International Protests Against Mitsubishi's Forest Conduct
10/22/96
OVERVIEW, SOURCE & COMMENTARY by EE
Rainforest Action Network and affiliated groups keep up the pressure in their
long running boycott of Mitsubishi corporation of Japan. Mitsubishi is one of
the largest markets for industrially harvested rainforest and other timbers, as
well as being otherwise socially irresponsible. Boycott Mitsubishi.
g.b.
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/** rainfor.genera: 150.0 **/
** Topic: International protests against Mitsubishi **
** Written 8:41 AM Oct 16, 1996 by ranmedia@ran.org in cdp:rainfor.genera **
RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK
For Immediate Release, October 16, 1996
Press Contact:
Mark Westlund Donna Parker
ACTIVISTS AROUND THE WORLD VIE TO STOP
MITSUBISHI'S DESTRUCTION OF RAINFORESTS
CIVIL-DISOBEDIENCE, DEMONSTRATIONS IN FIVE U.S. CITIES
ARE PART OF INTERNATIONAL DAY-OF-PROTEST
In an internationally coordinated show of force, activists from Rainforest
Action Network and like-minded groups around the world conducted
demonstrations and civil-disobedience at Mitsubishi-owned businesses in
five major U.S. cities, as well as in Japan and Australia. Whether it's
supporting forced labor and the military junta in Burma, destroying vast
regions of the world's rainforest, or practicing institutional sexual
harrassment, Mitsubishi's the one! Mitsubishi Corporation's activities
lay waste to thousands of square miles of forest, and contribute to the
destruction of native rainforest cultures.
"Today's international protest against Mitsubishi shows beyond a doubt
that there is no safe harbor for companies that plunder the environment
and promote human rights abuses," said Donna Parker, Mitsubishi Boycott
acting director: "Mitsubishi is the world's largest company and could lead
the world towards a sustainable future. Instead, Mitsubishi continues to
profit from death and destruction. Until Mitsubishi makes a U-turn, we
will keep the pressure on full force."
In San Francisco, two activists climbed the Mitsubishi-owned Union Bank of
California building facade, and hung a 900-square-foot banner across the
colonnade. On the ground, a demonstration featuring a giant inflatable
chain saw attracted hundreds of office-worker spectators. Police SWAT
team-members removed the climbers after nearly five hours. Mitsubishi
Bank and its domestic holdings fund environmentally destructive projects
around the world.
In Portland, Oregon, two activists rappelled from the 25th floor of Key
Bank Tower, which houses Mitsubishi International and Bank of
Tokyo-Mitsubishi offices, and unfurled a huge banner, reading: Stop
corporate forest destruction-boycott Mitsubishi. Another three activists
blockaded the lobby by locking themselves to concrete-filled steel drums.
As of 12:30 PM, six activits had been arrested. Mitsubishi Corporation is
the largest purchaser of whole logs from the Pacific Northwest, causing
the loss of thousands of U.S. jobs.
In Tokyo, activists from Burma Relief-Japan gathered in front of
Mitsubishi Corporation headquarters, handing out fliers documenting the
company's activities in Burma to employees, passers-by, and to the Foreign
Correspondents Club.
Demonstrations also took place in Tasmania and New Castle West, Australia,
and in Tucson, Boulder, and Los Angeles.
Rainforests are being destroyed at an accelerating pace around the world,
eliminating vast numbers of plant and animal species, and devastating the
traditional lands and cultures of the people who live there. Every year,
an area of rainforest the size of Italy is destroyed, and much of that
destruction derives from exploitation by multinational corporations.
Worldwide, Mitsubishi Corporation has timber and mining operations
stretching from the U.S. to Malaysia and Brazil. Mitsubishi Corporation's
Alberta Pacific Chlorine Bleach Kraft mill is the largest wood pulp
processor in the world, running around the clock to process 300 truckloads
of trees a day. The Mitsubishi-owned Canadian Chopsticks Manufacturing
Company throws away 85% of the trees it cuts down to produce disposable
utensils because the wood is not white enough.
Rainforest Action Network works to protect the Earth's rainforests and
support the rights of their inhabitants through education, grassroots
organizing and non-violent, direct action.