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BOYCOTT! Part II (from the Kyoto Jo



Subject: BOYCOTT! Part II (from the Kyoto Journal)

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Part II
Mitsubishi Boycott Articles from 
KYOTO JOURNAL
Number 32. 1996

KYOTO JOURNAL is published 3-4 times a year.
Address: 35 Minamigohomachi
Fax: +81-75-751-1196

in North America
31 Bond St.
NY, NY 10012
Fax: (212) 674-6788

E-Mail: kyo794journl@xxxxxxxxx
Heather Sarantis 
DEFENDING THE FORESTS:
THE MITSUBISHI BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN

The world's rainforests will be destroyed within a
few decades if deforestation is allowed to continue
at its current rate. Every day tens of species  --
plants, animals, and insects -- are driven to
extinction due to the destruction of their habitat.
Indigenous human cultures are also being lost.
Corporations have become so efficient in their
logging practices that deforestation has escalated to
the level of a global crisis. The San Francisco-based
Rainforest Action Network (RAN) is addressing
this urgent problem by calling for an international
boycott of Mitsubishi Corporation, arguably the
world's worst corporate destroyer of rainforests. 

Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) is a trading company
that has lumber interests and fully or partially owns,
or trades with, logging operations throughout the
world. MC is the core member of one of the world's
largest and richest corporate families, with assets
and income greater than most nations. Michael
Marx, former director of the Boycott Mitsubishi
Campaign, states: "MC has an unparalleled legacy
of illegal, unethical, and unsustainable logging."
RAN bases that distinction on the fact that
Mitsubishi has been logging other countries' forests
for over 40 years. In that time, MC has consistently
been one of the largest importers of logs from
forests in Southeast Asia, South America, North
America, and Siberia. MC claims its operations are
all sustainable, but even the conservative
International Tropical Timber Organization
acknowledges that less than .5% of all rainforest
logging is conducted in a sustainable fashion. 

Mitsubishi Corporation is currently operating in
nearly every continent on the planet. They have had
operations in North America for over three decades.
Mitsubishi is the largest exporter of wood products
in the United States, with operations in Alaska and
the Pacific Northwest. Alaska Pulp Company,
which primarily produces pulp for use in rayon and
cellophane, has been listed by the EPA as one of the
top ten worst polluters in the American West. In
Washington and Oregon, Mitsubishi has been one
of the largest purchasers of whole logs, many taken
from old growth forests. Even today, U.S.
Mitsubishi International is one of the largest
exporters of logs, sawnwood, and woodchips from
this region. In British Columbia, Canada,
Mitsubishi's Crestbrook operation is clear-cutting
the forests to produce pulp for export and is,
according to The Vancouver Sun, one of the worst
polluters in the province. Also in British Columbia,
Mitsubishi's Canadian Chopstick Manufacturing
Company (CCMC), the largest disposable
chopstick factory in the world, wastes 85% of its
timber because it does not meet MC quality
standards. In Alberta, Canada, Mitsubishi has built
the world's largest bleached pulp mill, known as
Alberta Pacific (Al-Pac), which operates 24 hours a
day. 

Mitsubishi's involvement in South America is
extensive. Mitsubishi's subsidiary, Astillas
Exportaciones Ltda, has helped Mitsubishi become
the largest exporter of woodchips from Chile's old
growth forests. MC has ownership in mahogany
logging in both Bolivia and Brazil. MC's operations
extend into the Amazon as far as Benjamin
Constant at the Peruvian and Colombian borders.
Other Mitsubishi companies are finding new ways
to destroy the Amazon's rainforests. They are
engaged in gold mining and tar sands extraction in
Venezuela. They are prospecting for new mines in
Ecuador's Andean rainforest. They even offered to
pay off $115 billion (US) of Brazil's foreign debt in
exchange for gold mining rights in the Brazilian
rainforest, a practice that has proven devastating to
Brazil's environment and indigenous cultures. 

