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MPs were challenged to take action to save the orang-utan at a parliamentary reception on 2 May.
Friends of the Earth along with Norman Baker MP welcomed special guest Joanna Lumley to speak about her personal experiences.
The reception highlighted how UK demand for palm oil is destroying rainforest in South East Asia and threatening the survival of the orang-utan.
Ms Lumley spoke vividly about the changes she has experienced in recent visits compared to what she remembers as a child.
MPs also heard powerful speeches from:
Demand for palm oil is threatening the survival of these fantastic creatures and it is shocking that our demand for cheap food and other products is behind this.
The reception linked Friends of the Earth's work on palm oil with it's work on the UK Company Law Reform Bill.
The Company Law Reform Bill represents a great opportunity for MPs to make sure UK companies clean up their act.
MPs were urged to make changes to the Company Law Reform Bill, to make UK companies responsible for the environmental impacts of their operations.
Watch movie >
2 mins (2.5MB - MPEG format)
Palm oil, the survival or the orang-utan and UK company law reform
(PDF† 56K) May 2006
This briefing explains why the failure of hundreds of UK companies to ensure that they do not buy palm oil from destructive sources is a classic example of how the voluntary approach to corporate responsibility has failed, and why the Company Law Reform Bill must be strengthened.
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