JoJo Mehta, Executive Director of Stop Ecocide International
We speak with JoJo Mehta, Executive Director of Stop Ecocide International about her mission to make ecocide an international crime.
“Ecocide” means unlawful or wanton acts committed with the knowledge there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.
~ Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide, June 2021.
Ana Hinojosa, Executive Director, U.S. Customs & Border Protection
In December 2020 the United States Customs and Borders Protection (CBP) issued a withhold release order against Malaysian Palm Oil company Sime Darby following reports which reasonably indicated the presence of all 11 of the International Labour Organization’s forced labor indicators in Sime Darby Plantation’s production process.
CBP will now detain all palm oil and products containing palm oil produced by Sime Darby Plantation Berhad and its subsidiaries, joint ventures, and affiliated entities in Malaysia, at all U.S. ports of entry.
In December 2020 the United States Customs and Borders Protection (CBP) issued a withhold release order against Malaysian Palm Oil company Sime Darby following reports which reasonably indicates the presence of all 11 of the International Labour Organization’s forced labour indicators in Sime Darby Plantation’s production process.
Any person or organization that has reason to believe merchandise produced with the use of forced labor is being, or likely to be, imported into the U.S. can report detailed allegations by contacting CBP through the e-Allegations Online Trade Violation Reporting System or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT.
Interview with Andrea Crosta, Executive Director of Earth League International
Earth Live interviews Andrea Crosta, Executive Director of Earth League International - ELI on their work infiltrating and bringing to justice the ringleaders of a criminal network that stretched from Mexico to China and is responsible for pushing the endangered vaquita to the brink of extinction.
As the smallest whale in the world, the tiny vaquita has been caught up in the trade of the totoaba, another fish whose bladder is sought after for Chinese medicine and which has become the centre of an international conservation effort which featured in the Nat Geo documentary Sea of Shadows.
Andrea’s organization comprises 12 international teams of undercover investigators working across three continents. Comprising former FBI and CIA operatives his team are dedicating their lives to saving our planet's most endangered wildlife.
He is a founding member of the @Wildlife Justice Commission in the Hague, Netherlands, a member of the board of The Africa Conservancy Foundation, and the creator and project manager of WildLeaks, the world's first wildlife-crime whistleblower initiative. He is the co-author of the first investigation into ivory trafficking and terrorism - " Africa's White Gold of Jihad: al-Shabaab and Conflict Ivory" (2010-2012) - which changed forever the narrative around the issue of elephant poaching and ivory trafficking.
If you have experience in law enforcement and are interested in joining his team and/or would like to make a donation, please visit them
Interview with Ynzo Van Zanten, Chief Choco Evangelist, Tonys Chocolonely
Interview with Ynzo Van Zanten, Chief Choco Evangelist, Tony's Chocolonely
Tonys Chocolonely was established in 2012 by Teun (Tony) van de Keuken to make 100% slave-free chocolate the norm. They achieve this by creating awareness, leading by example, and inspiring others to change.
Ynzo takes us through his company's history and how Tony filmed himself eating a pile of popular branded chocolate bars, then turned himself into the Dutch authorities, demanding they prosecute him for aiding and abetting slave labour. While the Attorney General went on to dismiss the case, Tony's mission struck a chord and quickly established itself as the number one chocolate brand in the Netherlands.
Going on to sell over 46 million bars, paying over $4.3 million in premiums to 6624 farmers, they've begun expanding internationally.
He discusses how they source their chocolate through Barry Callebaut, the thinking behind their now-famous unevenly divided chocolate bars and the filing of an Amicus Brief to the United States Supreme Court in a recent landmark hearing, that saw six former child slaves taking on Nestlé and Cargill.
Netflix featured Tonys Chocolonely in the documentary Rotten: The Bitter Side of Chocolate
To help Ynzo and his team end slavery in the chocolate industry, please sign their petition: https://tonyschocolonely.com/petition
Interview with Bruce Hamilton, National Policy Advisor of the Sierra Club.
As a wildlife biologist and environmental activist, Bruce has been making "good trouble" for over 50 years. Joining the Sierra Club in 1977, he's served in several positions including Deputy Executive Director and led the development of their policies and programs, working tirelessly to protect and promote the natural world, wildlife, wild places, indigenous rights and climate justice.
He takes us through the history of the Sierra Club, from its 1892 founding in California to a national organization of 3.8 million members working to advance climate solutions to ensure everyone has access to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment.
Bruce discusses how different Presidents and government policies have influenced their membership and strategy over the years and takes us through the establishment of the Bears Ears National Monument and how effective campaigning has resulted in the major banks declining to finance oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge despite leases being offered by the Trump Administration.
In closing, he offers advice to young people seeking a career in conservation and recommends three books for anyone looking to become an effective environmental activist and campaigner.
To learn more about the work of the Sierra Club and to become a member, please visit: www.sierraclub.org
San Carlos Apache Tribe urging Rio Tinto to protect their sacred Oak Flat site
We speak with Roger Featherstone of the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition on the ongoing battle between the San Carlos Apache and Rio Tinto subsidiary Resolution Copper.
