âOne in Five Fish Products Tied to Fraud
From substitutions to forgery, the $195 billion seafood industry is awash with deception.â
â> Yikes!
insideclimatenews.org/news/240âŠ
#Fishing #Food #Fraud #Wildlife #Biodiversity #Fisheries #Law
From substitutions to forgery, the $195 billion seafood industry is awash with deception. Nuclear forensics might offer a lifeline.Derek Harrison (Inside Climate News)
Three critically endangered African Grey parrots were seized in Norway in 2019 after being illegally smuggled and they were later euthanised. These intelligent birds had potentially 60 years of life to live and the massive tragedy is â they knew that they were going to die!Generally, international wildlife trade is not forbidden. Rather, it is regulated through CITES an international treaty to prevent illegal trade in wild animals. The industry is worth billions. The treaty needs a radical overhaul writes Professor Ragnhild Sollund for 360Info.
The legal trade is largely to blame for African grey parrots becoming endangered: parrots make popular pets due to their intelligence and sociability, so they have become âover exploitedâ. Help fight illegal wildlife trade and #Boycott4Wildlife
The tragedy of dead African grey #parrots highlights the need to overhaul #CITES a weak treaty which facilitates rather than stops #wildlife trade #extinction by Prof Ragnild Sollund for @360info_global #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife via @palmoildetect wp.me/pcFhgU-78q
âA #ban on #wildlife #trade would be easier to enforce than the current market, where some trade is legal, some illegal, and which offers ample possibilities for #fraud #corruption Story: @360info_global #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect wp.me/pcFhgU-78q
Originally published under Creative Commons by 360infoâą. Written by Professor Ragnhild Sollund. Read the original here.
In November 2019, three African grey parrot chicks (Psittacus erithacus) were seized at Oslo airport by customs inspectors. As endangered species, they did not have the required permits to be transported to Norway. During the month that officials contemplated what should happen to the birds, they were hand reared by veterinarians. Then the decision was made: euthanasia.
These highly intelligent birds had a potential 60-year life ahead of them; a life that was abruptly concluded in the hands of the vet. âI have euthanised many animals, but I cried when I euthanised these birds,â she said. âThey understood⊠[And I did] not want to work as the Norwegian environment agencyâs executioner of endangered species.â
In Norway, this was the standard outcome for illegally traded animals that are listed in CITES, the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. On March 3, International Wildlife Day, it highlights why addressing the wildlife trade, its regulation and enforcement, is urgent.
Generally, international wildlife trade is not forbidden. Rather, it is regulated through CITES. The legal trade is largely to blame for African grey parrots becoming endangered: parrots make popular pets due to their intelligence and sociability, so they have become âover exploitedâ, meaning the trade endangers the survival of the species. But the concept of over exploitation fails to cover the individual suffering or death of the animals involved in the trade. In view of species justice, any exploitation may be too much.
CITES entered into force in 1975. Eighty-four parties have signed the convention, including the European Union as one party. Each country must have a management authority, and all countries are obliged to submit annual reports to the CITES secretariat.
Animals are listed on three appendices of CITES, according to how endangered they are. The African grey is listed on appendix I as threatened with extinction. It was moved from appendix II in 2016, since trade in them was no longer deemed âsustainableâ. Currently 5,950 species of animals and 32,800 species of plants are listed across all three appendices.
CITES has been criticised for being an overly human-centred convention. It fails to take into consideration the fact that animals are sentient beings with capacity to suffer who have interest in living their lives in their natural habitats, free from human inflicted harm.
Instead, CITES frames wildlife species, whether plants or animals, as resources that are available for humans to exploit, until exploitation reaches a level that threatens the survival of a species. According to this logic, one individual can easily be disposed of and replaced by another; an individualâs intrinsic value is not recognised.
CITES has been criticised for not functioning even within its own parameters. For example, many parties to CITES never submit the required annual reports, and much trade is never recorded. And many species become threatened and go extinct from trade without ever being listed on the CITES appendices. For example, there are 10,247 known reptile species in the world, but only 8 percent of the reptile trade is regulated through CITES. Newly discovered species can be swiftly exploited, and 79 percent of traded species are not subject to CITES regulation.
According to CITES records, a staggering 2 million mammals, 5 million birds, 41 million reptiles, half a million amphibians, and 6 million fish were traded legally between 2011-2022.
