BORNEO PROJECT IN THE NEWS

In May and early June, The Borneo Project was featured on radio programs of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), National Public Radio (NPR), and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). At The Borneo Project's prompting, reporter Reese Elrich visited Borneo in April, to develop a story comparing the Bakun Dam with The Borneo Project's microhydro system in Long Lawen. In addition to the radio coverage, Erlich's article was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and other newspapers. The Borneo Project was also featured in the May/June 2001 addition of E Magazine, a national source of environmental news.

PASSPORT RETURNED TO SARAWAK ACTIVIST

After eight years without a passport, Jok Jau Evong, one of Sarawak's most noted and respected activists, will once again be able to travel overseas. In April, the Malaysian court ordered the Immigration Office to re-issue Jok Jau his passport which was impounded in 1993 as he prepared to leave for an international indigenous peoples conference. No reason was ever given for the confiscation and since that time Jok has been restricted to travel within his own country. Jok is one of nearly a dozen activists from Sarawak who have lost their passports for speaking out against logging, plantation development and the Bakun Dam. After years of litigation, Jok's legal victory sets a precedent for others to follow. With travel rights reinstated, The Borneo Project hopes Jok Jau will be able to visit The United States later this year.

SARAWAK PLANT SAID TO CURE PROSTATE CANCER

In the Summer 1999 issue of The Borneo Wire, we reported on an AIDS drug made from a plant found in the forests of Sarawak. While the drug from that plant moves through the lengthy process of clinical testing for FDA approval, Sarawak's Chief Minister Taib Mahmud announced in May that another plant from the Sarawak rainforests may cure prostate cancer. For secrecy reasons, he has not mentioned the name of the plant. However, he did say that the Sarawak government is working with an Australian company to make a drug from this plant. It is clear that the Malaysian government sees the economic potential of drugs developed from rainforest plants. What is uncertain is how indigenous groups, who often lead researchers to medicinal plants, will benefit in the development of this industry. One Malaysian official who noted that $132 billion are spent on retail drugs in the US each year said, "The [indigenous people] who have utilized rainforest knowledge must be co-opted to provide leads for further discovery. But I stress, we must not do this at their expense. We must ensure equitable participation from those who have used the rainforest all this while." It remains to be seen how indigenous groups will benefit from their knowledge.

RAINFORESTS FALLING FASTER

The World Bank issued a report warning that Indonesia's richest natural habitats will be obliterated by 2010 unless significant measures are taken to deal with rampant exploitation. In particular, the lowland forests of Sumatra will be completely cleared by 2005, and Indonesian Borneo by 2010. New maps based on satellite photos show that 1.7 million hectares of Indonesian forest were destroyed annually from 1985 to 1997, rather than the previous annual estimate of 0.6 to 1.3 million hectares. Since the fall of Suharto, things have gotten worse. The report notes that the central government has lost control over regional affairs and "A system of virtually no control has emerged, leading to an upward spiral of illegal logging and mining."

BRUNO MANSER STILL MISSING

It has now been over one year since Swiss activist Bruno Manser went missing in Sarawak's forests. On May 23rd, the foundation set up by Manser, Bruno Manser Fonds marked the date by erecting a totem pole in his memory in Bern, Switzerland. Friends and family now hold little hope that Manser is still alive. Manser is well known for living a nomadic existence with the Penan in Sarawak for six years. For his role organizing Penan resistance to logging, the government placed a $50,000 bounty on his head, dead or alive.

PEACE CORPS MEMORIES

The Borneo Project website was recently completely overhauled, and now has many new features and sections. One new feature is a gallery section, displaying over 50 pictures of Sarawak in the 1960's. The pictures come from the collections of returned Peace Corps volunteers Michael Mercil and Ted Pack. A look at these photos shows how dramatically Sarawak has changed in the last thirty years. We have also amassed a large archive of several hundred news stories on Borneo, with the latest news updates weekly. Come and take a look!

COMMUNITY FORESTRY TRAINING

In June, The Borneo Project will lead a workshop in community-based forest management in the village of Uma Bawang. This pilot program will focus on training communities in reforestation practices, data collection, documentation and analysis. One way to increase protection over community forest resourcesis to show the government that traditional forest management systems are a viable and sustainable alternative to large scale industrial logging.