In December 2014, President Barack Obama signed the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which would transfer land sacred to the Apache in Arizona to Resolution Copper Mine [RCM], a joint venture owned by Rio Tinto and BHP.
In 2020, Rio Tinto destroyed Juukon Gorge, a 46000-year-old rock shelter in Australia. An act, that received international condemnation and a shareholder revolt that resulted in the ousting of then CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques and two other executives.
In response, Chairman of Rio Tinto, Simon Thompson released a statement saying:
"We are determined to ensure that the destruction of a heritage site of such exceptional archaeological and cultural significance never occurs again at a Rio Tinto operation,"
Despite being added to the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Forest Service in March 2016, Rio Tinto is pressing on with its plan to mine the site despite protests from the San Carlos Apache Tribe and Arizona Mining Reform Coalition and its members.
Interview with Rhett Butler, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of environmental news service Mongabay
From personal blog to global environmental news service with over 10 million monthly visitors, we speak with Conservation Hero and Mongabay.com Editor-in-Chief Rhett Butler.
Rhett founded Mongabay in 1999 with the mission of raising interest in and appreciation of wildlands and wildlife. For the first ten years, he operated Mongabay on his own, publishing thousands of stories and tens of thousands of photos.
With four bureaus and a network of around 800 correspondents in 70 countries, they pursue stories ranging from conventional news articles to deeply-reported investigative projects. In 2020 they launched in Hindi, increasing their reach to an additional 600 million people and 17% of the world's population.
From his childhood visits to jungles to breaking a story on United Cacao illegally clearing land in the Peruvian Amazon, Rhett shares his thoughts on President-Elect Bidens election win, the importance of environmental journalism, and offers advice for young people seeking a career in conservation.
To keep up to date with the latest conservation news and to make a donation, please visit them at Mongabay.org
Interview with Terry Collingsworth on his upcoming Supreme Court hearing with Nestlé and Cargill.
Terry focuses on litigating international human rights cases and leading evidence-gathering missions in countries that commit, allow or condone human rights abuses.
In 2005, Terry sued Nestlé and Cargill on behalf of six children who were trafficked, enslaved and forced to harvest cocoa for the cocoa industry. Despite, the Court of Appeals ruling twice that the case should go forward, the Supreme Court has agreed to review Nestle and Cargill’s request that corporations should be granted immunity under international law for human rights violations. The argument is set for December 1, 2020.
In 2019, Terry sued Apple, Tesla, Google, Dell and Microsoft under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act for the injury and death of 16 children in mines supplying cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Terry provides a brief history of the Alien Tort Statute of 1789, offers advice to corporations that may be at risk, and announces upcoming litigation against several cocoa processors and chocolate manufacturers.
You can support Terry's work and make a donation by visiting www.iradvocates.org
Interview with Etelle Higonnet Senior Campaign Director of Mighty Earth
Interview with Etelle Higonnet Senior Campaign Director of Mighty Earth
Working tirelessly on the frontlines of conservation and human rights issues, Etelle and her intrepid team take on the largest companies in the world, advocating for them to become better stewards of our planet and more mindful of their impact on worker welfare.
Speaking nine languages, Etelle has worked in some of the most dangerous countries in the world and is no stranger to having guns pulled on her as she looks out for our planet and the most vulnerable.
From the Harkin-Engle Protocol to taking on the chocolate, beef and palm oil industries, she talks about the power and importance of whistleblowers, providing valuable insights into what it takes to get companies to change their ways and advice for the role we can play as individual consumers and voters.
Etelle exemplifies what it means to be a Conservation Hero and is a role model to us all, especially young women aspiring for a career in conservation and human rights.
Mighty Earth issues notice of litigation against French supermarket chain Casino Groupe
Mighty Earth issues notice of litigation against French supermarket chain Casino Groupe.
Casino is being challenged under France’s new groundbreaking Duty of Vigilance Law Article L. 225-102-4.-I and II of the Commercial Code, for its purchasing of beef from JBS, a Brazilian company associated with widespread deforestation, environmental damage, cattle laundering, illegal land grabbing and human rights abuses.
It’s hoped that Casino Supermarchés a reputable market leader will use its buying power and dominant position to become a lever of change and help JBS the worlds largest supplier of beef to change its ways.
Interview with Michael O'Brien-Oneyka on the impact of COVID-19 on protected areas in Kenya, Africa.
Earth Live is joined by Michael O'Brien-Oneyka, Senior Vice-President, Africa Field Division of Conservation International to discuss the impact COVID-19 is having on communities and protected areas in Kenya, Africa.
To learn more about the work of CI please visit: www.conservation.org/africa
Earth Live is an independent media network featuring interviews with people and organisations working on the frontlines of conservation.
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Interview with Peter Knights CEO of WildAid
Earth Live interviews conservation hero Peter Knights CEO of WildAid.
Peter co-founded WildAid in 2000 to reduce wildlife trafficking. Through the support of celebrities like Jackie Chan, Prince William and David Beckham they deliver high-impact campaigns, designed to reduce demand throughout Asia and help protect endangered species from poaching and illegal fishing.
