.palmoiltruthfoundation.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2056&Itemid=66

EU MPs positive on palm oil! Great News!

I wish all these positive messages on Malaysian Palm Oil will be spread to everyone! I am impressed to have seen a few articles in our local newspapers some 2 weeks ago. A group of EU MPs visited Malaysia to understand better about palm oil. Before you read the whole article, let me highlight what some of them have quoted.

Danish MP Dan Jorgensen, who is vice-chairman of the Environment Committee and member of the Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament said: “As a whole, I think, it has helped take people out of poverty, which is a very positive thing.”“From the sustainability point of view, palm oil has great potential compared with other oils,” he added.

Christensen noted that in western Europe, there was perception that palm oil is a bad thing because rainforests are being destroyed to make way for plantations.“That’s what many people believe. So, we are gratified to get assurances here that Malaysia has strict laws to ensure no more forests are destroyed,” he said. He also said it was a challenge to get this point of view across to the Western audience.

At some point of time when I read those articles, I am glad these MPs would be able to spread the positive attributes of palm oil to the westerners, nevertheless how often does Malaysia has to keep inviting and educating them in order to receive good remarks on our commodity. We do not do the same to condemn any of their commodities over there? Do we?

Here is the link:
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/31/business/6371107&sec=business

EU's BIOFUEL NORMS FLAWED, PENALIZES PALM OIL

Which is which now? Again wrong ASSUMPTIONS by the European Union's on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. They practice double standard to favour them? It is ridiculous for EU to keep criticizing on palm oil for contributing to environmental degradation. EU dares to use the old data provided by their own scientific & technical research arm & assume?

Written by Shie-Lynn Lim of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones)--Flawed empirical calculations and wrong assumptions on greenhouse gas emissions make the European Union's renewable energy policy biased against non-European biofuel producers, including those of palm-based biodiesel, according to Gernot Pehnelt, director of independent research and consulting institute GlobEcon in Germany.

According to an E.U. directive, biofuels must result in greenhouse gas emissions reductions of at least 35% compared with fossil fuels in 2009 and rising over time to 50% by 2017, creating a market for at least 23 million metric tons of biofuels annually.

Under the proposed renewable energy directive, biofuel producers in the E.U. are able to claim higher greenhouse gas emissions savings than biofuel producers outside the region, said Pehnelt.

"It is particularly problematic since any reasonable emissions budgeting comparison showed palm-derived biofuel is less carbon-intensive than those produced elsewhere, including Europe," said Pehnelt, who is also affiliated with the European Centre for International Political Economy.

"The E.U. has embedded protectionist measures into the directive at the behest of anti-development environmentalists and the uncompetitive European biofuels industry. These measures set unfair values on greenhouse gas savings for foreign biofuels, thus precluding market access," he said.

Most life-cycle analysis carried out by researchers estimated greenhouse gas emissions savings of 55% for palm-oil based biodiesel, but the E.U.'s calculation, done by its scientific and technical research arm the Joint Research Centre, showed the use of palm-oil based biodiesel failed the 35% requirement, as it achieved only a 19% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The life-cycle assessments carried out on palm oil showed a wide variance in greenhouse gas emissions savings as data used by the JRC were based on old data.

The proposed directive, which will come into effect at the end of the year, also requires that sustainable biofuels should be produced with "no damage to sensitive or important ecosystems."

As palm oil is widely criticized by environmental groups and blamed for contributing to environmental degradation in Malaysia and Indonesia, some buyers may prefer to source other oils that are less controversial, palm-based biodiesel producers fear.

Europe's push for the use of renewable fuels in the transport sector has created one of the world's largest biofuel markets, with demand from the region estimated around 10 billion liters (3.5 million tons) in 2009.

Though palm oil-based biodiesel exports from Malaysia rose 20% or around 45,000 tons to 227,457 tons in 2009, that figure is abysmally low compared with the increase in general demand, as requirements under the directive are limiting palm-based biodiesel's access to the European market.

"The commission is committed to reducing Europe's carbon emissions. It is clear that the E.U. can't meet its own biofuel needs, so there is room for imports (of biodiesel). We are not against imports (of biodiesel), but the commission wants to ensure this is good for the environment and for trade as well," Marlene Holzner, spokeswoman for Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, told Dow Jones Newswires, in response to this article.

But there is a ray of hope after a recent study showed the E.U. recently started referring to oil palm plantations as "continuously forested areas," a move industry experts consider positive for palm-oil based biodiesel in Europe.

A recent study by the International Food Policy Institute, commissioned by the Directorate General for Trade, under the European Commission, found palm oil to be the most efficient feedstock for biodiesel, as it produces byproducts and has an oil yield six times higher than comparable products such as rapeseed.