Animals are used for medicinal purposes (often with no effect), fashion, as game hunting trophies, pets and as high-status food items.
Advocacy group Traffic estimates the economic value of legal wildlife trade including plants, at approximately US$323 billion. One important reason for the foundation of CITES was to secure the economic gains of wildlife trade for biodiverse, but poor countries in the global South.
Wildlife trade can be viewed as transnational, global, organised state corporate harm.
Given the general failure of CITES to protect animals from harm and species from extinction, there have been many calls to remodel the agreement. The logic behind CITES implies that the harms of wildlife trade shall continue relentlessly, with new individuals abducted, killed or in other ways exploited in a âsustainableâ way for human benefit.
A better CITES would be based around animal protection. Wild animals should have rights not to be exploited as pets, killed for their flesh or skin, teeth or whiskers, tusks, horns, or used for entertainment in zoos, circuses and aqua parks. CITES could rather become an instrument promoting justice both for nature, humans and animals.
One way to do this would be to transform it from a trade convention to an aid convention. The convention could be reformulated to promote species conservation and the protection of individualsâ and speciesâ rights.
CITES could then become an instrument to funnel economic resources from rich economies in the North to poor economies in the South, if their national budgets partly rely on wildlife trade. Aid, distributed by an accountable secretariat, could be conditional on the ways in which the recipients succeed in protecting the natural environment and its inhabitants.
This system is already in place when it comes to the protection of rainforest: Norway and Germany contribute significantly to the protection of rainforest in places such as Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador through the UN; the amount of economic resources allocated from Norway to these countries depends on how much rainforest is spared from logging and emissions reduced.
A ban on the trade in wild animals would be easier to enforce than the current murky market, in which some trade is legal, other parts illegal, and which demands significant skills by law enforcement officers and offers ample possibilities for fraud.
Ragnhild Sollund is professor at the Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law at the University of Oslo, where she has done research into the wildlife trade for 12 years. She is currently leading the research project: Criminal Justice, Wildlife Conservation and Animal Rights in the Anthropocene, which studies the implementation and enforcement of two nature conventions: CITES; and the Bern convention that protects wild animals and their habitats in Europe, in Norway, The United Kingdom, Spain and Germany. Her research is funded by Norwegian Research Council.
Originally published under Creative Commons by 360infoâą. Written by Professor Ragnhild Sollund. Read the original here.
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West Papua & PNG
Lying
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Human rights abuses
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Human health hazards
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Discover the environmental and social issues caused by palm oil production. Learn about its impacts on wildlife, indigenous communities, and how to take action with Palm Oil DetectivesPalm Oil Detectives
For decades, the palm oil industry, backed by the RSPO, has misled consumers with the false promise of âsustainableâ palm oil. Behind this green façade lies a brutal reality of deforestation, human rights abuses, and the destruction of endangered speciesâ habitats. Dozens of investigations from many different industry watchdogs have exposes the RSPOâs certification as a sham, enabling continued environmental devastation under the guise of sustainability.However itâs 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 donât fall for their corporate greenwashing. Protect our planet and all human and non-human beings by refusing to support these liesâ#Boycottpalmoil #BoycottGold #BoycottMeat and #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.
For 30 yrs, #RSPO have promised #palmoil free from #deforestation, #humanrights abuses. This has proven to be a multi-stakeholder lie Donât buy the the #greenwashing instead #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect đȘđŽđ« wp.me/pcFhgU-7Sp
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Behind #RSPOâs certified âsustainableâ #palmoil lies a harsh reality of #deforestation and #humanrights abuses đ„đłđŽ âïžconnected to all #supplychain members. âSustainableâ palm oil is a lie, make sure you #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife wp.me/pcFhgU-7Sp
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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 thereâs IOI, a palm oil producer boasting about their âsustainabilityâ 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.
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).
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).
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 âsustainableâ palm oil certified by the RSPO. Every global supermarket brand has been implicated in this greenwashing. They claim adherence to âsustainableâ 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).
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 âzero-burning policyâ aimed at preventing deforestation. However, IOIâs 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 IOIâs 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 RSPOâs 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).
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 âsustainableâ label, (6).
