The end of Pulp Colonialism

In the Global South eucalyptus plantations are destroying the biodiversity – old, diverse forests are transformed into monocultures that strip down the soil. Work conditions at the plantations are inhumane. Lands of the indigenous people are stolen and smallholders are expelled to make space for plantations. Destroying the crop lands is threatening the nutritional security of millions of people. In the lands of the Sámi intensive forestry reduces the living area of the Sámi people and threatens their livelihood. This happens for example when the lichen pastures of the reindeer are used to benefit the forest industry and reindeer herding is not possible anymore. This is unacceptable. 

The Finnish forest industry could become the leader in restoring the ecological systems in a socially just way, while making it's model economically sustainable. Instead, it is destroying and shattering unique, old ecosystems, livelihoods and cultures in Finland, in Sámi land and in the Global South, more specifically in Uruguay and Brazil. 

We have to acknowledge that similar to fossil fuels, the intensive forestry in its current form has to end. Forest industry has to work for restoring the ecological system, while distributing the profits in socially just and economically sustainable way. That is why our demands are as follows: 

1. Stora Enso has to pay for the ecological and social damage it has caused. 

Stora Enso has to compensate for the damage it has caused to the indigenous people and local people in the Sámi Land, Uruguay and Brazil. Criminal violence that has been directed toward communities and the destroying of nature has to be reprimanded by justifiable payback. 

2. Stora Enso needs to return lands stolen from the indigenous people. 

Stora Enso and partner companies need to give back the lands that have been stolen from indigenous people and smallholders in the Global South. Destroying of nature caused by eucalyptus plantations has to be stopped. In its place has to be created actual reforestation programs that happen in control of the indigenous and local people and on their terms. 

3. Government of Finland: Set limits to deforestation - Fair transition now!

Biological diversity and carbon sinks need to be protected. That is why there needs to be an immediate and long-lasting limit to the amount of deforestation. Finland's government needs to immediately start a program to save the forest ecology and the carbon sinks that reforms the forest industry and reduces the amount of logging. Giving financial support to the intensive forestry ends up destroying the environment, and that is why it needs to stop. 

In the transition phase of the forest industry workers shouldn't be left alone, and instead they need to be offered a fair compensation and support for re-education. Finland's and Scandinavian's forest owners need to be able to make their living by conserving carbon sinks and contributing to preserving the ecology and nature. Forest companies need to produce products with higher added value, that use less wood and don't increase overconsumption. 

Come with us and demand a change and demonstrate your opinion close to the forest company giants, against pulp colonialism! You can participate the demonstration in different ways and in different roles, and you can find more information about them in the demonstration briefing and from internal messaging channels. Demonstration briefing is held on previous Thursday on 23th of November at 5 PM in Helsinki (you will get the information about the exact location later).