Late February 2009. I was sitting in a big ballroom facing two large screen showing overly-repeated arguments on oil palm environmental impacts. All this on the screen and what came out from the speakers, made me realized that this is no longer a green/orangutan battle, but trade battle. Orangutan, climate change, deforestation – yes, they are problems. But the noise is too much compared to the actual development on the ground. I thought: has fear overcomes reason?
The intention of many NGOs to me is also questionable, given the interest of their sponsors or donors. In recent report, it was revealed that European NGOs (who are the ultimate donors or masters of many local green NGOs) received significant funding from their government. Is EU funding to their NGOs legal? Yes, it is. In fact it is not anyone’s business to talk about it.
What bother many in this region is when these European NGOs involve in other country’s business in the name of global warming and environmental protection of the earth. The irony is that many local NGOs are not aware they are being used as proxy. Or operator.
This, and other discrepancies in the global trade, convinced me that most countries care less about the environment. EU and many developed countries are more concerned of their survival as rich nations. Sad that, in the end, mercantilism is not dead at all. If in the past nations collect bullion, now they collect forex reserve and influence.***
Originally published on luqyantamanni.wordpress.com, February 23, 2010: view original.
