OrangeHairyApe.com - Save the Orangutan campaign, palm oil issues, rainforests Borneo and Sumatra

‘Jeremy and Amy’ book saddened me – let’s continue to help the Orangutan despite what he says!

sandra — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:56:55 +0000

I am realistic enough to know that the devastating rate palm oil companies pull down pristine rainforest in Borneo andSumatrais so fast and furious that there is little hope of stopping it in time to save the wildlife and Orangutan living in said forests. Yes, their habitat is being taken from under them every single day. Team that with the horrendous way the palm oil plantation workers sometimes treat the Orangutan to keep them off the plantations and the poachers who kill mother orang-utan for their babies for pets, and it gets worse and worse.

However, I do still believe that we should not give up hope. Giving up on the Orangutan while they are still alive and kicking around the world (albeit in sadly decreasing numbers) is not an option. Maybe we can save some Orangutan, maybe we can slow the rate their habitats are taken from them, maybe there are still things we can do. I am no expert, but the save the orang-utan charities are far from giving up.

So, when I bought and picked up Jeremy Keeling’s memoir ‘Jeremy and Amy’ I felt I was in for a treat, but on the very first page of his story, he tells us to give up on the Orangutan and put our efforts into other campaigns and animals. He says that many Orangutan in the wild are having a terrible life, but the multiple Orangutan I saw in the wild in Borneo seemed very happy and healthy to me – most likely much happier than those kept in cages in Monkey World! Realistic it might be, but I believe in never giving up hope, and his words could encourage thousands of people to give up. I find it very upsetting and was unable to read his whole book. Oh dear, what a world it is when someone like that publishes something like that to so many people.

Just remember, for all the good Monkey World does in saving primates, those primates are all kept in cages and will NEVER know freedom – is that right? It is very debateable. I certainly wouldn’t like it and since Orangutan are so similar to humans, perhaps they don’t either. In the wild they swing through the trees, utilising a few km of forest each! I applaud what people like Lone Droscher do – setting up rehabilitation centres in the rainforests of Borneo to save Orangutan and train and help them to get back into the wild and live a normal life. THAT is helping the Orangutan, let’s remember that.

I will never give up hope and I will not give up on the Orangutan!

Sandra

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Waitrose orang-utan support promise, WWF say they kept it!

sandra — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:37:29 +0000

How pleased I was to see the article in the Waitrose weekend paper dated 24^th November 2011. I picked it up because it has a large photo of a mother and baby Orangutan on the front cover. ‘How we kept our promise’ it says as the headline. Back in April 2010, Waitrose had pledged to use only ‘sustainable’ palm oil in their own brand products by the end of 2012 which is a very hard task, but not impossible. Other supermarkets, particularly Tesco, have little interest in helping the Orangutan, other wildlife or the environment with such a project, but they are fools as we are harming our own environment for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren by allowing palm oil plantation owners to rip up the pristine rainforests inIndonesia andMalaysia. Carbon dioxide is released every time a rainforest tree is uprooted or burnt down, and all the poor wildlife in the forest at the time of ‘slash and burn’ projects, doesn’t bare thinking about.

I digress! Back to Waitrose… Waitrose have succeeded so far in their promise by 68 per cent, so are well on target it would appear to be 100% by the end of 2012. Fingers crossed! WWF have awarded Waitrose 9/9 on the scorecard last week – a rating that takes into account the commitment and use of palm oil certified to the Roundtable on Sustainable palm oil (RSPO). Waitrose and other companies showing willing to this project and showing that it really can be done, will show up the rest of the lazy companies who couldn’t care less, apart from money, since unsustainable palm oil is cheap to purchase and used in so many things it makes my head spin. (please look around my site for more information as there’s lots on palm oil, sustainability, products palm oil is used in, save the Orangutan campaign and much more)

Back in May 2009 I received a letter (as I did from many manufacturers at that time) in reply to my own, asking Waitrose all about their palm oil useage and plans, and this is the reply http://notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/reply-from-waitrose-re-palm-oil

Of course, the RSPO do label unsustainable palm oil plantations ‘sustainable’ after a set number of years, as once they are in place for some time, they are sustainable, BUT many came about originally as ‘unsustainable’ and slash and burn efforts, so it’s by far, not all good news. It just means that the harm they all caused a few years back is now classed as ‘sustainable’ and we’ve got enough now thanks to make an effort. Greed all the way to be honest.