Mitsubishi logging operations in Asia are highly
controversial. MC recently sold its shares in Daiya
Malaysia, a logging operation that had been an
environmental hot - spot for years and has a history
of great resistance from the local indigenous people,
the Iban. Despite this, independent sources have
confirmed that it is still importing timber from
Malaysia. Mitsubishi is a major buyer of plywood
from Indonesia, and has also traded equipment for
timber. In Papua New Guinea, Mitsubishi has the
sole buying rights in United Timber, which is fully
funded by Mitsubishi Corporation. Mitsubishi
publicly announced that it will increase its business
with Burmese's repressive military government,
known as the State Law and Order Restoration
Council (SLORC), and continues to purchase teak
from them. Mitsubishi is currently positioning itself
to log or buy timber from Vietnam and Cambodia. 

In 1989, the World Rainforest Movement, a loose
affiliation of international  environmental groups
involved in rainforest preservation, called for an
international boycott of Mitsubishi Corporation.
Mitsubishi was selected due to its aggressive role in
rainforest destruction and its high consumer
recognition. The activities of other Japanese general
trading companies, such as Marubeni Corporation,
C. Itoh & Co., and Nissho Iwai, are also being
closely monitored by environmental groups.
Mitsubishi  Corporation's high visibility in the
Japanese and international economies is the major
reason why  this campaign is directed against them.

Since MC has no consumer products, it has acted as
though it is impervious to public pressure. But
Mitsubishi is many - limbed, and various
appendages of the "keiretsu," or corporate family
produce products or provide services that make
 high - profile targets for consumer boycotts. When
these companies are hurt, and their profitability is
compromised, MC, which is heavily invested in the
other Mitsubishi companies, is also affected.

RAN's ultimate campaign goal is "to create a true
corporate greening campaign
that transforms the way all corporations do business
in all countries of operations."  RAN targets
corporations like Mitsubishi in order to establish
standards for corporate conduct, and to demonstrate
the ability of NGOs to bring pressure to bear on
those who violate these standards.  The campaign's
activities have focused on letter writing, petitioning,
demonstrations, and non - violent civil
disobedience. (Civil disobedience means doing an
activity that is against the law in order to protest an
existing situation to stake out the higher moral
ground. For example, Gandhi led many people in
civil disobedience by road blockades in India. This
was against the law, but it was done to make the
point that the existing system needed to be
challenged. Civil disobedience associated with the
campaign should adhere to a code of non - violence
- any person using tactics that may or may not be
against the law in protest should never use force or
violence to make their point.) 

The campaign's success has been fueled by the
participation of concerned individuals around the
world. One of the most popular themes for these
demonstrations has included inflating a 35 - foot
chain saw balloon or having people dress up as
Godzilla (to represent a monstrous revenge for the
horrific injustice being done to the Earth) at
demonstrations. Auto shows were a favorite spot for
creative tactics - anything ranging from wearing
Boycott Mitsubishi T - shirts into the show,
throwing chopsticks at the car display (to represent
the absurdity of the disposable chopsticks that
Mitsubishi makes), and lock - downs (where
activists lock themselves to the cars). More recently
focus has been on the Mitsubishi affiliated banks.
In November of 1995 two activists in San Francisco
rappelled off the Bank of California (100% owned
by Mitsubishi Bank) with a banner that said "Stop
Mitsubishi's Rape of Mother Earth! Boycott
Mitsubishi's Bank of California". April 1, 1996 was
a national day of action to protest the merging of
Mitsubishi Bank  and the Bank of Tokyo to create
the world's largest financial entity with more than
$800 billion in assets (these banks play an active
role in financing the destruction). There were
actions in cities across the United States, several
where banners were hung, one with a symbolic
blockade of the Bank of California, and support
demonstrations in other cities. The campaign carries
out its mission though the efforts of individuals and
small groups, called Rainforest Action Groups. 

For many years Mitsubishi executives refused to
meet with environmental leaders. Instead, the
company sent hundreds of thousands of carefully
worded letters defending its logging activities by
pointing to poverty as the real cause of rainforest
destruction. It even produced a comic book for
Japanese high schools refuting environmentalists'
claims (see KJ # 22). The Ministry of Education
recalled it as propaganda, ordering it removed from
high school libraries. 

