18/02/2013

International Flirting Week

Yes, it’s true. It’s International Flirting Week. So I thought while we were internationally flirting, we could think about how internationally we are flirting with extinction.

This cause was brought to my attention by a friend and follower of As Time Goes…Buy.

Meet my lovely friend…Liana…

Baby Orangutan

Meet Liana: Okay, so this isn’t Liana. But this post is inspired by her and in fact I am thankful that she has made me aware of this situation. Liana wanted to get my attention by writing something she knows gets my attention…fashion. I have thought about how to word this post but nothing seems as well said or passionate as the message Liana sent to me.

Beautiful Baby Orangutan

“Hi Laura,

I have been reading your blog and am very impressed with what you have achieved. I am wondering what sort of ‘fashion spin’ I can put on a cause I feel very passionate about, so that you might mention it somehow in your blog … somewhere, so that the 1549 followers (probably 1550 if you count me) can check it out and maybe be inspired to do something.

So, here goes … fashion spin … I am really liking the Sumatran look at the moment … bright orange is in at the moment, but only for the moment … check out what this cute girl is wearing …”

Orange isn’t just a passing trend

“ … she looks rather pleased with her appearance!

oh no … this flame-coloured look is only a fashion ‘trend’ … soon you won’t see it anymore, never again!

Another of my favourite fashion trends at the moment is mixing bright orange with white & contrasting it with black; the colours work amazingly well together, almost like they were meant to be … naturally so …”

Sumatran Tiger – Print Trend?

“ … they are meant to be … but they won’t be for much longer … another fashion ‘trend’, the Sumatran tiger look is on the way out …

… I also like plain colours … grey is beautiful … if you are inclined to be on the bigger side … grey can look quite beautiful, stunning in fact, especially with the right accessories such as a grey trunk.”

Sumatran Elephants – A passing Phase?

“Ah, but for this little one, the Sumatran elephant look is fading as well.

Alas … another fashion ‘trend’ that we won’t be seeing in the very near future.

The above looks are all on their way out … permanently … with every tree felled, with every square metre of natural forest ravaged, we come closer to witnessing the extinction of these beautiful and intelligent animals. What has this got to do with fashion?

Everything.

Why are these beautiful animals on the way out? Because we all want palm oil – a simple case of supply & demand! Where is palm oil found? It comes from the oil palm tree which grows in tropical regions. In Indonesia & Malaysia deforestation is occurring at an alarming rate to make way for palm oil plantations, making up to 85% of the global production of palm oil. And what is palm oil used for … in cosmetics & food products! The more we demand it, the greater the deforestation to create the supply, which destroys the habitats of these magnificent creatures and condemns them to extinction within the next decade or so. The sad irony is that in order for us to create artificial beauty for ourselves, we are contributing to the demise of some of the most naturally beautiful creatures in the world.

I am sure that the majority of your 1549 followers use cosmetics which contain palm oil … because it is in so many products. It is not that we consciously demand it, but we don’t know it’s there. We don’t know where it comes from, and we don’t understand the ecological devastation that is resultant from its manufacture.

Is there an ecologically sound alternative? Yes … many.

If we could just educate and encourage others to stop buying products which contain palm oil, we would decrease the demand, which would reduce the need for palm oil plantations, reduce the need to destroy the natural forests of these countries & allow these animals to continue to exist alongside us.

Palm oil is also found in about 50% of all packaged products in our supermarkets.

The greatest threat at the moment is in Central Sumatra where these three animals are facing the death sentence and extinction … Borneo is also under threat.

I just thought that somewhere in your blog you might be able to mention ‘The Orangutan Project’ or direct people to go check it out, and maybe get people thinking about alternatives to palm oil …palmoilfreeproducts.com.au.

Why don’t you just go and have a look … check out little ‘Bunga’ … we’ve adopted her … and yes she looks just like me.

Thanks for listening … I’ll get off my soap-box now … ah … that would actually be a ‘goats milk cleansing product-box’ which does not contain palm oil!”

Liana

Please check out Borneo orangutan Survival for a list of products that contain palm oil. Palm Oil Action also has a great page on how to tell if palm oil is being used in food products.

Liana and I aren’t asking for much…just that you have information so you can make an education choice. I know I’m going to be trying some of the Palm Oil Free Products. Which means I’ll probably let you all know more about them!

So during this week of International Flirting…let’s try to stop flirting with disaster.

Cheers,

Laura

Stop the cruelty of animals for cosmetics (mineral-makeup-cosmetica.com)
The Pros and Cons Associated with Red Palm Oil (americanlivewire.com)
Is Dr. Oz Shilling for the Malaysian Palm Oil Mafia? (understory.ran.org)
NEWSFLASH Dr. Oz: Palm Oil Kills Orangutans! (ecorazzi.com)
Do Your Cookies and Shampoo Contain “Deforestation?” (preciousjules1985.wordpress.com)

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About astimegoesbuy

Just a middle-aged woman with a love of fashion trying to have a purchasing fast. Spending 90 days dressing out of what is already in the wardrobe.If I can't shop for clothes, I may as well write about clothes! View all posts by astimegoesbuy

This entry was posted on Monday, February 18th, 2013 at 00:05 and tagged with Flirting with Disaster, Flirting with Extinction, International Flirting Week, Palm oil, Palm Oil Free Products, Sumatran tiger and posted in Fashion, Lifestyle, Trends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

11 Responses to “International Flirting Week”

essentjewels
February 18th, 2013 at 00:16

I love the sumstran elephants.

Reply
- astimegoesbuy
  February 18th, 2013 at 07:50
  
  Aren’t they beautiful creatures.
  I love them all!
  Cheers,
  Laura
  
  Reply
jensine
February 18th, 2013 at 09:54

I so love orangutans and have always wanted t go and help save them … maybe one day i can and up till then I will just try and avoid what I do not need

Reply
- astimegoesbuy
  February 18th, 2013 at 18:37
  
  Same here Jens!
  I used to dream of going to Borneo to see them…but until I do, I will be more aware of what I can change and do without that may endanger their habitat.
  Cheers,
  Laura
  
  Reply
  - jensine
    February 18th, 2013 at 21:17
valeriedavies
February 18th, 2013 at 19:25

Great piece – all palm oil products including Cadbury’s chocolate are a no-no in this house

Reply
- astimegoesbuy
  February 18th, 2013 at 22:25
  
  I feel badly that I didn’t know this before!
  Luckily, I can start making better choices now.
  Cheers,
  Laura
  
  Reply
FreeUrCloset
February 19th, 2013 at 12:47

Great post. Very sad that such beautiful creatures are endangered. We all have the power to make a difference.
xo Natasha

Reply
- astimegoesbuy
  February 19th, 2013 at 14:29
  
  Exactly my point Natasha!
  There are things that we can all do to make a difference and none of them are complicated.
  Cheers,
  Laura
  
  Reply
KristySamone
February 20th, 2013 at 07:26

Thank you sooo much for this informative post! I’m about to check out the “palmoilfreeproducts.com.au” and “Borneo orangutan Survival’ sites. Small changes can make a big difference.
http://kristysamone.com/

Reply
- astimegoesbuy
  February 20th, 2013 at 17:41
  
  That’s exactly it Kristy!
  I can’t change the world but I can make some changes to what I buy and if enough people become aware and make change it can make a huge difference.
  Cheers,
  Laura
  
  Reply