Call this blog “No More Palm Oil & No More Girl Scout Cookies” – Part 3
Two years ago two Michigan members of the Girl Scouts worked toward earning a Bronze Award from that organization. This award is one of the three highest that the GS bestows to recognize that “a Junior Girl Scout has gained the leadership and planning skills required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in her community.” (From the GS USA website)
While researching their project on endangered orangutans, they learned that the orangutans’ jungle habitat—necessary for their survival—was being destroyed to turn it into palm oil plantations instead. As a result, orangutans were being killed in the name of commerce.
Since Girls Scout cookies contain palm oil, these two scouts decided that they could no longer sell the cookies in good conscience. They even went a step further: they launched an education drive to raise awareness of the plight of the orangutans. The education was not only for the audience at their middle school in Ann Arbor (and other schools in the area) but also for the GIRL SCOUT Organization itself.
Rhiannon Tomitshen and Madison Vorva champion the plight of the endangered orangutans.
For this awesome undertaking and display of leadership, courage, and compassion, the fifth FuchsiaWoman Now Award is presented to the now 14-year old Madison Vorva and Rhiannon Tomtishen. >>>><<<< WAY TO GO!
For Rhiannon and Madison
In addition, Madison and Rhiannon have started their own website:
http://www.saveorangutan.bravehost.com/
and blog site:
http://projectorangs.wordpress.com/
to provide updates on their Save the Orangutans activities. They have met with regional representatives of the GS USA as well as one of the bakeries that produces the cookies to voice their concern over the dreaded palm oil.
They have also completed the Silver Award and are working toward a Gold. I have a feeling that the committed duo of Madison and Rhiannon will win the Gold AND help put a stop to the disastrous use of palm oil in Girl Scout Cookies.
To Madison and Rhiannon – I’m with you on boycott of the GS cookies. I admire your dedication to make GS cookies better AND the world a better place—especially for the adorable orangutans.
Because of your efforts and in your honor, I have “adopted” a baby orangutan from http://redapes.org/adopt-an-orangutan/.
I chose Dodo – what a sweet face! — and have given him the middle name of MadiRhia. I hope he writes me soon! And I hope with a name like that, he can run fast. Or I may have to spring for boxing lessons. Hey, kid, it’s a jungle out there!
You are fantastic young ladies. “You Done Good” and continued success in all your endeavors.
Rhiannon and Madison meet Jane Goodall, world renown anthropologist and Chimpanzee Activist.
The newest member of my family!