In November, 1995, after six years of the boycott,
Mitsubishi Corporation representatives agreed to
meet with the Rainforest Action Network. RAN
Executive Director Randy Hayes presented to them
his 500 - year plan for the conservation,
preservation and restoration of the world's forests,
and the development of managed logging reserves.
Though this meeting was the beginning point for
conversation between Mitsubishi Corporation and
environmentalists, there has not been any change in
Mitsubishi's behavior in the world's forests. 

This November, 1995, meeting, however, was not
the first time that Mitsubishi emissaries had sat
down with RAN. Mitsubishi Motor Sales of
America and Mitsubishi Electric, the initial targets
of the RAN boycott, had been meeting with RAN
for the better part of a year, helping to bring MC to
the table. Mitsubishi Motors and Electric were
intent on negotiating an end to boycott - related
disruptions at trade shows and commercial
expositions. Activists around the world were
locking themselves to Mitsubishi automobile
displays, and blocking the doors of electronics
stores that carried Mitsubishi products. The
companies considered these activities extremely
detrimental to dealer relations. 

In the end, Motors and Electric agreed to fund the
creation of a Systems Group on Forests,
administered by the Rocky Mountain Institute in
Colorado, USA, to explore the development of
alternatives for traditionally wood - based consumer
products. They also became founding members of
the Future 500 Club, a league of businesses that
have adopted a mission to do well by the
environment by reducing their consumption of
wood products and other natural resources through
conservation, increased efficiency, and the use of
alternatives. Considering these steps forward, RAN
agreed to suspend civil disobedience actions against
Motors and Electric until the Systems Group
produces its final report (this fall), and the
companies have had a chance to adopt its findings. 

While representatives of Motors and Electric have
expressed optimism over these initiatives, the
trading company has so far declined any
involvement with the Systems Group or the Future
500. "Perhaps MC does not want to open itself up
for potential condemnation of its forest practices,"
Hayes speculates. 

Given these results - and the lack of any assurances
or evidence that MC will discontinue its business -
as - usual logging practices - RAN is redirecting its
boycott activities, and keeping the pressure on MC.
April 1, 1996 marked the merger of Mitsubishi
Bank with the Bank of Tokyo, creating the world's
largest financial institution. Rainforest activists
responded with civil disobedience in four U.S. cities
and demonstrations in several others. 

The international boycott of Mitsubishi is gaining
strength. RAN works in coalition with JATAN -
The Japanese Tropical Rainforest Action Network -
on the campaign. It is also supported by worldwide
environmental groups including the Sarawak
Campaign Committee, Friends of the Earth, Japan,
and others. The Rainforest Action Network (with
150 groups world - wide) and the Taiga Rescue
Network (145 participating groups) are joining
forces with the World Rainforest Movement. 

New tactics are being introduced to the campaign
effort. The organization recently sent a video to
CEOs of socially responsible businesses requesting
that they endorse RAN's appeal for an independent
commission to resolve the issue. U.S. college
campuses are presently working to obtain student
government resolutions blocking the sales or
purchase of Mitsubishi products on campus and
recruitment by Mitsubishi companies on campus.
RAN is hopeful these tactics will turn the heat up
on the trading company. 

The campaign is at a crucial point. There is reason
to believe that if activists and concerned citizens
around the world keep the pressure on the
Mitsubishi corporate family that Mitsubishi
Corporation will have no option but to change their
irresponsible logging practices. Mitsubishi is one of
the world's largest corporations. People need to look
to them to be leaders in keeping our planet healthy
and keep our forests alive. 

Individuals or groups interested in participating in
the campaign should contact the Rainforest Action
Network at 450 Sansome Street. Suite 700. San
Francisco, CA 94111. 
email: boycottmc@xxxxxxxxxxx
phone: 415 398 4404. to obtain organizer's
manuals. videotapes, stickers. and posters.
Donations are also welcome. 
WWW homepage: http://www.ran.org/ran/

Guidelines for Protecting the World's Forests

1. Take a position that the world's deforestation to
date and its rate of increase have given rise to a
state of global emergency and that an effective
response to this problem will help us build a
sustainable society. 

