Environmental Investigation Agency
| Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) |
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|---|---|
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| founding | 1984, United Kingdom |
| Seat | London , Washington, DC |
| main emphasis | Animal and environmental protection |
| Action space | Global |
| people | Dave Currey, Allan Thornton, Jennifer Lonsdale |
| sales | $ 5,564,104 (2016) |
| Website | www.eia-global.org (US), www.eia-international.org/ (UK) |
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is a non-profit organization . The EIA was founded in England in 1984 by three environmental activists, Dave Currey, Jennifer Lonsdale and Allan Thornton . Since 1989 there is a second location in Washington, DC The organization acts to protect endangered animal species and the preservation of the global climate and conducts undercover investigations to uncover crime in the areas of the environment and climate . The evidence is used to carry out various campaigns. The aim of these campaigns is to attract the attention of politicians and the public so that appropriate laws can be drawn up to protect important animals, their habitats and global ecosystems.
Campaigns
The EIA team is currently working on the following projects:
- Preventing the illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances
- Eliminate and reduce the use of climate- changing gases and harmful chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
- End the destruction of the rainforest through illegal logging .
- Closure of illegally traded ivory markets
- Maintain the ban on whale hunting and trading in their products
- Closure of the illegal trade of Asian big cats (fur, bones, etc.)
Forest for the World
The aim of this campaign is to delay the regression of the rainforest and to promote the preservation of the existing habitats for humans and animals. The EIA is trying to enforce at the government level that the international trade of originally illegally logged wood is ended. EIA focuses on the largest wood-producing countries in Asia , Africa and Latin America and the largest consumer markets for wood in the USA , Europe and Japan . Producing countries are, for example, Indonesia , Malaysia , Taiwan or Honduras . The main aim of the campaign to regulate these markets is to support the fight against climate change . Because the deforestation of the rainforests results in the release of carbon dioxide, which now accounts for a fifth of the annual emissions of greenhouse gases. For example, the team was able to locate a growing timber trade in South-East Asia , where industrially manufactured garden furniture is produced and traded. The undercover agents of the EIA team pretended to be lumber traders who were interested in the wood products. Subsequently, EIA was able to prove the illegal trade of timber companies with the help of meaningful evidence. In 2008 this evidence was published, especially to raise awareness and environmental awareness of the illegal and cross-border trade in timber. The success of a similar investigation has reduced the illegal export of timber from Indonesia , thereby protecting the habitats of some endangered animal species. In November 2007, an Indonesian, non-governmental environmental organization released a series of films that documented how the existence of a community in Papua ( Indonesia ) is increasingly endangered by the deforestation and destruction of its oil palm plantations. EIA and the Indonesian partner Telapark then started a project in which they taught the local environmental organizations how to handle film equipment and film processing so that they can independently put together useful film material in the future. This proved successful, particularly to the benefit of communities that could attract international attention. A three-year project also took place in Tanzania in 2008, with 102. activists from 72 organizations from all parts of Tanzania participating.
Species in Peril
The following paragraphs describe EIA's animal welfare campaigns, which currently include tigers, whales (dolphins, porpoises, etc.), elephants and orangutans. In previous campaigns, EIA was able to contribute to the protection of birds, rhinos, turtles, bears and other animal species. EIA influenced the enactment of the 1989 Act to Prevent Internationally Traded Ivory (which protects elephant populations). As well as the ban on the import of illegally deforested products (May 2008) through which the last habitats of orangutans and many other animal species could be saved from destruction. The pressure the EIA was able to put on dealers and companies through the publication of footage in past investigations has reduced trade in products such as the organs of tigers. In addition, thousands of supermarkets in Japan stopped selling whale meat .
Asian big cats
Tigers are mainly hunted in Asia, which results in the immediate reduction of their populations. The demand for tiger skin is great worldwide and is met by the black market. In addition, various organs of the tiger unfortunately still play an important role in medicine in East and South Asia. In particular in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) , in which around 750 animal species are used. Organs (of mammals) such as bear bile or tiger bones are particularly popular .