However, that has nothing to do with Waitrose, so well done Waitrose for setting a good standard to the manufacturing industry. If they can do it, so can everyone – every little helps and we must not give up! J

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Dudley zoo improves its Orangutan enclosure 2011

sandra — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:55:46 +0000

Dudley zoo new orangutan enclosure 2011

After my visit to Dudley Zoo in 2009 and my follow up with the Zoo to find out why the Orangutan enclosure was so poor, I am pleased to say that the Zoo has now had funding and is making some great changes. I received this information from them…

The photos show the finished extension of the indoor house and the outside viewing area. This phase was completed in May 2010. The Orangutans have settled in well and the indoor viewing has been received really well by visitors.

We are now in the process of drawing up plans for phase 3 to extend the outdoor enclosure.

We have had a good start to this year and are hoping the nice weather continues for the rest of the season. We will see some new animals arriving this year including; camels, black howler monkeys, critically endangered yellow breasted cappuchin monkeys and gelada baboons.

Thank you for your continued interest and support of Dudley Zoological Gardens.

More photos – please click on the photos below and use the back button in your internet browser to come back to this page…

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Orangutan Foundation and Indonesian Embassy evening in London July 2010

sandra — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:55:19 +0000

Orangutan foundation evening July 2010 Parahyangan choir

I very much enjoyed the Indonesian evening held by the Orangutan Foundation and the Indonesian Embassy on behalf of the Orangutan, held at Conway Hall, London, 14 July 2010.

It featured the award winning Indonesian Parahyangan Choir, who were already in the UK for the annual International Musical Festival in North Wales and I was astounded by their dance and song routines – simply an amazing array of colour, harmony and tune. The ethnic Balinese dancers also impressed with their beautiful display of their Country’s rhythmic moves. They also offered ‘samosa’ for our Indonesian cuisine experience. Tickets were £20 per person (£10 for students), which included food and drink.

The only issue I had was that the ‘delicious Indonesian cuisine’ was a simple snack and not very tasty and I guess I was expecting a meal for that time of the evening, but I was glad that less money was spent on food from the proceeds in any case.

To view these photos, please click on them and use the back button in your internet browser to come back to this page (more of the article below the photos)

The foundation were approached by the embassy to hold an event as they knew the choir
would be visiting the UK. The evening raised over £3,550 through tickets sales, the raffle (all prizes donated) and Orangutan Conservation Tour Draw. The Indonesian Embassy and Steppes Discovery very kindly sponsored the evening. The evening was a fundraiser and all proceeds will go towards the Orangutan Foundation projects. The evening was not about campaigning but about bringing together people to enjoy a night of Indonesian culture whilst
linking in orangutans and the forests.

When we told the people and the organisations who we work with in Indonesia that we were holding a joint event with the embassy they were very encouraging in their response and they felt pleased and honoured that the Embassy should ask an orangutan conservation organisation. Ultimately the fate of Indonesia’s forest and orangutans lie with the Indonesian people and we must do all we can to engage with as many people as possible. We feel this event served that purpose well.

After careful consideration we felt £20 (£10 concessions) was a fair price for the tickets especially in these uncertain economic times. We wanted the event to be open to as many people as possible. For some, £20 is a large sum of money especially if they are then asked to buy raffles tickets etc on top.

