Palm Oil Detectives

2024-11-23 14:38:00

Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus

Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus

Vulnerable

Extant (resident)

India; Nepal; Sri Lanka

Extinct

Bangladesh

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The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), with its distinctive “Y” or “V” shaped chest patch and shaggy fur, is a unique bear native to the Indian subcontinent. Once exploited as dancing bears by the Kalandar tribe, this phase of history is thankfully now over. They now roam across tropical forests and savannahs while snuffling through termite mounds and sucking up ants and honey. Tragically, these bears face severe threats from palm oil deforestation, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. You can fight for their survival by saying no to palm oil. Use your wallet as a weapon to make a difference! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

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Sloth #bears are nurturing parents with shaggy fur and unique chest markings. Living throughout #India they’re now #vulnerable from #poaching and #palmoil #deforestation Help them survive each time you shop #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7PU

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Once exploited as ‘dancing bears’, Sloth #Bears of #India are now vulnerable from #palmoil #deforestation, poaching and human persecution. You can fight for them by using your wallet #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7PU

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https://youtu.be/qSK2T-YybDk

Appearance & Behaviour

The Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus is native to the Indian subcontinent. They are distinctive for their long, shaggy fur which gives them a dishevelled appearance; along with unique “Y” or “V” shaped chest patches that are akin to fingerprints. They have large, sickle-shaped claws and a protruding lower lip, perfectly adapted for their termite-hunting lifestyle. They are medium-sized bears with males averaging between 80-145 kg and females between 55-105 kg. Known for their slow, shambling walk and loud snuffling sounds, they are often encountered in pairs, with males being gentle with their cubs.

• Specialised for eating insects: Their long lower lip and palate help them efficiently suck up insects.
• A keen nose for sweets: Exceptionally fond of honey and jackfruit, they regurgitate these and other delicacies for their cubs.
• Tragic ‘Dancing Bear’ legacy now thankfully over: Once used as dancing bears by the Kalandar tribe, this horrific practice has been largely eradicated through concerted rescue efforts by Wildlife SOS, International Animal Rescue, and Free the Bears .

Support the conservation and protection of these bears by refusing to buy products sourced from illegal wildlife trade or deforested areas. Fight for their future with mindful shopping practices and help them by being vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket!

Threats

• Habitat Degradation and Deforestation: Human activity, including logging and agriculture, severely reduces their habitat.
• Human Encroachment: Growing populations of these bears lead to increased conflict with humans, as they search for food in human settlements.
• Illegal Wildlife Trade: Despite being protected by law, poaching continues for their body parts.

Conservation groups work to protect their future by safeguarding forests and offering alternative livelihoods to those who once exploited these animals. You can help them! Use your wallet as a weapon, ensure you do not buy bear or animal related wildlife products and boycott palm oil in the supermarket #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Habitat

Their primary habitats include tropical forests, savannahs, and grasslands across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. They prefer lowland areas below 1,500 m in India and 300 m in Sri Lanka. Sadly, they are extinct in Bangladesh.

Diet

Sloth bears have a highly specialised diet focused on ants, termites, and honey. They also consume a variety of fruits, particularly jackfruit and the petals of mowha trees. They use their long sickle-shaped claws to break open termite mounds and then suck up the insects.

Mating and breeding

Sloth bears breed during the spring and early summer, giving birth in caves or under boulders at the start of winter. Cubs are born blind and ride on their mother’s back until they reach a third of her size. Litters typically include 1-2 cubs, sometimes up to three.

Support Indian Sloth Bears by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

Free the Bears. (n.d.). India’s Sloth Bears. https://freethebears.org/pages/indian-sloth-bears

IUCN. (n.d.). Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/13143/166519315#threats

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Sloth bear. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloth_bear

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How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• WordPress
• YouTube
• Mail
• Mastodon

Sign Up

2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.

Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez in His Own Words

Read more

Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

Read more

Anthropologist and author of ‘In the Shadow of the Palms’ Dr Sophie Chao: In Her Own Words

Read more

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen: In His Own Words

Read more

The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

Read more

How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

Read more

3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.

https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20

https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20

https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20

4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.

5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here

Pledge your support

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Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Global
South America
S.E. Asia
India
Africa
West Papua & PNG

Nicobar Long-Tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosa

Keep reading

Phayre’s Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus phayrei

Keep reading

Giant Pangolin Smutsia gigantea

Keep reading

Solomon Islands skink Corucia zebrata

Keep reading

Andean Mountain Cat Leopardus jacobita

Keep reading

Irrawaddy Dolphin Orcaella brevirostris

Keep reading

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Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing

Read more about RSPO greenwashing

Lying
Fake labels
Indigenous Land-grabbing
Human rights abuses
Deforestation
Human health hazards

A 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)

Read more

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#animals #Bear #bears #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #deforestation #ForgottenAnimals #hunting #India #Mammal #Nepal #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poaching #SlothBearMelursusUrsinus #SriLanka #vulnerable #VulnerableSpecies

Palm Oil Detectives | Auckland

Palm Oil Detectives, Auckland, New Zealand. 609 likes · 11 talking about this. A collective of like-minded artists, writers, photographers, musicians and wildlife conservationists who share and...

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Palm Oil Detectives

2024-11-11 14:50:00

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For decades, the palm oil industry, backed by the RSPO, has misled consumers with the false promise of “sustainable” palm oil. Behind this green façade lies a brutal reality of deforestation, human rights abuses, and the destruction of endangered species’ habitats. Dozens of investigations from many different industry watchdogs have exposes the RSPO’s certification as a sham, enabling continued environmental devastation under the guise of sustainability.

However it’s not only the palm oil industry that is an environmental liability, gold mining and meat deforestation also deserves to be strongly condemned for its ongoing ecocide. Read on to discover the examples of greenwashing deception from these industries, so that you don’t fall for their corporate greenwashing. Protect our planet and all human and non-human beings by refusing to support these lies—#Boycottpalmoil #BoycottGold #BoycottMeat and #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.

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For 30 yrs, @RSPO_tweets have promised #palmoil free from #deforestation, #humanrights abuses. This has proven to be a multi-stakeholder lie #RT2024. Don’t buy the the #greenwashing instead #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife #RT2024 @palmoildetect 🪔🌴🚫 https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7Sp

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Behind #RSPO’s certified “sustainable” #palmoil lies a harsh reality of #deforestation and #humanrights abuses 🔥🌳🌴 ⛔️connected to all #supplychain members. “Sustainable” palm oil is a lie, make sure you #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife #RT2024 https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7Sp

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What You Can Do About Corporate Deception and Greenwashing Hypocrisy

Corporate hypocrisy is a masterclass in deceit, where companies promote their so-called social responsibility, while their actions tell a completely different story. This chasm between sparkling company promises and grim reality erodes the trust of citizens and shatters the ethical foundations of our communities.

Take JBS, a meat processing giant that pledged to fight deforestation but was caught sourcing cattle from illegally deforested Amazon land. Or Cartier, a luxury brand that prides itself on ethical sourcing yet was found using conflict gold and advertising their products using indigenous Amazonian peoples they violently dispossessed. Then there’s IOI, a palm oil producer boasting about their “sustainability” while contributing to massive environmental destruction. Such brazen acts of deception ignite public outrage, often sparking more public discontent that the original acts of deception.

The Anatomy of Corporate Deception

Corporate hypocrisy involves making grand moral claims, failing to meet those claims, deceiving stakeholders, and profiting from this deceit. Industries like tobacco and palm oil are notorious for such behaviour. Despite pledging not to target young people, tobacco companies continued to do so. Similarly, palm oil producer IOI violated the zero-burning policy they helped establish, leading to significant public backlash and lost business from major companies like Unilever (7).