NestlĂ© and âNo Deforestationâ Pledge: NestlĂ© 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 NestlĂ©âs suppliers were still involved in deforestation, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. This discrepancy between NestlĂ©âs 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 âsustainableâ 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 worldâs 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).
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 Cartierâs practices contribute to environmental destruction and the exploitation of indigenous communities, (4).
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).
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 Navarroâs work in exposing Cartierâs 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.
Titan Arum AKA âCorpse Flowersâ is famous for its repulsive meat smell. Palm oil agriculture is a massive threat to these rare stinky plants. Take action!
Western Parotias AKA Arfak Parotias are stunning bird-of-paradise of West Papua known for their mesmerising dances. Palm oil and mining ecocide are threats
Capped langurs are found in India Bhutan Bangladesh and Myanmar, they are vulnerable from palm oil and other forms of deforestation. Take action for them!
Wealthiest people in USA and China responsible for 2/3 of global warming since 1990. Climate policies needed to target the richest people on the planet now!
In fragmented forests of Mexico, big cats find it hard to locate prey ungulates instead seeking tree-dwelling #monkeys â thatâs bad news for primates!
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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.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre 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.
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#auditFraud #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottGold #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #consumerBoycott #corruption #deforestation #fraud #greenwashing #HumanRights #OrangutanLandTrust #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poverty #RSPO #RSPOGreenwashing #RT2024 #supplychain #workersRights #WorkersRights
Advertising by one of the world's biggest jewellers with images of an Indigenous people devastated by illegal gold mining has some complaining of greenwashing, a corporation promoting its own image by supporting a cause.The Associated Press (CTVNews)
Unmasking Socfinâs Destructive Palm Oil Empire in Africa
A six-month investigation reveals Socfinâs exploitation of rubber and palm oil in Ghana and Nigeria, leading to deforestation, landgrabbing and human rights abuses. SOCFIN is a palm oil company and member of the RSPO purportedly using âsustainableâ palm oil. The companyâs activities have caused significant environmental and social harm, including the destruction of vital rainforests and the displacement of indigenous communities. Despite its substantial profits, Socfinâs operations have left local communities impoverished and struggling financially for survival. Help them to survive each time you shop when you #BoycottpalmoilâSustainableâ #palmoil and rubber co. and #RSPO member SOCFIN is on a decades long rampage of violent #landgrabbing and #ecocide in #Ghana and Nigeria. Help local communities to fight back against #humanrights abuses when you #Boycottpalmoil @palmoildetect wp.me/pcFhgU-8H0
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Share to TwitterWritten by Gideon Sarpong, Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi and Audrey TravĂšre. Writing and Editing by Gideon Sarpong. Article originally entitled âSocfin exploitation of rubber & palm oil linked to deforestation & human rights abuses in Ghana & Nigeriaâ This report was supported by JournalismFund Europe. Originally published on IWatchAfrica. Read original.
In April 2025, Bloomberg conducted an investigation into SOCFINâs rubber plantations. The investigation uncovered that SOCFINâs rubber and palm oil companies continue and sustain colonial slavery in Africa in the modern day.
youtube.com/watch?v=8kb1lHJ1IQâŠ
Okumu, Nigeria â Okumu Oil Palm Company, a subsidiary under the umbrella of the Socfin Group, possesses an extensive 7,335-hectare rubber plantation and a sprawling 19,062-hectare palm plantation, all nestled within the Ovia South-West local government area of Edo State.
The companyâs presence in the Okumu community has become a contentious issue, notably for the indigenous people, including children who have endured displacement due to the companyâs activities.
In 2021, the Socfin Group reported a remarkable profit of 80.4 million euros, its highest figure since at least 2014 due to increasing prices for palm oil and rubber. Yet, paradoxically, the Okumu community and other host communities throughout West Africa remain a stark contrast to the image of prosperity associated with Socfinâs substantial export earnings.
Okumu community in Nigeria, Credit: Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi, 2023
Human Rights Abuses
In a deeply distressing account of events, residents of Okumu have leveled accusations against the company for forcibly dismantling three villages within the district, namelyâLemon, Agbeda, and Oweike.This action resulted in the displacement of hundreds of indigenous inhabitants and the grim aftermath of community farmland destruction, loss of life, and the disruption of childrenâs education.
