For Immediate Release:
September 30, 1997
Contact: Rick Spencer,
Programs Director

Greensboro, NC- EarthCulture blames the US furniture and construction industries for the widespread forest fires in the rainforest of Borneo. "Hundreds of people have died for cheap lauan plywood, and the forests are being devastated," says Rick Spencer, the Greensboro-based organization's Programs Director.

The Indonesian government has admitted the ongoing fires are raging on commercial logging sites. Last Friday, an Indonesian plane crashed as a result of the smog which has been declared a national disaster. Over 200 people died in the crash, and thousands are said to be suffering health problems as a result of the fires.

Indonesia is one of many Southeast Asian countries feeding the US tropical plywood market. Lauan (also called meranti or Phillipine mahogany) plywood is a very cheap product used as concrete forms, shelving, door skins, and furniture backing, but its cheap market value does not factor in the human and environmental costs. Indigenous people around the world suffer at the hands of logger cutting rainforest woods.

EarthCulture, along with other members of the newly-formed Rainforest Woods Coalition have revamped a boycott on all temperate and tropical rainforest woods including: mahogany, teak, rosewood, lauan, ebony, redwood, ramin, western red cedar, and ipe'. EarthCulture will be leading around 30 demonstrations at furniture stores and production plants throughout the Southeast over the next month, including several dramatic events at the upcoming High Point Furniture Market.