Today there are fewer than 5000 tigers in the wild around the world. EIA has been conducting covert investigations in Asia, Europe and the USA since 1996 and has so far uncovered numerous businesses with tiger skin and bones on the black markets of the world. EIA works with a network of organizations to uphold the international ban on the illegal trade in tigers and tiger products. EIA has often been able to uncover, for example in China, that government members have connections to trade in products from tigers and obtain authorization for them. Organizations such as the International Tiger Coalition are working with governments through EIA to remedy these abuses.
Whales, dolphins, porpoises
EIA works with the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to ensure that the ban on commercial whaling is upheld. EIA focuses mainly on Japan and Norway - the countries that do the most whaling. This ban is one of the most successful achievements among the measures that have ever been implemented in the field of nature conservation. The whale population reduced by whaling can only regenerate very slowly. In Japan, for example, all kinds of whales are illegally hunted under the pretext of research. EIA reported that more than 20,000 bottlenose dolphins and dolphins are killed from the surrounding coastal waters in Japan each year. In order to reduce this catch, EIA increasingly tried to reduce the consumer demand for whale products - especially whale meat (including dolphin meat) through its campaigns. In Japan, EIA was able to secure whale meat under a different name in countless supermarkets by comparing the DNA of whale meat cells with that in the products. As a result of this evidence, which had put enormous pressure on the company's image, more than 2500 supermarkets had to stop selling these products. Bottlenose dolphins and dolphin populations have been reduced from 18,000 to 9,000 in the last 10 years.
Elephants
Within just 10 years (1979–1989) the number of elephants living worldwide fell from 1.3 million to only 600,000. The extremely high demand for ivory makes elephant hunting profitable for poachers and this has led to this enormous reduction in elephant populations. In 1987, the EIA launched the first groundbreaking investigation into the ivory trade. To do this, the investigators traveled through parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. In 1989 an international law banning the ivory trade was passed. The two founding members of the organization Dave Currey and Allan Thornton received the Albert Schweitzer Prize from The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) after this successful campaign . Since then, EIA has continued to investigate further illegal activities in the industry.
Global Climate and Environment
The temperature rise of only two degrees Celsius in the global climate can result in the extinction of 30% of all animal species. The greenhouse gases chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), other fluorocarbons (PFCs) and HCKs, which break down ozone, make a major contribution to this . These are favored as refrigerants in industry. EIA has successfully investigated the underground trade in CFCs and PFCs over the past 15 years. The “Chilling Facts” campaign lists all UK supermarket chains that are trying to use sustainable coolants. The aim of further campaigns is to regulate all ozone-depleting and PCB-containing substances such as hazardous waste.
Awards
- Best-of-the-Best Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award, 2007 (Awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency .)
- Montreal Protocol Partners Award, 2007 (Awarded by the United Nations Environment Program, UNEP) in recognition of the ten-year undercover investigation into the illegal trade in chemicals that are hazardous to the ozone layer.
- BBC TV Lifetime Achievement Award, 2003 (Given to the President of the EIA for his electoral protection work.)
- Global 500 Roll of Honor, 2001 (Awarded by the United Nations Environment Program for “outstanding contributions to the protection of the environment”.)
- Albert Schweitzer Award , 1991 (Awarded by later US Senator John Heinz to the two founders of the EIA for uncovering the trade in poached elephant ivory.)
TV documentaries and videos
- In 1995 the “Independent Television Network” first broadcast the TV series “The Animal Dedectives In The UK”. This was produced together with the directors of EIA. The series shows what EIA's work is like in the business of trafficking in endangered species, to which EIA has contributed footage. The series includes seven episodes, each about a different species of animal. The episodes include:
Bears (01/06/1995), whales (25/05/1995), parrots (18/05/1995), walruses (11/05/1995), rhinos (04/05/1995), turtles (30/03/1995) / 1995), monkeys (23/02/1995). The series won the "Media Natura Award" for best film, the "Brigitte Bardot International Genesis Award" (Los Angeles) and the "Gold Plaque" (at the "Chicago Documentary Film Festival").
- On September 6, 2011, the three-part documentary about the deforestation of the rainforests, the hunting of whales and the trade in ivory in Africa was first broadcast on National Geographic Wild .