For many of these people, their roots run deep within these villages, with no kin beyond the boundaries of their home. The repercussions of the companyâs actions continue to haunt the affected communities, even decades after the devastation was wrought.
Today, Lemon, once a thriving community, has been reduced to a mere memory, while the residents of Oweike and Agbeda have been compelled to relocate to nearby communities, seeking refuge and new beginnings.
Upon closer examination, our investigation unveiled a disconcerting narrative: following the eviction of these three communities, the company proceeded to expand its palm and rubber plantations, acquiring a staggering 1,969 hectares of oil palm and 1,811 hectares of rubber in the process.
According to the companyâs own website, these expansions represent only a fraction of their broader growth trajectory, with an astounding total of 33,112 hectares now under their purview.
The story of Austin Lemon, a mere 15 years old at the time Socfinâs presence descended upon his community, serves as a heart-wrenching testament to the trauma endured by these communities. As he watched the Luxembourger company, accompanied by security personnel, lay waste to his ancestral home, he also witnessed the pleas of his parents and fellow Lemon village residents in Okomu.
They implored the company to allow them to remain, as they had no alternative haven. Regrettably, their appeals fell on deaf ears, as Socfinâs relentless pursuit of rubber and palm resources took precedence.
His father, the founder of Lemon Village in 1969 and the namesake of the community, followed the age-old Nigerian customary law, which dictates that the first person to settle on a virgin land gains rightful ownership.
Lemon, who is now 33, recalls the profound âshockâ that gripped his father, the respected leader of Lemon village within the Okumu community, upon learning that Socfin had acquired their ancestral home. In a desperate bid to secure some semblance of justice for his fellow villagers in the face of impending displacement, Lemonâs father implored the company to provide compensation for their relocation but that did not happen.
He ruefully reflects, âThe Company planted their plantation without heeding to their pleas.â The consequences were catastrophic â every single house in Lemon village met its demise, and the once-thriving areas reserved for the cultivation of plantain, cassava, cocoa, and cocoyam were reduced to ruins.
Lemonâs personal account of these events is a poignant reminder of the human cost inflicted by the companyâs actions. He reveals, âFor a whole year, I couldnât attend school because we were displaced and struggling to make ends meet.â
âIt was the companyâs actions that ultimately led to the death of my father, who had high blood pressure. He perished because the farms he once relied upon to feed his 32 children were also obliterated,â he revealed.
In a surprising turn of events, the company denied the findings presented to them.
According to Socfinâs communications team, they acquired their plantation following the de-reservation of a portion of Okomu Forest Reserve by Nigeriaâs federal government, in compliance with the Edo Forestry Commission Law (1968) and its subsequent amendments, among other relevant legislation.
Nevertheless, Ajele Sunday, a spokesperson for the Okumu community, contradicts the companyâs account. He asserts that the community ânever received any compensationâ when Socfin claimed to have procured the land from the government.
Multiple sources within the Okomu village have raised concerns, contending that the company conducted negotiations with the government without seeking or taking into consideration the communityâs perspective.
This apparent lack of consultation with the community âdirectly contradicts the principles outlined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly the concept of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC),â Ajele argued.
This breach raises critical concerns about the treatment of indigenous communities and their rights in the context of corporate activities, shedding light on the urgency of adhering to these vital principles.
According to FPIC, Indigenous Peoples possess the right to grant or withhold consent for projects that stand to impact them or their territories.
A Tragic Fight for Freedom in Okomu Village
In 2022, Socfin (Okumu Oil Palm Company) took a contentious step by excavating a large trench around its plantation, effectively barricading the community, leaving residents stranded with no access to the outside world. During the rainy season, the runoff from this trench, laden with fertilizers, contaminated the Okomu River, the sole source of drinking water, and proved fatal to fish in the water. Frustrated by this environmental degradation, the residents organized a peaceful protest at the companyâs entrance, demanding the closure of the trench.The protests had spanned two days, with the first day devoted to demonstrations within the community. On the second day, the residents decided to take their grievances to the companyâs gate. En route, they were intercepted by security officers determined to quell the protest.
Among the protesters, Iyabo Batu, aged 56, found herself at the forefront. On May 3, 2022, while demonstrating against the companyâs closure of the sole road leading to her village, Marhiaoba, she was struck by a bullet in the knee, believed to have been fired by a Socfin security personnel.