Unmasking Corporate Hypocrisy: An Experiment

An 2020 experiment by German researchers tested whether people view corporate hypocrisy as harshly as individual hypocrisy. Participants read scenarios involving private individuals, managers, and firms, all behaving hypocritically. Results showed that both corporate and individual hypocrisies are condemned strongly, with corporations judged more harshly due to perceived greed and lack of empathy (7).

Palm Oil Industry: Repeated Greenwashing and Hypocrisy

Greenwashing is a deceptive practice where companies falsely portray their products as environmentally friendly. The palm oil industry has been notorious for this, particularly under the guise of “sustainable” palm oil certified by the RSPO. Every global supermarket brand has been implicated in this greenwashing. They claim adherence to “sustainable” practices, while concurrently engaging in environmentally destructive activities that result in violent land-grabbing, human rights abuses, ecocide and putting at-risk species closer to extinction .

In Guatemala, despite RSPO certification, palm oil deforestation continues at alarming rates, harming local ecosystems and communities. A 2023 research paper from the University of Michigan highlighted that certifying products as sustainable does not necessarily prevent environmental destruction (5, 9).

IOI: A Tale of Broken Promises

In 2004, IOI, a major Malaysian palm oil producer, co-founded the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to champion sustainable palm oil production. A key aspect of their commitment was a “zero-burning policy” aimed at preventing deforestation. However, IOI’s actions starkly contradicted their pledges. NGOs like Milieudefensie and Friends of the Earth Europe accused IOI of clearing rainforests in Indonesia, with aerial images and local reports providing irrefutable evidence (7).

In 2015, the sustainability advisor Aidenvironment filed a formal complaint, leading to IOI’s suspension from the RSPO in 2016. This suspension was a significant blow, resulting in financial losses as major companies like Unilever, Kellogg, and Mars severed ties. Despite eventually meeting the RSPO’s conditions and being reinstated, IOI deserved the resulting damage to their reputation. Their blatant disregard for the zero-burning policy they helped establish highlighted their hypocrisy and undermined their credibility as a promoter of sustainable practices (7).
Guaranteeing Ecocide: The Green Lie of Palm Oil Certification

More Greenwashing in the Palm Oil Industry

Unilever and RSPO Certification: Unilever, a major player in the palm oil market, has faced criticism for promoting its use of RSPO-certified palm oil as sustainable. Investigations revealed that despite these claims, Unilever sourced palm oil from suppliers involved in deforestation and habitat destruction. The RSPO certification itself has been criticised for weak enforcement and allowing members to continue harmful practices under the “sustainable” label, (6).

Nestlé and “No Deforestation” Pledge: Nestlé made a high-profile pledge to achieve zero deforestation by 2020, claiming its palm oil would no longer contribute to forest loss. However, reports surfaced showing that Nestlé’s suppliers were still involved in deforestation, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. This discrepancy between Nestlé’s public commitments and actual practices highlights the extent of greenwashing in the palm oil industry, (6).

PepsiCo and Supplier Controversies: PepsiCo has also been implicated in greenwashing. While the company advertises its commitment to sourcing “sustainable” RSPO palm oil, it has been linked to suppliers violating human rights and environmental laws over many years. Investigations found that these suppliers were involved in illegal land clearing and exploitation of indigenous communities, (6).

JBS: The Beef Industry’s Hypocritical Greenwashing

JBS, the world’s largest beef producer, has been sued by Attorney General Letitia James for misrepresenting their products as sustainable. The lawsuit, filed in early 2024, highlights how JBS falsely marketed their beef as eco-friendly while engaging in practices harmful to the environment. This case mirrors the deceptive tactics seen in the palm oil industry, underscoring the widespread nature of corporate greenwashing, (2).

Cartier and the Gold Mining Scandal: A Glittering Facade

The luxury brand Cartier has also been implicated in corporate hypocrisy and greenwashing. Cartier used images of the Amazon Yanomami tribe, which has been devastated by illegal gold mining, in their marketing campaigns to promote their gold jewelry as ethically sourced, (4). Activist Barbara Crane Navarro highlighted the hypocrisy of this act, exposing how Cartier’s practices contribute to environmental destruction and the exploitation of indigenous communities, (4).

