Deforestation -- The Dark Side of Europe's Thirst for Green Fuel

President George Bush's declaration that Americans are addicted to oil puts the spotlight on the use of alternative and renewable energy sources. But a closer look reveals a dark side to merely tapping so-called green energy sources without resorting to energy conservation. Europe's quest for green fuels is a case in point.

European countries are very proud of the inroads they've made in recent years in reducing their dependence on fossil fuels and their overall carbon emissions. These were achieved mainly through the adoption of green fuels for automotive needs.

More Europeans are using bio-diesel fuels produced by refining vegetable oils. These oils come mainly from processing rapeseed and palm. It is in the refining of palm oil for fuel that the unforeseen dark side to the European desire to go green is revealed.

Critics contend that Europe's path to a greener future is being paved by the rapid destruction of rain forests around the world, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. This destruction in turn is leading to the erosion of natural habitats for many endangered and unique animal species, such as Borneo's orangutan, Sumatra's rhinoceros, tigers, tapirs, gibbons and proboscis monkeys, which live in the forests of Southeast Asia.

More