- On November 13, 2011, "Crimes against Nature" was broadcast on the German broadcaster WDR .
- Also from November 2011 is the documentary “Die story: Undercover gegen die Holzmafia” ( WDR ), which shows how illegal logging for furniture and instruments such as Gibson guitars is uncovered in Madagascar.
- Videos can be found on the German website of National Geographic Wild [1]
- "NG Inside: Tracking down EIA fur hunters" was shown on November 3, 2011 at 6:30 am on National Geographic HD.
Quotes
“EIA's track record of investigative work, scientific documentation, and representation at international conventions has earned EIA a reputation for highly effective and successful campaigning. EIA continues to share these skills with local groups and government officials to help empower them in the fight against environmental crime. "
“Because of the EIA's track record of investigative work, scientific documentation and representation in international conventions, the EIA has gained a reputation for highly effective and successful campaigns. EIA continues to share these skills with local groups and government officials to help and empower them in the fight against environmental crime. "
"EIA is a highly-respected, hard-hitting, dirt-digging organization."
"The EIA is a highly respected, powerful and filth-stirring organization."
“The reason for their success is not just the information gathered, it is the way they use it as a political lobbying tool. One of Britain's most effective conservation groups. "
"The background to their success isn't just the information they collect, it's the way they use it as a political lobbying tool."
“I am proud to support EIA. Thanks to their brave and pioneering methods of undercover work to expose crimes against wildlife and the environment, they have made a great difference to the world in which we all live. "
“I am proud to support the EIA. Thanks to their bold and pioneering methods of working undercover to expose crimes against wildlife and the environment, they mean a lot to the world we all live in. "
“EIA performs an extremely important role in investigating various abuses of the natural world. I believe it deserves support from anyone concerned about the future of the living world. "
“The EIA plays an extremely important role in identifying all kinds of abuses in the natural world. I believe she deserves support from anyone who is concerned about the future of our living world. "
literature
- On October 6, 2008, The New Yorker magazine published a report on EIA's work to prevent illegal logging.
- The article Illegal timber trade: Over-exploitation of the rainforest appeared in GEO magazine No. 04/10 (under the title topic: Timber trade-hot track in the forest; lies so that trees do not become beams: eco-detectives act as timber traders. )
Web links
- Environmental Investigation Agency (UK) . Retrieved June 18, 2007.
- Environmental Investigation Agency (US) . Retrieved June 27, 2007.
- Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture . Retrieved October 5, 2011.
- EIA co-founder Dave Currey's website showcasing his photography and services
- What's New
Individual evidence
- ↑ Green Gumshoes. In: Sunday Times Mag. 17/6/1990.
- ↑ Welcome to EIA ( Memento of the original dated February 9, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Environmental Crime ( Memento of the original from June 5, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Borderlines ( Memento of the original from April 21, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Forests for the World
- ↑ People of the Forest ( Memento of the original from July 16, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Tiger Briefings ( Memento of the original from August 27, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Tigers ( Memento of the original from May 16, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Cetaceans - Japan ( Memento of the original from October 9, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ We Don't Buy It ( Memento of the original from November 23, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Allan Thornton, Dave Currey: To Save An Elephant. Doubleday, 1991, ISBN 0-385-40111-6 .
- ^ Return of the Ivory Trade. In: Independent Newspaper. July 12, 2008 (online)
- ↑ Schweitzer Medalists ( Memento of the original from October 7, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Species in Peril: Elephants. ( Memento of the original from August 31, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on: eia-global.org
- ↑ "Chilling Facts" ( Memento of the original from October 17, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ British Film Institute
- ↑ Undercover against the wood mafia. on: wdr.de , 2011. (online)
- ↑ EPA quota
- ↑ BBC Quote 1 ( Memento of the original from May 16, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ BBC Quote 2 ( Memento of the original from May 9, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ The stolen forests. In: The New Yorker. October 6, 2008.
- ↑ Hot Seats. ( Memento of the original from September 28, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. In: The New Yorker. October 6, 2008.
- ^ Illegal timber trade: overexploitation of the rainforest. on: geo.de