âIt was very difficult for my grandchildren to go to school because the white man blocked the road,â Iyabo Batu explained, referring to the Socfin manager. She went on to describe how the road closure, a consequence of the trench excavated by the company, led to children in the village discontinuing their schooling. This was the sole route in and out of the community, now obstructed by the companyâs actions.
The peaceful protest turned tragic when security personnel attached to the company targeted Iyabo Batu, shooting her in the knee. She was swiftly transported to a clinic before being transferred to the general hospital of Igbuobazua headquarters. Her hospitalization extended beyond a month following the surgery for her gunshot wound, but she expressed her deep sadness at the fact that the company had neither covered her medical expenses nor offered their sympathy.
The company denied any involvement in the incident, insisting that no employee had shot Mrs. Batu. However, community spokesperson Sunday, among others, claimed that the company was attempting to distance itself from the actions.
Iyabo BATU at the Benin Teaching Hospital during her surgery in 2022
Iyabo Batuâs X-ray results unveiled multiple patella fractures, and she credited Environmental Rights Actions (ERA) for her survival. Rita Ukwa of ERA disclosed that they supported Batu, including arranging a city apartment for her for a year after her hospital discharge, as evidenced by her hospital discharge receipt, indicating a payment of 226,940 naira[$296] to the Benin Teaching Hospital.The company, in responding to findings of this investigation, asserted that they were unable to comment on the allegations as no âformal complaint had been filed by the alleged complainant, either to the company or the Nigerian Police Force.â They also clarified that their security personnel âwere not permitted to carry weapons, as per government regulations.â
However, multiple witnesses, both within and outside the company, contended that a company security officer was indeed responsible for the shooting of 59-year-old Iyabo Batu. A non-Okomu resident working for the company identified the officer in question as a government anti-terrorism officer. The source chose to remain anonymous out of fear, considering the potential repercussions from either the company or the police officers who delayed recording the communityâs statement when Mrs. Batu was rushed to the police station.
Our investigations showed that the security apparatus for Okumu Oil Palm Company comprises police, private security, and military officers, even though they are compensated by the federal government. These officers are also subject to the directives of the company, raising questions about the dynamics of power and accountability in this complex relationship.
A spokesperson for Edo State Chris Osa Nehikhare said, âthe government will also monitor what is happening in Okomu to ensure no one is exploited and to make life better for the community,â
Plantation Socfin Ghana and Deforestation
Meanwhile in Ghana, the operations of Plantation Socfinaf Ghana (PSG), a subsidiary of the Socfin Group which operates rubber and oil palm plantations in Manso and Daboase in the Western Region has led to the destruction of vital rainforests.In 2017 and 2018, PSG contracted Proforest and HS+E respectively to conduct environmental assessments at its Subri site in Daboase ahead of the construction of a palm processing mill in 2019.
Findings from this assessment showed that any large-scale operations at the Subri site would result in the âloss of biodiversity, land degradation, increase in ambient noise levels, aerial emissions and the destruction of unique endangered ecosystems and species within the catchment areas.â
Notably, the Proforest assessment emphasized the substantial environmental value of the PSG Subri site. It was found to host a substantial âcarbon stock of 981,080.74 metric tonsâ and served as a crucial âhabitat for a vulnerable population of speciesâ in need of conservation measures. Despite these findings, PSG proceeded with the construction of the palm processing mill in in 2020 costing US$20 million.
PSG also admitted that between 2012 and 2016, over 1 089 ha of natural forests were cleared to make way for its plantations failing to heed to concerns by environmental groups.
Despite mounting concerns and inquiries into PSGâs actions, the company has remained conspicuously silent, failing to respond to our requests for information regarding their mitigation plans and the repercussions of their operations on the communities around Daboase and the environment at large.
Data from Global Forest Watch paints a distressing picture of the situation. Between 2001 and 2022, Ghanaâs Western Region witnessed the loss of a staggering 536,000 hectares of tree cover. This represents a 23% decline in tree cover since the turn of the millennium, accompanied by a grim emission of 297 million metric tons of COâ equivalent. Itâs worth noting that this region, the wettest in Ghana, plays host to PSGâs extensive plantations.