We are the UK representatives of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP). We work closely with them and with Paneco on various issues (including the Tripa Swamps). In our bi-annual newsletter, Red Ape, that goes out to all our members we always report on the work that SOCP are doing in Sumatra. In the last few years we have secured funding in the amount of £20,000 for their work. We have also just established an orangutan adoption programmes with them which will guarantee them an annual income from the Foundation.

I strongly campaign for the saviour of the Orangutan and pristine rainforest against palm oil disruption, especially of the ‘illegal’ or ‘non sustainable’ kind.

I have always supported the Orangutan Foundation and its efforts, together with all other organisations that support the Orangutan in many places in the World, and support them on my other websites.

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Orange for Orangutan day – Wednesday 10th November 2010

sandra — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:19:32 +0000

It’s Orange for Orangutan day on Wednesday 10^th November 2010. I know many organisations, charities and individuals are going to be running various fund raising activities and events, and if you know of any, or go to any, then please do get in touch with me and let me know all about it, so that I can post the info on this website.

Happy Orange Orangutan Day!

Sandra

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Join my Save the Orangutan Campaign

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:04:38 +0000

Hi to all my Orangutan campaign supporters and readers!

I just wanted to update you with progress of my Orangutan appeal, as you may have noticed that I have not been posting to this site recently. Well, this is because I have been working on my new dedicated website www.orangehairyape.com which will soon be full of all my up to date information and research. Although the main page is live, there has been some delay in getting the whole site done, but this will soon be available and I thought it best to wait to put all the new stuff on. This is great news, as although this website gets many thousands of visitors viewing and supporting the campaign, it will be even better when the site dedicated only to Orangutans and my palm oil campaign is live!

However, there is a lot more new info than that which I have outlined below!

I am continuously bringing awareness to the Orangutan appeal in many ways – most recently in my Essex Life interview which you can see by CLICKING HERE

Thanks to all those who have signed my petitions, which I will submit to the relevant people later this year. However, I am a little disappointed in the numbers – PLEASE tell your friends and family and ask them to sign them as we need more numbers To read about them, please CLICK HERE

Whilst visiting relatives in Australia, I have noticed the ingredients lists for many products also say ‘vegetable oil’ in many whilst sunflower oil, canola oil and other oils are listed seperately. This will most likely mean that, as with the UK, the products listing ‘vegetable oil’ do in fact contain vegetable oil. I am currently working on a small project to find out if this is true. But lets face it, if it is sunflower oil or other oils, apart from Palm oil, they usually list it seperately! I dont know about you, but I am getting sick of having to avoid all products containing vegetable oil, as they have palm oil in them, and the manufacturers cover this up! As consumers, we have the right to know what we are consuming – palm oil is almost always unsustainable and not good for our health. If you have not seen my Orangutan/palm oil campaign to date, please take a look around the site, as there is tonnes of information on how to help…. (If you have any information you would like to submit to me, just email me at info@notjustanessexgirl.com – whether about Australia, the UK or any other Country)

I have also been sent some news and information on the state of the Orangutans and enclosure in Kansas Zoo. As soon as I have investigated, I will update on this website too… (if you have any information on this Zoo or Orangutans in any other Zoos around the World, then I would love to hear from you – email me at info@notjustanessexgirl.com )

All for now, but I will be back soon with my updates on products with or without palm oil, my Australian research and of course news of the launch of the new Orangutan website.

Take care,

Sandra M Dean

ps keep campaigning as every little helps! If you get any new info please email me!

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My Orangutan Campaign update – UK, Australia, Kansas & new website!

sandra — Mon, 24 May 2010 06:52:11 +0000

Orangutan campaign Sandra Dean update UK

Hi to all my Orangutan campaign supporters and readers!

However, there is a lot more new info than that which I have outlined below!

I am continuously bringing awareness to the Orangutan appeal in many ways – most recently in my Essex Life interview which you can see by CLICKING HERE

All for now, but I will be back soon with my updates on products with or without palm oil, my Australian research and of course news of the launch of the new Orangutan website.

Take care,

Sandra M Dean

ps keep campaigning as every little helps! If you get any new info please email me!