Boycotts: A Powerful Weapon Against Corporate Hypocrisy

Boycotts are a significant and powerful lever in calling corporate greed and hypocrisy to account. Research shows that boycotts can effectively influence corporate behaviour by impacting their profits and public image (3). For example, Nestlé faced a successful boycott campaign against deforestation for palm oil in its supply chain, leading to policy changes. Continuous public pressure through boycotts holds corporations accountable and drives them towards more transparent practices (8).

Studies indicate that boycotts can drive significant changes. For instance, according to John and Klein (2003), boycotts are effective in signaling consumer dissatisfaction and can lead to substantial financial impacts (8).

Participate in Creative and Collective Action Against Corporate Hypocrisy

Companies must align their actions with their public statements to maintain trust and avoid the severe public backlash that accompanies perceived deception. Consumers play a critical role by participating in boycotts and demanding transparency and accountability from corporations, (1, 8).

Collective action is not limited to boycotts. Creating art, writing, and music to expose corporate hypocrisy are powerful forms activism in themselves. This can amplify messages and mobilise public sentiment. These creative expressions resonate deeply with people, inspiring them to take action. The work of activist-artist Barbara Crane Navarro’s work in exposing Cartier’s hypocrisy through art and advocacy is a testament to the impact of combining creativity with activism, (1).

To further harness the power of collective action, individuals and organisations can participate in various forms of activism as described on the Palm Oil Detectives website. By engaging in creative forms of activism both online and in-person and by participating in consumer boycotts, we can all hold corporations accountable and drive meaningful change towards a more ethical world.

References

1. Creatives and Conservationists for Cool Creatures (2021). Palm Oil Detectives. Retrieved from Palm Oil Detectives
2. Attorney General James Sues World’s Largest Beef Producer for Misrepresenting Products as Sustainable. (2024). Retrieved from Attorney General NY Press Release
3. Boycotts: Do They Work and Why Participate in Them? (2021). Palm Oil Detectives. Retrieved from Palm Oil Detectives
4. Cartier uses images of Amazon tribe devastated by illegal gold mining; critics call that hypocrisy. (2023). Retrieved from CTV News
5. Friedrich, M. (2023). Greenwashing in the palm oil industry: Lies, deception, and the fight for sustainability. Journal of Environmental Management, 336, 117–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.01.2938
6. Greenwashing Tactic 7: Lying. (2021). Palm Oil Detectives. Retrieved from Palm Oil Detectives
7. Jauernig, J., Uhl, M., & Valentinov, V. (2021). The ethics of corporate hypocrisy: An experimental approach. Futures, 102757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2021.102757
8. John, A., & Klein, J. (2003). The Boycott Puzzle: Consumer Motivations for Purchase Sacrifice. Management Science, 49(9), 1196-1209. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4134035
9. Palm Oil Deforestation in Guatemala: Certifying Products as Sustainable is No Panacea. (2023). Palm Oil Detectives. Retrieved from Palm Oil Detectives

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Take Action in Five Ways

1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• WordPress
• YouTube
• Mail
• Mastodon

Sign Up

2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.

Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez in His Own Words

Read more

Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

Read more

Anthropologist and author of ‘In the Shadow of the Palms’ Dr Sophie Chao: In Her Own Words

Read more

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen: In His Own Words

Read more

The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

Read more

How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

Read more

3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.

https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20

https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20

https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20

4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.

5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here

Pledge your support

https://palmoildetectives.com/2024/11/12/guaranteeing-ecocide-the-green-lie-of-palm-oil-certification/

#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottGold #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #consumerBoycott #corruption #deforestation #greenwashing #HumanRights #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #RSPO #RSPOGreenwashing #RT2024 #supplychain