Spotlight on Cargill

By Becky Ran

Have you seen the great series in the Minneapolis Star Tribune this week? One of our favorite reporters, Matt McKinney, is writing a whole week of expose on the effects of agribusiness – particularly Minnesota-based Cargill – on ordinary folks both in the US and abroad, such as Lynette Hambuga:

Sitting in the shadows of her home, which rests between a mountain and a coastline teeming with brilliant coral reefs, the graying grandmother says she fears global pressure to grow more oil palm for food and fuel will destroy the land for Cargill’s benefit. “They’re our resources. Not theirs.”

Cargill’s not stopping though – BNet yesterday reported that the agribusiness giant is seeking to expand its presence in Indonesia and Malaysia. Not good news, for Indonesia’s people or its forests.