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My Orangutan & Palm Oil Campaign

sandra — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:00:20 +0000

My Orangutan Campaign

The Orangutan is nearly 97% human (DNA) and they are such innocent and gentle primates – please help to save this species!

Firstly, don’t we all love the cute faces of the Orangutan’s we see at the Zoo’s and on TV in programmes such as Orangutan Diary? Well, behind all of that is a nightmare. The Orangutan will be extinct within 10 years if we do not do something. They originally lived across South East Asia, and now only survive on the Island of Borneo and also in Indonesian Sumatra, but their numbers are dwindling fast every single day, as they are being killed. There are many dangers for them, such as the pet trade and illegal use of them in shows in places like Thailand, but their main danger is ‘Palm oil’. Palm oil is something that, if we live and eat normally, we are probably consuming every single day. See what here: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/05/top-100-products-uk-which-contain-palm-oil

Palm oil is bad for our health, most of it’s production (from unsustainable sources) is harming our environment and harming the Orangutan. I have added lots of information to this site about these issues, my research of our biggest Supermarket and Consumer product Manufacturer culprits, who buy and supply us with this harmful oil, and what is being done around the World to help the Orangutan. There is a non-destructive supply of palm oil, called ‘sustainable palm oil’ and we need our suppliers to use it.

Last year (September 2008), I was lucky enough to see a Mother & baby Orangutan and a Male separately, in the Wild Rainforests of Sabah in Borneo. It was a wonderful experience to see them where they are supposed to be – swinging free! We also visited the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre and the Rasa Ria Rehabilitation centre, for Orphan Orangutan. It was great to see the work going into helping these gorgeous orphans, but one cannot forget that they are there because their Mother’s have been killed, and that is a sad fact. They need our help and desperately.

Read about my campaign here: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/orang-utan-appeal

Read about what I am doing to help the Orangutans here: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/orang-utan-appeal/what-i-am-doing

Read comments from some of my many Supporters for this campaign: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/orang-utan-appeal/my-supporters-for-orangutans

How to use this site – there’s lots of information for you!

The drop down lists at the top of the website contain all the main static information and the category posts on the left hand side are different – they contain all the up to date news, information and campaign updates, in date order.

There is also a search box so you can search a keyword too – maybe a manufacturer, a charity or anything else – there is probably more on this site than you think and I have most things covered!

About me

Read about me and what the site is all about here: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/about-us

How to help?

Sign my Petitions to help the Orangutans – this is the easiest thing you can do, and if nothing else, would be a great help and support – it will take just a few minutes of your time and is FREE - see them here: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/orang-utan-appeal/sign-my-petitions

See my letters sent here (you are welcome to use them): http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/05/letters-sent-on-14th-may-2009-regarding-palm-oil

And here are many of the replies: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/category/orangutan-appeal/palm-oil-campaign/palm-oil-lettersinfo-recieved

There is so much else you can do, including writing letters to your MP/MEP, Supermarkets and favourite foods/products, plus donations to the Charities – read more here: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/orang-utan-appeal/save-the-orangutans

ALSO, maybe you are already doing a campaign or research, or maybe you find out about products that contain sustainable palm oil or no palm oil at all – I need help to compile a list of ‘good products’ to add to my list here: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/06/what-to-buy-without-palm-oil-cosmeticfoodhousehold Please help me to add to this list….

There’s lots you can do – do not hesitate to contact me or comment at the bottom of any of the pages.

The Orangutan Charities can be seen here: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/orang-utan-appeal/charities-and-organisations

Visit Orangutan in Borneo – see my details: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/orang-utan-appeal/visit-orangutan-borneo

And you can see them in the UK and around the World – see here for more info on Zoo’s etc: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/orang-utan-appeal/orangutans-rest-of-the-world

The Orangutan is nearly 97% human (DNA) and they are such innocent and gentle primates – please help to save this species!

