2008

palm oil advert misleading

Friends of the Earth International has welcomed a ruling today by the UK advertising watchdog that describing palm oil as “sustainably produced” is false advertising.

Davos Elites Must Listen

Friends of the Earth International will urge world leaders on 26 January to listen to citizens from around the globe taking part in the 2008 'Day of Action' of the World Social Forum [1] to protest against the flawed corporate-driven globalisation model embodied by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

2008 Photo Competition Launch

Friends of the Earth International announces the launch today of its annual photo competition, which will gather photos from around the world on the theme of “Inspiration, Hope and Possibilities for a Better World.”

GM crops increase pesticides

A new report released on February 13th shows that planting genetically modified (GM) crops is causing an increased use of harmful pesticides in major biotech crop producing countries.

Green schemes for biofuel crops set to fail

Attempts to use certification schemes to reduce the widespread environmental and social problems caused by growing crops for fuels and animal feeds are bound to fail, states a new report released today by Friends of the Earth groups.

Photo Competition Winners Announced

The judges have made their choices for the 2008 Friends of the Earth International photo competition.

Koreans dont want gm crops

Friends of the Earth International and the Korean Federation of Environmental Movements issued today May 1st an urgent call for the South Korean government and food companies to respect the wish of the Korean people by keeping the country´s food supply free of Genetically Modified (GM) foods.

Development bank misleads on climate

Environmental and human rights groups branded today the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as a "leading world emitter of climate hypocrisy" for issuing calls for clean energy investments to fight global warming while extending massive funding support for dirty mega coal projects in Asia.

CORPORATIONS THREATEN BIOTECH TALKS

A last minute attempt by six biotech giants to undermine international negotiations on biotech crops was condemned today by environmental group Friends of the Earth International as a proposal to ‘privatise international law’.

European crimes face Latin American trial

Environmental and human rights violations committed by European companies in Latin America are being examined at a people's tribunal in Lima, Peru this week (13-16 May).

Banks Financing Agrofuels

Many major European banks are funding the rapid expansion of agrofuel production in Latin America, leading to large scale deforestation, increasing human right abuses and threatening food sovereignty, according to a new report released today.

Deforestation Threatens Biodiversity Efforts

The continuing failure to prevent catastrophic deforestation is hampering global efforts to reverse the loss of biodiversity and has become a major threat to forest-dependent people, warned Friends of the Earth International on ‘International Biodiversity Day’, 22 May.

Groups Oppose World Bank Climate Funds

BONN (GERMANY), June 5, 2008 – More than 121 groups released today a statement opposing the World Bank’s proposed ‘Climate Investment Funds’ to address climate change and its impacts. [1]

Biodiversity Plan of Inaction Condemned

BONN (GERMANY), May 30, 2008 -- Friends of the Earth International expressed its alarm at the failure of the latest United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity talks to take any meaningful steps against the dangerous loss of biological diversity.

G8 LEADERS URGED TO DUMP THE WORLD BANK'S CLIMATE INVESTMENT FUNDS

HOKKAIDO (JAPAN), July 4, 2008 - G8 leaders meeting in Hokkaido July 7-9 to tackle issues such as rising oil prices and global warming are being urged to dump the World Bank’s highly controversial ‘climate investment funds’.

G8 2008 futile rhetoric on climate

HOKKAIDO (JAPAN), July 8, 2008 - Reacting to the statement released by the G8 in Hokkaido, Friends of the Earth spokesperson Karen Orenstein said that G8 leaders spewed futile rhetoric that will do nothing to stop the toll that global warming is taking on people and the planet.

world bank casts its dark shadow over g8

HOKKAIDO (JAPAN), July 7, 2008 -- The World Bank is officially launching its "climate investment funds" backed by Japan, the US and the UK during the G8 meeting in Hokkaido, Japan, 7-9 July.

Land Grab Threat at UN Climate Talks

ACCRA (GHANA), 19 August 2008 – Delegates attending the United Nations climate talks in Accra on 21st – 27th August will focus on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD) but environmental campaigners are warning against the inclusion of forests in carbon markets.

Climate Talks End Amidst Fears Over Carbon Colonialism

ACCRA (GHANA) 27 August 2008 - The United Nations climate talks ending today and focused on 'Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries' risk moving towards 'carbon colonialism', Friends of the Earth International campaigners warned.

real price of agrofuels revealed

Brussels (Belgium) / Porto Alegre (Brazil) / Montevideo (Uruguay), 10 September 2008 -- The rapid development of agrofuels in Latin America looks set to increase big business profits but it is not benefiting local people, according to a new report released by Friends of the Earth International.

international day against monoculture tree plantations

Joint Release from World Rainforest Movement, Friends of the Earth International and Global Forest Coalition, 19 September 2008 -- Groups call for Action on 21 September: International Day Against Monoculture Tree Plantations

MALAYSIAN PALM OIL GREENWASH REPORT

PENANG (MALAYSIA) / BRUSSELS (BELGIUM), October 7, 2008 – Malaysian palm oil exported for use in food, biofuels and cosmetics is far from 'green' – contrary to claims by Malaysian palm oil producers – shows the new report “Malaysian Palm Oil: Green Gold or Green Wash?” released today by Friends of the Earth groups.

World Bank Climate Funds Under Fire

WASHINGTON, D.C. October 10, 2008 -- Two days before the World Bank's annual meetings, a coalition of watchdog and non-profit groups exposed World Bank lending for dirty projects and urged individual nations to refrain from supporting the World Bank’s new "Climate Investment Funds."

Climate change: ambition missing at upcoming U.N. talks

On 1-12 December 2008, the Polish city of Poznan will host crucial United Nations climate talks. The UN reported this week that greenhouse gas emissions in industrialised countries continue to rise, exposing their lack of ambition to seriously address the climate threat.

forest carbon trading exposed

On 1-12 December 2008, the Polish city of Poznań will host crucial United Nations climate talks amidst fears that dangerous forest carbon trading proposals will undermine the stated objectives of the negotiations, according to a new report issued today by Friends of the Earth International.

giant loophole in forest plans

A loophole in proposed schemes to tackle deforestation was exposed at the UN climate talks today.

un climate talks: clash on climate goal

There is a clash of climate goals over the 'shared vision' at the cop14 climate conference between rich and poor countries.