A Letter to Global Response from the Nigerian Rainforest: `Without
You, We Could Not Have Gone This Far.'
8/18/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: A Letter to Global Response from the Nigerian Rainforest:
`Without You, We Could Not Have Gone This Far.'
Source: Global Response
http://www.globalresponse.org
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: August 18, 1999
Reference: GR Action #3/96 Stop Rainforest Destruction / Nigeria
In September 1996, the NGO Coalition for the Environment in Nigeria
asked for international support to stop illegal logging in and near
Cross River National Park - the last lowland rainforest in West
Africa. Global Response sent letters to the director of Nigeria's
Federal Environmental Protection Agency, expressing opposition to
planned logging in the Cross River National Park by WEMPCO and other
companies, and requesting compliance with the environmental impact
assessment laws of Nigeria.
In a Follow-up Action in March 1997, we asked the European Commission
and the Overseas Development Administration (England) to provide
funding for non-governmental organizations and communities in Cross
River State, to develop sustainable economic alternatives to logging.
We just received a packet of information from Mr. Odigha Odigha,
executive director of the NGO Coalition for the Environment. These
are excerpts from his letter (edited for clarity):
Dear Global Response,
Please forgive me for the cut in communications during the military
era. The military became very uncomfortable with our activities. Our
organization was targeted for elimination in 1997. We felt it was
safer to work consistently and silently.
The campaign to save the rainforest is achieving some success. We
attribute this positive development to your response.
In response to the international pressure to "stop WEMPCO", a
Presidential Committee was set up to look into the matter. Although
the Committee's report did not outrightly stop/close down WEMPCO's
factory, we are happy that the presidency is now sufficiently
informed about the issue. Thus we are very hopeful that very soon
WEMPCO will pack and leave the Cross River Rainforest for good.
This hope has been further strengthened by the decision of the
Executive Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, to suspend
all forest concessions granted to logging companies like WEMPCO, and
individuals.
There is also a moratorium on logging in the state. Furthermore, the
governor has initiated moves for the formation of a Conservation
Commission.
All these are a response to the requests made by the NGO Coalition
for the Environment and other non-governmental organizations to His
Excellency. We are grateful to the entire environmental groups and
individuals all over the world who have assisted us to maintain
pressure in this campaign.
Now we have forwarded to the presidency and National Assembly our
request for outright cancellation of commercial logging and absolute
conservation of Cross River State forests. Intensive and sustained
pressure needs to be brought on (all levels of government), to ensure
that they give due attention to the matter. This is necessary since
loggers, particularly WEMPCO, are lobbying for the lifting of the ban
on logging activities in the State.
Without you, we could not have gone this far. Now we are encouraged
to step up our pressure to ensure that commercial logging is stopped
in Cross River State.
The actions we require to world to take include:
A letter commending the Governor of Cross River State for his
decisions to suspend all forest concessions in the State, place a
moratorium on all logging activities in the State, and recommend the
creation of a Conservation Commission.
Signed: Odigha Odigha
Executive Director
NGO Coalition for the Environment
FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUESTED
Please write a very polite letter to the Governor of Cross River
State.
( Commend him for his decisions to suspend all forest concessions in
the State, place a moratorium on all logging activities in the State,
and recommend the creation of a Conservation Commission.
( Ask him to support the NGO Coalition for the Environment's campaign
to prohibit all commercial logging in Cross River State, and to give
the State's forests permanent and effective protection.
( Assure him that the world community will forever remember and
appreciate these critical decisions to preserve the precious
biodiversity, health and beauty of our planet.
Send your letter to: Mr. Donald Duke
Executive Governor of Cross River State
Office of the Governor
P.M.B. 1070
Calabar, Cross River State
Nigeria
REMEMBER: POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT IS THE BEST MOTIVATION !! IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR MR. DUKE TO HEAR FROM US!!
GLOBAL RESPONSE is an international letter-writing network of
environmental activists. In partnership with indigenous,
environmentalist and peace and justice organizations around the
world, GLOBAL RESPONSE develops "Actions" that describe specific,
urgent threats to the environment; each "Action" asks members to
write personal letters to individuals in the corporations,
governments or international organizations that have the power and
responsibility to take corrective action. GR also issues "Young
Environmentalists' Actions" and "Eco-Club Actions" designed to
educate and motivate elementary and high school students to practice
earth stewardship.
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