Read about the Orangutan here: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/orang-utan-appeal/about-orangutans and so much more from the Category listings on the left of this website…..

This is my stance on the subject: http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/07/boycott-palm-oil-until-we-have-answers

Thanks to all of you who read my site – I hope you enjoy it!

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Chokolit ‘Biting Back Bar’ by Louis Barnett – NO palm oil!

sandra — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:11:31 +0000

Chokolit launch Louis and David Shepherd

Chokolit ‘Biting Back Bar’ by Louis Barnett – NO palm oil!

I couldn’t quite believe it when I visited Chester Zoo recently, to see the Orangutan enclosure. Not only was I impressed with the work going on there, I found chocolate with ‘NO palm oil’ in it! Hooray! Then even better news came – you can now buy this delicious ‘real chocolate’ in Sainsburys!

Photo is of Chokolit founder, Louis and David Shepherd of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

It is called Chokolit ‘Biting Back Bar’ by Louis Barnett, and has a picture of an Orangutan on it. 10p from every bar goes to Charities helping animals.

My bar, being for the Orangutans, stated ‘5p from each bar will be donated to the Sumatran Orangutan society’ and ‘5p from each bar will be donated to Chester Zoo’s Bornean Orangutan conservation programme’.

And there’s more!

In researching this chocolate bar, the story behind it, and the list of other charities they are helping, is amazing, so I thought I would write about it.

If you go onto their website, you will find that it is true – there is a ‘no palm oil’ sign and a list of each chocolate bar in the series and which animals they help. Each animal bar also has its own flavour, so you have lots of choice too!

Gorilla – Belgian Dark chocolate with a hint of banana – 10p from each bar will be donated to the 2009 Durrell Conservation Trust.

Big Cats – Belgian Dark chocolate – 10p from each bar will be donated to the Big Cat Initiative

Black Rhino – Belgian Dark chocolate with a hint of coconut – 10p from each bar will be donated to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (http://www.davidshepherd.org )

Lion – Belgian Milk chocolate – 10p from each bar will be donated to the Big Cat Initiative

Great Plains of Africa – 70% Belgian Dark chocolate – 10p from each bar will be donated to the www.greatplainsconservation.com. Derek and Beverly Joubert, National Geographic Explorers in Residence.

Amur Leopard and Tiger – Milk chocolate crunch – 10p from each bar will be donated to the Zoological society of London who are helping Alta protect these magnificent but seriously endangered animals.

Tigers – Belgian White chocolate with a hint of lemon – 10p from each bar will be donated to Tiger Awareness

Elephant – Belgian Dark chocolate with chilli – 10p from each bar will be donated to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (http://www.davidshepherd.org )

Orangutan – Belgian dark chocolate with a hint of orange – 5p from each bar will be donated to the Sumatran orang-utan society and 5p from each bar will be donated to Chester zoo’s Bornean orang-utan conservation programme

Then there is the story of the Founder – I have taken this except from the homepage of his website: ‘A chocolate company with a difference established by Louis Barnett at just 12 years old, after leaving school due to being diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia, to follow a more hands-on and vocational education’.

He is now 17 years old, and is rather passionate about helping the planet and the wildlife in it. The factory is in Shropshire, England. You can read all about him on his website.

You can buy the chocolate on-line or Chokolit bars are currently available from these stockists:

Sainsburys, Chester Zoo, West Midlands Safari Park, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (Jersey Zoo), Dudley Zoo, Bristol Zoo, Monkey World, House of Sarunds, ZSL London Zoo, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Paradise Wildlife Park, Twycross Zoo, Exmoor Zoo & Longleat Safari Park.

It is great news that Sainsburys have started to sell this chocolate and you now have no excuse to eat chocolate containing palm oil. Pop down to Sainsburys and treat yourself to the real taste of chocolate!You can also buy it online at www.chokolit.co.uk

See other ‘safe’ items you can buy without palm oil in or that use sustainable palm oil CLICK HERE

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Boycott Palm oil until we have answers!

sandra — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:13:47 +0000

Boycott Palm oil until we have answers!