"All these studies have different results. We do not comment on the content of the studies. Once studies on the subjects are finalized, the European Commission is will issue a report by the end of 2010," Holzner said.

EU is BIASED AGAINST PALM OIL

EU and their unfair attitude!!! How can they act to benefit them all the way?

The EU is favouring domestic biofuel by imposing a 'default' greenhouse gas (GHG) saving level. Read the article below and do click on the link at the most bottom to see the reports from GlobEcon a German Research Institute.


EU sustainability rules 'biased' against palm oil

A European Parliament meeting today heard accusations of bias against competitive palm oil-based biodiesel from south-east Asia in the EU's contentious renewable fuels mandate.

The EU is said to favour domestic biofuel sources by imposing a 'default' greenhouse gas (GHG) saving level for foreign palm oil which falls below the 35% minimum threshold for supplying fuel towards the EU renewable targets.

The default GHG saving - which is set at 19% for palm based biodiesel - is assumed if an exporting country cannot account for methane capture on every tonne of the shipment, a condition deemed to be highly unrealistic. Domestic EU production can meanwhile fall back on higher default GHG savings for every biofuel feedstock, including palm oil.

It was asserted that the penalisation of palm-based biodiesel runs against EU attempts to ensure that the biofuels used for its renewable fuel targets have the greatest overall environmental benefits; full life-cycle analysis is said to tip the environmental balance in favour of palm oil and against other oilseed biodiesel sources such as rapeseed (used extensively in the EU), which requires more land and more carbon-intensive fertiliser per unit of energy produced.

'Protectionist' bent to EU policy

The case is made in a new paper from German research institute GlobEcon, presented today at a European Parliament hearing hosted by the Land Use and Food Policy Intergroup.

GlobEcon's Dr Gernot Pehnelt said that "the EU has embedded protectionist measures into the Directive at the behest of anti-development environmentalists and the uncompetitive European biofuels industry.

"Furthermore, the report demonstrates the rich biodiversity in oil palm plantations, the excellent crown cover oil palms provide and the yield per hectare advantages of this low-energy, low-fertilizer crop."

Pehnelt acknowledged that palm oil plantations do incur biodiversity loss when prime forest land is converted in species-rich countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, but reiterated the small share of biodiesel demand (even in light of the EU mandate) in overall palm oil expansion, and asserted that all economic activity has an environmental cost.

Environmental threat 'bigger than for other agrifuels'

While sceptical of the overall benefits of biofuels, environmental groups have taken a particularly tough line on palm oil - and have been keen to ensure that European biofuel demand does not exacerbate existing environmental problems related to the crop.

Ariel Brunner, Senior EU Agriculture Policy Officer at Birdlife International, told Agra Europe that while palm oil is a highly competitive biofuel with low land use requirements, current production patterns in south-east Asia raise a host of specific environmental problems and should put the feedstock (along with others) out of bounds for the EU's renewable fuels mandate.

Current sustainability criteria put certain environmentally sensitive areas such as undrained peatlands and biodiverse forests off limits, but major loopholes are seen to allow recently drained areas and secondary forest-land to be used, with a huge GHG and biodiversity cost. These risks are so great that even sourcing a fifth of the new 10% renewable fuels target from palm oil would negate the environmental benefits of other biofuel use, he argued.

Brunner said that EU "artificial demand" formed by the renewable fuels mandate and tax risks adding to problems which, he acknowledged, predate and go beyond biofuel production.

He indicated that using European rapeseed-based biodiesel to meet the EU targets could end up applying the same pressure on biodiversity-rich natural areas, given that Asian palm oil production would in any case expand into new areas to substitute for the oilseed areas shifted from food to fuel in the EU.

This indirect land use change (ILUC) phenomenon is the subject of internal debate in the European Commission - and could end up being factored into the sustainability criteria for fuels used towards the targets (see AE2406, 02.04.2010, P/10).

Meanwhile palm oil has been the subject of stand-alone efforts from the food industry to clean up the environmental impact of palm oil, centering on the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification scheme (see AE2405, 26.03.2010, Analysis).

For the full GlobEcon report see:
http://www.globecon.org/en/publications/globecon-research-papers.html

ORANG UTANS ARE ALWAYS HAPPY

See it for real to believe it...they are always happy orang utans.

Recently I had a chance to follow my friend to visit Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary in Sandakan, Sabah. These were some of the shots taken during the visit. I am aware that various Western NGOs have been condemning about orang utan and their loss of habitat. I strongly disagree when I see this. They seem to have a great living in this forested area. In fact there were many tourists coming to this place to visit them. If you see the picture below the 'Shy Orang Utan' showing his back to us while having his good food. They have a dedicated feeding time like we have daily :-). I would say these orang utans are quite pampered when everything is taken care for them! They are just happy!






