The ramifications of this ecological decline extend beyond the boundaries of forests and into the lives of the local communities. Farmers like Godwin Ofori, a 35-year-old resident of Daboase in close proximity to PSGâs plantation, have borne the brunt of these changes.
Mr. Ofori expressed his frustration with the evolving rainfall patterns, stating, âOne of the biggest challenges over the last decade has been unpredictable rainfall patterns. We cannot predict the rainfall pattern nowadays, and I believe that this is partly a destruction of our forests.â
Recent study by researchers at University of Leeds has shown that African tropical forests remain critical to the fight against the climate emergency, absorbing three times more carbon each year than the UK emitted in 2019.
The direct link between the decline in critical rainforests and these erratic weather patterns underlines the adverse impact on the livelihoods and food security of those living in the vicinity.
Startling findings from Global Witness showcase the unsettling consequence of industrial rubber plantations across the expanse of West and Central Africa, witnessing the loss of nearly 52,000 hectares of ecologically rainforest since the turn of the centuryâequivalent to an expanse 16 times the size of Brussels.
EU, Deforestation and Rubber companies
In June 2023, the EU introduced regulations on deforested products to address the challenge of rubber and oil plantation-driven deforestation. The EU remains the biggest export destination for palm oil and rubber cultivation from West Africa. Data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity shows that the EU imported over $500 million worth of natural rubber from West Africa in 2020 alone making natural rubber the EUâs most significant import from West Africa in terms of rainforest destruction.The effect has been the loss of critical rainforests, with a damning impact on local communities, biodiversity, and the environment. This new law has the potential to put a check on Socfinâs operations across West Africa.
Colin Robertson, a Senior Forests Investigator at Global Witness lauded EU efforts describing it as a âvery promising step towards reducing European consumersâ impact on the worldâs forests.â
He however cautioned that âthe inclusion of rubber should mean that European tire manufacturers will have to check that the rubber plantations they buy from are sticking firmly to zero deforestation pledges.â
Based on detailed export data examined, our investigation unearthed a direct link between Société des MatiÚres PremiÚres Tropicales PTE and the procurement of natural rubber from Okomu Oil Palm Company over the last two years.
SociĂ©tĂ© des MatiĂšres PremiĂšres Tropicales PTE functions as the sole consolidated purchaser of natural rubber for tire manufacturing giant, the Michelin Group. This revelation gives rise to profound ethical concerns, casting a shadow on the European tire manufacturing industryâs dedication to fostering sustainability.
In response to our investigation, the Michelin Group acknowledged our findings and affirmed their awareness of âhistorical grievances expressed by local communitiesâ against Okomu Oil Palm Company, insisting that they have closely monitored the situation since 2015.
âIn collaboration with a civil society organization, we urged Socfin to enhance its sustainable development performance, which eventually led to Socfinâs adoption of âzero deforestationâ and ânon-exploitationâ commitments,â Michelin wrote in their response.
However, our findings expose a crucial discrepancy: Socfinâs interpretation of âzero deforestationâ does not align with the industry-recognized standard known as the High Carbon Stock Approach (HCSA). Neither Socfin nor its subsidiaries across West Africa are members of the HCSA. This incongruity highlights the urgent need for greater clarity and alignment within the industry.
Greenpeace has sounded a resounding alarm, cautioning that Socfinâs steadfast resistance to adopting the industryâs zero-deforestation standard poses a significant and looming threat to the forests of West Africa, where the companyâs operations are concentrated.
The future of these critical ecosystems remains at a crossroads, demanding enhanced vigilance and rigorous commitment to sustainable practices.
ââ
Written by Gideon Sarpong, Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi and Audrey TravĂšre. Writing and Editing by Gideon Sarpong. Article originally entitled âSocfin exploitation of rubber & palm oil linked to deforestation & human rights abuses in Ghana & Nigeriaâ This report was supported by JournalismFund Europe. Originally published on IWatchAfrica. Read original.
