Call For Action from MEPs Regarding Palm Oil Plantation Controversy

Dublin: Nearly 20 organisations, including Trocaire, Oxfam Ireland, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Friends of the Earth, and the National Women's Council, gathered at St. Stephen's Green in Dublin for a peaceful protest. The Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (ICBHR) urged Irish MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) to address the issue of Palm Oil Plantations, known to cause environmental damage. In a symbolic gesture, the group formed an imaginary Palm oil plantation at the iconic Dublin location to draw attention to the issue.

A group opposing a presumed five-acre plantation that would significantly impact the landscape put up a banner with the message, "Don't Dig up the Green."

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), over 50% of packaged goods in the Western world contain Palm oil, including ice cream, soap, and washing powder. Palm oil is a highly productive crop that produces a greater yield at a lower cost compared to other vegetable oils, resulting in a rapid increase in global production and demand.

Unfortunately, Palm oil has had a significantly negative effect on biodiversity, as the WWF has pointed out. Only a few islands in Malaysia and Indonesia cultivate about 90% of the world's oil Palm trees.

Palm oil plantations across the globe pose a grave threat not only to deforestation but also to the safety and security of human rights defenders. Many people have been forced out of their lands due to these plantations. The ICBHR has urged Ireland's MEPs to act before the crucial vote on the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive in the European Parliament. The directive was proposed last year by the European Commission to address human rights abuses and ecological damage. Caoimhe de Barra, Trocaire's CEO, stated that it would be outrageous to transform St Stephen's Green into a Palm oil plantation.

It is astonishing to see many communities work with globally being attacked, and being forced to vacate their homes and land, just to cater to the continually increasing demand for Palm oil. This highly profitable product is extensively used in our daily-use products like shampoo, breakfast cereals, and cosmetics. It is equally distressing that the said demand for Palm oil is causing severe harm to the environment worldwide, including vast deforestation and loss of species. This is happening while the world battles an uncontrollable climatic crisis.