Conference in the European Parliament on Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests. Avant-Premiere of documentary "Frontera Invisible".

1. A preview screening of “Frontera Invisible”, a film about communities affected
by palm oil, was held at the European Parliament on 7 February 2017.

2. After the film screening, a packed audience stayed to listen to first hand
testimonies and expert commentary about the EU’s complicity in deforestation
and human rights infringements due to palm oil expansion in Colombia, Liberia
and Cameroon.
© Digby Washer

3. The EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT)
programme has made strides in tackling illegal logging in Liberia; we need
similar EU action for palm oil, says Jonathan Yiah of SDI Liberia.
© Digby Washer

4. Chemicals from Luxemburgish/French SOCFIN palm oil plantations in
Cameroon have made local water undrinkable and killed the fish people need to
eat, says Laurence Wete of FODER, Cameroon.
© Digby Washer

5. Eva Izquierdo of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) stressed that the
European Commission needs to enhance requirements for supply chain due
diligence.
© Digby Washer

6. The EU Rapporteur on Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests, MEP
Kateřina Konečná, co-hosted the screening and discussions.
© Digby Washer

7. Europeans' consumption of palm oil is denying peoples' rights in other
countries by removing basic rights and cultural traditions,
summarised MEP Seb Dance.

8. In June 2016 the European Council adopted
conclusions under the Dutch Presidency of the
European Union expressing concern about
deforestation around the globe due to agriculture.
Fern supports the Council’s call for the Commission
to tackle the drivers of deforestation and examine all
policy options to do so.
To read more visit http://www.fern.org/consumption