Last week we were thrilled to see that the European Union passed new legislation to stop the entrance of illegal wood into European nations. The United States passed a similar ban in 2008 and was the first country in the world to do so.
This is exciting because it’s a huge step in the battle against logging and deforestation, which cause mass extinction of rare species, global carbon emissions, and the disappearance and exploitation of indigenous cultures in rain forests all over the world.
At Rain Tees we see first hand the harm that illegal logging can do while also recognizing that the loggers themselves are often just trying to feed their families after oil companies have destroyed or polluted their land and local wildlife.
It’s a tricky situation, but the most important thing to remember is that its our responsibility as consumers to know where our paper and wood products originate.
To find out more visit Saving the Rainforest 101.
Oil pipelines (pictured above) run through the Amazon in Ecuador for hundreds of miles. Sadly leaks, mass contamination and illegal drilling practices are common.
By
Beth Doane
Rain Tees Founder and Designer