Not only Sepilok Orang Utan Centre, there are many others in Malaysia that have been established since long time ago to take good care of these orang utans. It is sometimes very sad when we here have done our best to preserve the forest, to take care of our habitats yet some CRUEL westerners throwing baseless attacks on us! They should look into their country and how much more preserved forest they have before even talking about others! It's just my piece of comment!

IT'S TIME TO EXPOSE THE ANTI-CAPITALIST GREEN GROUPS

This is a must read site. Read how the NGOs con others to make money! If only there are more people like Shane who openly oppose the unscrouplous campaings by the NGOs. Do these people even know the harm they are doing to the poor ? Would they rather see the poor beg than to be able to plant their own crops like palm oil.

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2010/02/shane-frith-why-arent-green-groups-promoting-anticapitalist-policies-treated-like-pariahs.html

“Today in Britain, these groups are opposing the construction of a biofuel plant (as long as they receive no taxpayer subsidy, biofuel is an effective way to reduce our dependence on vile Middle Eastern regimes) in Bristol, on spurious grounds. Forget the economic harm to the people of Bristol – they can collect government handouts. The poor who harvest these crops in Malaysia and Indonesia will have no such luxury.”

Shane Frith: It's time to expose the anti-capitalist green groups

In most areas of society, reputation management is crucial. An organisation found responsible for a dodgy report that led a global organisation to make erroneous claims would be a laughing stock. Organisations advocating policies responsible for the deaths of millions, and the impoverishment of many more, would be pariahs. At a time when Britain needs to focus on economic growth in order to return the nation to prosperity, anti-capitalist anti-growth organisations should be shunned by conservatives and classical liberals. Yet today, organisations in these categories are courted by politicians and royalty. Others are partnered with corporations seeking to bolster their perceived corporate responsibility and image. Volunteers for these groups openly fund-raise on the streets of Britain and retain charitable status.

For some reason, the environmental movement seems to be immune to the standards to which other organisations are held. WWF’s false claim that Himalayan glaciers might disappear by 2050 fits well with their alarmism about climate change, but for accuracy it rates with Tony Blair’s dodgy dossier. Yet, Sky News now partners with WWF in an attempt to protect the rainforests. Have they consulted the millions of Asians, Africans and South Americans who have their livelihoods threatened by various campaigns of WWF? Their latest campaign is for a blanket ban on the importation of palm oil, despite the fact that most companies adhere to a policy of sustainable harvesting and employ hundreds of thousands. Let’s not allow discredited organisations influence public policy in this way. How can Sky News be seen to be objective on environmental issues with their WWF association? For that matter, what do their colleagues at Fox News think of such a connection?

Since the 1990s, organisations like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have led hysterical campaigns against genetically-modified food. They have delayed the introduction of flood resistant rice by ten years and of golden rice for more than a decade, resulting in the suffering of millions from malnutrition or Vitamin A deficiencies (causing blindness). Throughout this time, these opponents of genetically-modified food have disputed the claims that the science on GM has been settled and that the consensus that GM is safe for human consumption. It is highly ironic given their current claims about the “settled” science on climate change. Any apologies from these groups for their involvement in the suffering of millions? Not a chance. Yet, Eurostar partner with Friends of the Earth as part of their marketing campaign. Maybe it’s time to start flying to Paris and Brussels.

Possibly the most damning activity of these green groups has been their opposition to the use of DDT in combating malaria. Like most readers of this blog, I grew up believing that DDT was a harmful chemical, one that threatens to kill all bird life as described in (the now discredited) Silent Spring. Like most chemicals (including H₂O) if concentrated it can be harmful. However, used in moderation DDT remains an effective insecticide, particularly for controlling malaria carrying mosquitoes. We know, because it was highly successful in the eradication of malaria in southern Europe after World War Two. However, using faulty science, green groups such as Greenpeace have successfully prevented the use of this important tool in Sub-Saharan Africa. This has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Most of these groups have now, reluctantly, withdrawn their open opposition to DDT, but again we receive no apology.

Today in Britain, these groups are opposing the construction of a biofuel plant (as long as they receive no taxpayer subsidy, biofuel is an effective way to reduce our dependence on vile Middle Eastern regimes) in Bristol, on spurious grounds. Forget the economic ham to the people of Bristol – they can collect government handouts. The poor who harvest these crops in Malaysia and Indonesia will have no such luxury.

These groups are driven by a green ideology that undervalues human life and prosperity. Their positions on climate change, genetically-modified food, DDT and deforestation have resulted in the deaths or impoverishment of millions. It is time that they were held to account for their past misdeeds. Politicians should not be associating themselves with the likes of Greenpeace in an attempt to win votes. It may be morally questionable to be working with these groups, but it is also politically short-sighted. Who doubts that these groups will turn into vociferous opponents of a Conservative government when it is forced to deal with economic reality, not the woolly-headed ideology of the green lobby?

