Friends of the Earth
Action Briefing June /July 1999
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Birmingham Friends of the Earth Action Briefing June /July 1999 |
On Saturday 10th April, a group of Birmingham FoE members held a garden party (complete with fake grass! [Sorry, no photographs! Ed.]) outside Argos on Priory Queensway in the city centre. Shoppers and bus passengers were bewildered at the sight of people relaxing on patio chairs and sipping orange juice in the midst of a busy city street.
A noisy, dusty spot just off the notorious ring road - not the nicest spot in the city centre. Had we all taken leave of our senses? - No. Our target was the Argos store, and our objective was to persuade people to sign our petition asking Argos to stop selling garden furniture made in Vietnam. This furniture is on sale at branches of Argos throughout the country, and when people buy it, they are unwittingly supporting injustice and environmental destruction in Cambodia and Vietnam.
The garden furniture in question is made from timber which is illegally felled in neighbouring Cambodia, and smuggled across the border into Vietnam to feed numerous factories. Despite Cambodia having banned exports of its timber in order to conserve its natural heritage, and to prevent an environmental disaster, the plunder of its rainforest is continuing at such a rate that within 5 years, none will be left. Native people who have relied on the forest for generations are being moved off their land by corrupt government military forces, to make way for the illegal logging. Forestry officials trying to protect the rainforest have been threatened by those operating the logging concessions, and some have even been murdered.
The logging is leaving a trail of destruction - there is no replanting, and it is a disaster for wildlife. There are many endangered species of animals which live in the rainforest such as the Kouprey (the 'forest ox' - the 'national animal' of Cambodia), the Javan Rhinoceros, and the Sun Bear, not to mention thousands of plant species and countless species living there which are as yet undiscovered.
We wanted to alert shoppers to the human and environmental tragedy associated with the production of garden furniture in Vietnam, and to make them aware of the more environmentally friendly sources of timber which are available. In particular, we tried to increase awareness of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation scheme. Shoppers can be assured that wooden products marked with the FSC logo are made only with timber from a sustainable source.
A label you can trust: Look out for the FSC logo (If you want to know more about the FSC scheme, you can contact them on (01686) 413 916. Or email fsc-uk@fsc-uk.demon.co.uk. They also have a website: www.fsc-uk.demon.co.uk
We presented the signed petition sheets to the store manager in Argos and made it clear to her that large numbers of people were very unhappy with what was happening in Vietnam and Cambodia, and felt that Argos should stop selling the Vietnamese garden furniture immediately.
Garden furniture made in Vietnam is now also on sale at most larger branches of Woolworth's. We shall be keeping up the pressure on retailers throughout the Summer, and we'll be on the look-out in case more furniture turns up at other retail outlets. The furniture on sale in Woolworth's and Argos consists of a set of folding chairs and a table, and is much cheaper than hardwood garden furniture made in other countries. All of the furniture carries false environmentally friendly claims, so it is quite possible that the suppliers to Woolworth's and Argos are being duped.
If you see any garden furniture marked 'Made in Vietnam' turning up in other shops or garden centres, please let us know (Tel:0121 632 6909, Fax 0121 643 3122 or email click below), and most importantly: don't buy it!