We just found out that News Corp is buying newsprint from Korindo Group -- meaning Murdoch’s Aussie papers are linked to massive deforestation and human rights violations in Indonesia.
If you’ve heard of Korindo before, it’s not for anything good. The conglomerate recently made headlines for burning and clearing 50,000 hectares of pristine rainforest in Papua for palm oil production.
News Corp’s The Australian and The Courier Mail are printed in Queensland on Aspex paper -- Aspex is a wholly owned subsidiary of Korindo group. But it doesn’t have to be this way -- News Corp could easily switch suppliers to comply with its own sustainable Global Paper Policy. But it’s going to take us joining voices to get News Corp’s attention.
Tell News Corp to take a stand against Indonesian deforestation and cut ties with Korindo now.
By buying newsprint from Korindo, News Corp is helping bankroll Korindo’s systematic destruction of precious rainforest in Papua and North Maluku, home to hundreds of indigenous communities and threatened wildlife like the bird-of-paradise.
But the tides are already beginning to turn against Korindo. Major palm oil, timber, wind tower, and logistic customers have cut ties with Korindo, forcing the company to put a temporary halt on forest clearance.
But the 75,000 hectares of uncleared forest remaining on Korindo palm oil plantation estates are at risk if and when they decide to start the bulldozers up again.
Because of the work of our partners and the voices of 70,000 SumOfUs members like you, multinational company Samsung announced that it would end its previously reported joint venture with Korindo.
We can do the same against News Corp with your support.
If we can push another major company to stop doing business with Korindo, it will send a clear message: deforestation is bad for business.
That’s why we’re demanding News Corp take responsibility for the paper they print on and get Korindo to shut down the bulldozers once and for all.
Call on Murdoch’s News Corp to cut ties with Korindo and stop bankrolling rainforest destruction.
More information
Reuters. 2 September 2016.
Eco-Business. 8 September 2017.