Last year, Progressive Vision launched Green Monitor to highlight the activities of and harm done by the environmental movement. If we are to combat the harm done by groups such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and WWF we must work together. We ask supporters to assist in the following ways:

• Alert Green Monitor to local campaigns these groups in where they are spreading false information
• Join Green Monitor
• Where possible avoid using companies that associate with these groups (although watching the BBC rather than Sky is possibly going too far)
• Challenge their supporters when they fundraise in our streets – most of the volunteers will be oblivious as to the actual consequences of their actions
• Ensure politicians don’t share platforms with these groups

KUDOS TO EU & SHAME ON GREENPEACE AND FOE

My dear friends in the EU finally agrees that palm oil is a forest plantation. Kudos to EU for taking such a bold move. Shame on Greenpeace and FOE for misleading the public. Read the below:-

World Growth
February 8, 2010
CORRECTION: Leak Signals EU Dismissal of Green Propaganda Says NGO World Growth
NGO applauds Brussels’ move to recognize palm oil as an effective biofuel

WASHINGTON – Official documents leaked to the public last week show the European Commission has rejected calls by environmental NGOs not to treat palm oil plantations like any other single species forest. Research shows palm oil is the most efficient vegetable oil for biofuel. This is a welcome first step towards making the EU’s 2009 Renewable Energy Directive an effective measure to encourage consumption of renewable energy in the EU. Alan Oxley -- Chairman of the pro-development NGO World Growth -- released the following statement:

“World Growth commends the European Commission for rejecting Green propaganda about palm oil and moving to correctly define palm oil plantations as ‘continuously forested areas.’ It turned down a demand by environmentalists to prohibit biodiesel derived from oil palm by regulating that palm oil was not a plantation forest. This was just another ploy to deny motorists and transport operators in Europe the opportunity to use palm oil, the world’s most efficient biodiesel, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Europe.

“It’s good to see the Commission reject claims by Friends of the Earth and WWF that palm oil is a leading cause of deforestation. A growing body of research reconfirms that poverty, not palm oil or other plantation commodities, is the major cause of deforestation. It shows that two-thirds of forest is cleared by impoverished people in search of shelter and food.

“World Growth encourages the Commission to continue to make the renewable energy strategy workable. The Directive adopted by the European Parliament still restricts entry into Europe of sustainable and carbon-friendly biofuels. These biofuels not only reduce Europe’s carbon footprint, they reduce poverty in developing countries. The measure is also unlikely to survive challenge in the WTO unless it is modified.

“Last week’s leaked government documents validate research released by World Growth over the past year. Take one example. Palm oil uses a mere one-tenth of the land and just a third of the energy (eg fertilizer) required by European vegetable oils crops to produce the same quantity of oil. It is also effective at absorbing CO2 and has a wonderful record at reducing poverty.

“It’s encouraging to see the European Commission heading in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go.” Also visit http://www.worldgrwoth.org/

"A TASTE OF GREENMAIL"

Read the scam by the NGOs...a.k.a most badly behaved protest group'


Washington Times 'A Taste of 'Greenmail' (Alan Oxley)
February 4, 2010

If there was an award for "most badly behaved protest group," Rainforest Action Network (RAN) would be contender for the title. Now, the Berkeley-based group of activists is trying to pull U.S. business (as well as an Italian fashion house and an Indonesian paper manufacturer) down with them. Americans will need to brace themselves, because they're about to get a taste of greenmail.

Greenmail is a dubious but common practice in which large environmental groups threaten aggressive campaigns to publicly besmirch businesses in order to coerce them to alter successful business practices that don't fit with activists' agenda. This unscrupulous tactic is often at the front of RAN's playbook. Before coming stateside, the group campaigned in Europe - subjecting the fashion house Gucci to attacks over shopping bags purchased from a company that sourced its paper from Indonesia.

RAN accused the Indonesian paper manufacturer of everything from human rights violations to rainforest destruction. Even though reality didn't match these damning accusations, Gucci caved. Turning their attention stateside, these activists recently zeroed in on General Mills' headquarters - levying claims that the company's purchase of palm oil (a type of vegetable oil) from Cargill is destroying rainforests in Indonesia. RAN launched a similar attack on Cargill's own offices almost two years ago. Some Western companies - Whole Foods retailers in the U.S., Lush cosmetics in Britain, and Cadbury chocolate in New Zealand - have already succumbed to anti-palm oil campaigns and made a show by pulling the much-maligned commodity from their products.

Yet, there's reason to suspect that caving to satisfy these demands will not only hurt U.S. business and the workers who count on them, but will also increasing poverty of millions in the developing world. Consider the facts..: