Hundreds of Penan hunter-gatherers have signed a letter of protest about a logging permit awarded to a notorious timber company. The company, Samling Plywood, has a long history of destroying the Penan's rainforest home. The Penan have taken their protest to the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC), the body which certifies that timber has been logged ’sustainably'. The letter was signed by 16 Penan headmen, and carried the thumbprints of more than 600 others. The area being logged by Samling is one of the last remaining primary rainforest areas in the province of Sarawak and is therefore essential for the survival of the Penan as a people, who have already witnessed the destruction of much of their forest.
Act now to help the Penan
- Write a letter to the government of Sarawak in Malaysia urging action on the Penan’s situation.
- Donate to Survival’s campaign for the Penan and other campaigns.
- Write a letter to your MP or MEP (UK).
- Write to the President, your senators, congressmen or other elected officials (US).
- Write to your local Malaysian high commission or embassy, find out the address here.