I have now, had nearly all the replies in from the Manufacturer’s and Supermarkets of the UK who are known to use palm oil in their products and are in the top 100 for sales. I have to say, the news is not very positive and most of them have omitted to answer the questions I posed, particularly in providing me with a list of their products containing palm oil and whether it is sustainable or unsustainable. There is a supply of sustainable palm oil out there and it is not being used, so there is no excuse!

List of products containing palm oil

Until they provide me with a list, as a consumer, I will refuse to use ANY of their products, where possible and instead use products from Companies that do not use palm oil at all. At the end of the day, I do not want to be consuming this unhealthy saturated fat anyway and lessen my chance of a heart attack.

Listing Palm oil as ‘Vegetable oil’

The law regarding ingredients listings, is an EU law, and allows manufacturer’s to list palm oil within the general term ‘vegetable oil’. OK, there is not enough pressure on the European Union to change that right now (although I am campaigning to get it changed as us consumers should be allowed to choose what we consume, and avoid palm oil if we wish – see my letter here http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/05/my-letter-to-department-for-business-enterprise-regulatory-reform ) but they could volunteer to do it. Waitrose and the Co-op now list palm oil specifically in all their own brand products, and Sainsbury’s are following suit, so why cant Tesco’s, Asda, Morrisons and all the others? Answer is, they could if they wanted to, but they simply do not want to – too much cost involved! As a consumer, I do not want to be munching on palm oil (a saturated fat) and I feel cheated that I have been eating it for so long in my breads, chocolate, biscuits, Wrigley’s chewing gum and loads more – I feel sick that we are not allowed to have the choice to see what has palm oil in it, because the law says we do not have to be given that choice. For now, if something says ‘vegetable oil’ in it’s ingredients, I am avoiding it. Admittedly, this is very difficult as so much contains it, but with some effort, I realise that my desire for biscuits is indirectly killing orangutan’s, so with that in mind, it is much easier to avoid!

RSPO – is it just a cover?

The RSPO appears to be doing good work, but I do feel that some of the members are just hiding behind their membership and saying that they are ‘doing their bit’ when they are actually, as a Company, doing very little. This does not mean everyone, but some of them, so do not take their membership as being the be all and end all – it is not. Ask them what exactly ‘they are doing themselves’ Any timescales for a changeover to sustainable palm oil and efforts to help the environmental issues. Do not let them all just say they are a member and leave it at that.

It’s all about time

Time is actually running out for the Orangutan’s and many other animals, such as the Sumatran Tiger. If deforestation for the planting of unsustainable palm oil plantations is not stopped, then the Orangutan will be extinct within around 10 years!

You will see that many Manufacturer’s, Supermarkets, and the RSPO itself do not have strict time scales that they commit to, to make the required changes (change to sustainable palm oil). This is no good – we want some promises and action before the Orangutan is extinct! We need them to tell us WHEN they are going to do something.

So, I shall be writing back to most of the Supermarkets and Manufacturer’s who have now replied, and asking them for the more specific answers laid out above this time. I will keep you posted!

Greed

It is essentially all about greed……..

1. Our consumer greed for tasty and cheap products. (do we really need to eat biscuits and long life bread anyway?)

2. The Manufacturer’s greed for selling in bulk, their budget products, using palm oil as a cheap bulking agent.

3. The Palm oil Companies greed for selling quickly grown, cheaply produced, lucrative oil to sell.

Although we are in a time of credit crunch, we can all make an effort to some degree – next time you go shopping, keep in mind all the products containing it, and try to avoid them.

See what else I have been doing to save the Orangutan here

Click here to see the letters I sent to the Government, Manufacturer’s and Supermarkets

Click here to see the top 100 products and which contain palm oil

Click here to see the replies from those Supermarkets and Manufacturers about their palm oil useage

Click here to see information about palm oil dangers – scroll through

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