ENDS
In September 2024 Socfin is removed from both the Norwegian Pension Fund and Luxembourg Stock Exchange
The Norwegian Government Pension Fund Globalâs ethics committee has issued a damning report recommending the exclusion of Socfinâs main shareholder, the BollorĂ© group, due to evidence of systemic human rights abuses at Socfinâs plantations, particularly in Cameroon. The report outlines serious allegations, including violations of labour rights, widespread sexual violence, harassment of women by plantation supervisors, and deplorable working conditions where workers are often employed as day labourers without contracts, paid below the legal minimum wage, and subjected to arbitrary hiring and firing practices. The report also highlights unsanitary living conditions and a lack of social benefits for workers, painting a grim picture of exploitation and abuse across Socfinâs operations in Africa. These findings have intensified scrutiny on Socfin and the BollorĂ© group, pressuring them to address these human rights concerns. Read more at DelanoRead more about human rights abuses, deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Indigenous Peoples Fight Climate Change
After wildfires, Belizeâs indigenous people rebuild stronger based on âseâ komonilâ: reciprocity, solidarity, gender equity, togetherness and community.
SOCFINâs African Empire of Colonial Oppression: Billionaires Profit from Palm Oil and Rubber Exploitation
Investigation by Bloomberg exposes that despite being RSPO members, #SOCFIN plantations in #WestAfrica are the epicentre of #humanrights abuses, sexual coercion, environmental destruction, and #landgrabbing. Operating in #Liberia, #Ghana, #Nigeria, and beyond, SOCFINâsâŠ
Palm Oil Threatens Ancient Noken Weaving in West Papua
Colonial palm oil and sugarcane causing the loss of West Papuansâ cultural identity. Land grabs force communities from forests, threatening Noken weaving
Family Ties Expose Deforestation and Rights Violations in Indonesian Palm Oil
An explosive report by the Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) details how Indonesiaâs Fangiono family, through a wide corporate web, is linked to ongoing #deforestation, #corruption, and #indigenousrights abuses for #palmoil. Calls mount forâŠ
West Papuan Indigenous Women Fight Land Seizures
Indigenous Melanesian women in West Papua fight land seizures for palm oil and sugar plantations, protecting their ancestral rights. Join #BoycottPalmOilLoad more posts
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3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre 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.
twitter.com/CuriousApe4/statusâŠ
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#BoycottPalmOil #BoycottPalmOil #corruption #deforestation #ecocide #Ghana #humanRights #HumanRights #hunger #landgrabbing #Nigeria #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poverty #RSPO #workersRights #WorkersRights
Sex-for-Work Allegations Hang Over Tycoonsâ Rubber Plantations
A company majority-owned by billionaire Vincent Bolloré's Bolloré Group and Hubert Fabri is the subject of allegations of labor abuses at some of its African...Bloomberg Originals (YouTube)
@kuchinster â 2026-01-09 17:06:20
The Stanford Prison Experiment turned out to be a lie.
âThe Story of One Lieâ
How a famous psychological experiment became a theatrical productionThibault Le Texier, Histoire dâun mensonge,
Everyone has probably heard of psychologist Philip Zimbardo's âStanford Prison Experiment,â in which a group of ordinary American students were placed in conditions simulating a prison, where some of them had to play the role of prisoners and others the role of guards. As a result, in just a few days, half of the intelligent young people who found themselves in the role of guards turned into cruel fascists, while the other half, who played prisoners, became depressed, passive victims. At least, that is how Zimbardo himself described it, as well as in numerous documentary, semi-fictional, and fictional books and films based on the experiment.
French sociologist, economist, and journalist Thibault Le Texier was a big fan of Zimbardo and his experiment and also decided to make a documentary about it. But since so much had already been filmed and written about the experiment by that time, Le Texier wanted to find something new, details that no one had talked about yet. In search of these details, he turned to the Stanford University archives and, to his amazement, discovered that they contained detailed records (including video and audio) of the experiment that no one had accessed in decades.
Le Texier sat down to examine these recordsâand was even more astonished to discover that literally everything we know about the Stanford experiment from Zimbardo himself was a lie.
As a result, Le Texier decided not to make the film. Instead, he wrote a book called The Story of a Lie â and the scale of this lie is staggering. From what Le Texier writes, from the documents he found and the digitized tapes available on the Stanford website, which anyone can read and hear for themselves, it follows that Zimbardo lied about everything: how and by whom the experiment was conceived, how and who was recruited as participants, what instructions they were given, what conditions they signed up for, how and why the experiment had to be terminated early, and, most importantly, how the guards and prisoners actually behaved.
