Friends of the Earth U.S.

Keep the Amazon rainforest off the chopping block

The Bush administration is pushing Congress to approve a free trade agreement that will put the Amazon rainforest on the chopping block. The Peru Free Trade Agreement will promote harmful trade and allow large-scale illegal logging in the rainforest. Tell Congress to protect the Amazon.

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November 20, 2009

Subject:
Oppose the Peru Free Trade Agreement

Dear Member of Congress

The Amazon rainforest in Peru is one of the most biodiverse and environmentally vulnerable regions in the world, with hundreds of endangered and threatened species at risk.  Unfortunately, the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement that Congress will soon consider will further endanger Peru’s rainforest.  I urge you to oppose this agreement.

One of the most serious threats to the Peruvian rainforest is the widespread illegal logging of mahogany, an endangered species.  This logging damages habitat for other endangered species such as the giant river otter.  In addition, the International Labor Organization has documented the use of forced indigenous labor in many illegal logging operations.  Most of the mahogany logged in Peru is exported to the United States in violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

I’m concerned that the Peru Free Trade Agreement doesn’t address these threats to Peru’s rainforest.  It includes only token, unenforceable provisions on the environment that do not even require enforcement of international agreements protecting endangered species.  And it will expand the special rights of multinational companies to attack legitimate environmental protections.

Please oppose this anti-environmental free trade agreement and help ensure that the rainforest in Peru is protected.

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