2. Take a position that the underlying key ecological
and human values or goals in this approach include: 
a. a functioning biosphere (or healthy planet) 
b. a network of large intact wild, natural systems 
c. migratory corridors and buffer zones around
natural areas 
d. an increase in primary forest cover throughout the
world, helping foster viable populations of native
species in natural patterns of balance, biodiversity
and distribution 
e. maintaining ecological and evolutionary
processes such as hydrological processes and
nutrient cycles 
f. social equity between people and groups, now
and in the future 
g. a sustainable society with democratic self-governance 
h. prosperous communities, rooted in place, with
meaningful work 
I. accountability: transparency, access to
information, effective public participation in
decision making 
j. economic models or systems that incorporate
social and ecological costs 

3. Implement an independently verifiable cap on
investments (trapped capital) in ecologically
harmful activities (such as logging in primary old
growth forests or chlorine bleach pulp mills). Input
on the types of investments that need to be capped
should be sought from diverse interests including
ecologists and citizen activists. All employees from
entry level positions to the Board of Directors
should be schooled systematically in the basic
principles of ecology. This will help people identify
problem areas and opportunities. 

4. Take a systemic approach to global forest
protection, certified logging, fiber supply, and
demand-side reduction as a framework to halt
deforestation and its consequences. This plan would
encompass the following points: 

A. Primary Forests

Low impact traditional local wood use can and
should continue. However, a moratorium should be
instituted (with compensation where appropriate)
on all commercial export logging in remaining
primary forests worldwide. This should be on
public and private land. Domestic use bans should
follow shortly thereafter. [Communities that protect
natural forest systems are rendering an essential
service to the rest of the world.] 

B. Secondary Forests

Secondary forests should be encouraged to mature,
eventually becoming primary forests. Using the
principles of conservation biology, efforts must be
made towards restoring primary forest functions
and values. Local people and current land owners
should be trained and employed in this process.
Natural selection ecoforestry practices should be
used whenever commercial logging is carried on in
secondary forests. Independent certification should
be mandatory using the Forest Stewardship Council
model. An independent commission should
evaluate the environmental impact of all operations. 

C. Commercial Restoration Zones 

Mitsubishi Corporation could utilize a transparent,
public participation process to revert degraded land
or existing plantations into Commercial Restoration
Zones (CRZ)s. These CRZs require moving toward
mixed native species (trees and other flora)
mimicking native conditions while maintaining
commercial extraction viability. Local community
values, rights of approval, and local employment
must be incorporated into this process. 

D. Tree Farms/Plantations

Mitsubishi should acknowledge that tree farms are
not forests and do not foster or protect as broad an
array of biological diversity as a natural forest.
However, where it is socially, ecologically, and
economically acceptable, existing plantations or
marginal or unused agricultural land could be
converted to mixed species plantations. 

E. Alternative Fibers

Mitsubishi Corporation should lead the creation of
new markets and uses by aggressively developing
the use of alternative fiber such as kenaf, hemp, and
agricultural waste, aiding in the shift of demand
away from virgin wood fiber, reducing pressure on
the world's remaining primary forests. Alternative
fiber can be used in virtually all papers and many
building materials. 

F. Additional Demand-side Management

Mitsubishi Corporation should work toward
additional demand-side management by instituting
a gradual reduction of wood and wood paper use of
7.5% yearly for the next 10 years (totaling 75%).
Analogous goals have been set in the Netherlands.
This process alone will create an increase in
sustainable economic activity while generating
more meaningful jobs developing alternatives.

5. Mitsubishi Corporation should commit
themselves to a timetable and submit a transition
plan for implementation and independent
verification. Using its regular Kinyo - Kai meetings
as a forum for a keiretsu task force, Mitsubishi
Corporation should additionally ensure that all
related companies, operations, or divisions integrate
this systemic approach into their business in order
to become ecologically sustainable. 

6. Mitsubishi Corporation could avoid working
with other corporations which do not adhere to the
above systemic approach and standards of
ecological sustainability. 


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