No, the guards did not turn into sadists; only one of them showed sadistic tendencies, and two others treated the prisoners quite harshly, but most either behaved neutrally or even helped the prisoners. No, the prisoners did not turn into oppressed rags; they constantly rebelled actively. No, even those guards who pressured the prisoners did so not on their own initiative, but because they received persistent instructions to pressure them and instructions on how best to do so from Zimbardo himself and his assistants (and most of the guards sabotaged these instructions). No, not all of the participants in the experiment were clean-cut, intelligent students; among them were random people, some with criminal histories. No, the experiment was not interrupted because the guards' behavior got out of control and became increasingly sadistic, and Zimbardo's girlfriend at the time, who happened to see this, was horrified and demanded that they immediately stop tormenting people â Zimbardo's girlfriend was one of the experimenters. and the experiment got out of control in a completely different sense â the more time passed, the more the guards stopped following instructions and their relationship with the prisoners became better and better, threatening to undermine Zimbardo's main goal. Which was not scientific at all, but political. âThe Stanford Prison Experiment,â as the documents found by Le Texier convincingly show, was not an experiment, but a spectacle designed to horrify the American public and force politicians to reform and humanize the terrible conditions of prisoners in American prisons (which Zimbardo had never visited and did not even really know what was going on in them).
As a result, Zimbardo's story about how circumstances can turn anyone into a fascist or a victim is transformed by Le Texier into a story about how one particular person is willing to resort to deception and exploit others in order to achieve the high-profile result he desires. It also shows how lies evolve as the truth is revealed (in the years since the experiment, some details that were not very pleasant for Zimbardo have gradually come to light, although before The Story of a Lie, this was only the tip of the iceberg). From 1971, when Zimbardo gave his first presentation on the experiment just a couple of days after it ended, to 2007, when his book The Lucifer Effect was published, Zimbardo changed both his description of the experiment and his interpretation of its results several times â but during all that time, he never told the whole truth. Le Texier had to do it.
Books that completely change your view of a well-known event are very rare, and this book is undoubtedly one of them. Le Texier conducted thorough research and wrote a story that is no less exciting than a good detective novel. The only thing that detracts from the book is that Le Texier, being French, cannot restrain himself and from time to time launches into lengthy moralizing arguments that are completely unnecessary in the book â the facts he has found speak for themselves. But the book is so good and important that even this hardly spoils it. I really hope that it will soon be translated into English â the American press has already written quite a lot about it â and then into Russian.
medium.com/novynovgorod/books-âŠ
#psychology #sociology #Zimbardo #stanforduniversity #experiment #american #lie #fraud #deception #history #Texier #book
Expérience de Stanford
Un protocole expérimental mensonger?
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expérience_de_Stanford#Un_protocole_exp%C3%A9rimental_mensonger_?
#livre #histoire
: De renommée équivalente à celle de Milgram, l'" expérience de Stanford sur la prison " demeure pourtant l'un des meilleurs exemples de mise en scÚne scientifique.www.editionsladecouverte.fr
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First, let me say: whatâs happening in Gaza is absolutely awful. But whatâs also awful is that there are dishonest people taking advantage of others during a crisis.
In one photo, from Facebook (my job, where I work), we had a woman claiming to be a 36-year-old mother of two children, ages 4 and 7. She spaced out the URL in her post, hoping it wouldnât get flagged by spam filters (it did). The very next day, someone on the Fediverse posted the exact same message, with the same URL. The only differences were that they used a different name, a different profile photo, and claimed to be a 19-year-old girl.
I have reviewed every account associated with the group known as âGaza Verifiedâ â and they are all scammers. Every single one of them.
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#Gaza #GazaVerified #Scam #Fraud
Facts!
The mail-in ballot fraud rate is 0.00001%.
The Trump University fraud rate was 66%.
These are facts.
The Toddler King of #Grifting & #emoluments - Nobody knows #fraud and #corruption (and opportunity) better than Sir!
"About a decade ago, Tesla rigged the dashboard readouts in its electric cars to provide ârosyâ projections of how far owners can drive before needing to recharge, a source told Reuters. The automaker last year became so inundated with driving-range complaints that it created a special team to cancel ownersâ service appointments."
reuters.com/investigates/speciâŠ
Perm link web.archive.org/web/2023000000âŠ
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