Dear friends,
In a world too often marred by grief, wars, and violence, we find hope in the resilience and collective will of this community we have built. The story of our ongoing battle against logging in Sarawak is a testament to the power of perseverance and unity in the face of adversity.
As many of you know, Indigenous communities in Baram have been fervently campaigning against timber giant Samling. This struggle dates back to the 1980s. Most recently, under the banner of the “Stop the Chop Campaign,” The Borneo Project, alongside our partners, have led the charge. The magnitude of our recent success is reflected in Samling’s desperate attempt to silence us through a million-dollar defamation lawsuit against SAVE Rivers, our local partners. They filed this lawsuit in 2021 because of the success of our campaign.
Despite the trials and tribulations of this two-year legal battle, we never wavered. This September our tenacity bore fruit as Samling withdrew its lawsuit on the day of the trial, marking a momentous victory.
Not only did Samling lose, our coalition has emerged stronger than ever. The challenge spurred us to strengthen our networks, rally our supporters, and creatively strategize.
We also dove deep into researching the timber certification process – a purposefully convoluted system – and last month we released “Lost in Certification,” a groundbreaking report exposing the failures of Samling and the Malaysian timber industry. This report has reverberated throughout Malaysia, and we remain steadfast in our pursuit of reform at the state and national levels.
The timber industry in Sarawak has dominated the landscape for decades and logging companies are used to getting what they want. We’re changing the status quo and the way the system functions. That puts us in the pathway of lawsuits and intimidation, but the risks are well worth the fight for planetary health.
Our achievements have only been possible with the dedication of our supporters, and we are reaching out to you to help us keep pushing ahead.
Your contribution plays a crucial role in our work to protect the environment and advocate for social justice. The challenges we face are ongoing, but it’s clear that community-led initiatives are the most effective way to protect forests in Sarawak. Samling continues to push for access to log more Indigenous territories and we continue our work building capacity and resilience in these communities. Your donation will enable us to strengthen our advocacy, support our allies, and drive much-needed change in the Malaysian timber industry.
Over 80% of our funding comes from individuals like you. Your financial support directly fuels our work in preserving our planet’s ecosystems and safeguarding the rights of local communities. Your investment will make a tangible impact and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.
The world may be scarred, but our mission persists, a testament to the unwavering human spirit and the pursuit of a brighter, more sustainable future.
Thank you for your support.
In solidarity,
Jettie Word
Executive Director