http://understory.ran.org The Understory is the official blog of Rainforest Action Network. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:00:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The Barcelona Climate Talks are wrapping up, and the world is disappointed. We have seen two vocal protests in the first hour inside the closing plenary and expressions of frustration and disappointment from one developing country after another. The Alliance of Small Island States says simply: ‘the level of ambition ... http://understory.ran.org/2009/11/06/the-u-s-holds-the-world-hostage-in-barcelona/ Last week, Massey Energy began dynamiting Coal River Mountain in West Virginia—the site of a proposed 328-megawatt wind farm—to prepare for a massive mountaintop removal coal mining operation. Today, more than half a million people have received emails from organizations across the nation, including Rainforest Action Network, Appalachian Voices, 350.0rg and ... http://understory.ran.org/2009/11/05/join-thousands-calling-on-obama-administration-to-save-coal-river-mountain/ Cross posted from Alternet Last week, blasting began on Coal River Mountain in West Virginia. This is a part of the country where dynamite routinely goes off -- turning the region's historic mountain ranges into dust for the tiny coal seams that lie beneath their surface. But Coal River Mountain is special, ... http://understory.ran.org/2009/11/05/were-literally-blowing-up-our-clean-energy-future/ The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was founded to create a path towards sustainability in the palm oil industry. A voluntary process, oil palm producers, traders, buyers, and NGO’s have joined up to find an alternative to the massive forest destruction, social conflict, and climate chaos the booming palm ... http://understory.ran.org/2009/11/05/rspo-dispatch-cargills-message-to-local-communities-we-have-no-time-for-you/ Execs from Arch Coal and Peabody recently joined the board of Washington University in St. Louis and then had a conf on campus called “America's Energy Future” Students and community activists had something to say about that (including folks from St. Louis Rising Tide). http://understory.ran.org/2009/11/04/flashmob-at-americas-energy-future-conference-at-washington-university-in-st-louis/ As I have written about on Understory before, Sumatra's Bukit Tigapuluh is one of the last great forests of the world. It's breathtaking biodiversity, high conservation importance, and value to three indigenous cultures withstanding, Sinar Mas -Indonesia's largest producer of palm oil and owner of Asia Pulp and Paper- is ... http://understory.ran.org/2009/11/04/rspo-to-sinar-mas-and-app-no-more-clearing-at-bukit-tigapuluh/ Contrary to a number of sensationalist media reports leading up to this year’s Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil, the RSPO is not breaking up. At the core of the controversy has been the effort to include a commitment by all members of the RSPO to reduce their Green House Gas ... http://understory.ran.org/2009/11/03/rspo-dispatch-tough-times-but-it-is-still-intact/ I never expected Indonesian rainforest protection to become "fashionable," per se. Yet, with Gucci Group's announcement that it will eliminate all paper made from Indonesian rainforests and plantations and by controversial suppliers like Asia Pulp and Paper, it has become just that. Today Gucci Group, the prestigious conglomerate of fashion and ... http://understory.ran.org/2009/11/03/gucci-group-sets-indonesian-rainforest-protection-as-fall-fashion-trend/ Cross posted from Grist African negotiators at the U.N. climate talks in Barcelona just refused to continue formal discussions about all other issues until wealthy countries live up to their legal and moral responsibility to commit to deep emissions reductions. Rich countries (also called “Annex 1 countries”) have ground negotiations to ... http://understory.ran.org/2009/11/03/rich-countries-halt-barcelona-climate-talks-with-inaction-africa-walks-out/ The RSPO is the world’s largest annual meeting of oil palm industry, environmentalists, human rights advocates, and, most importantly, community members. Today, I watched as a community member from Borneo stood up in front of oil palm producers, NGOs, and technocrats, identified himself as a victim of oil palm expansion, ... http://understory.ran.org/2009/11/02/rspo-dispatch-oil-palm-is-not-development/