Oil palm and logged over rainforest in Sabah, Malaysia. Photo by Rhett A. Butler 2008.
Girls Scouts USA has censored its Facebook page after receiving comments criticizing the organization, according to Rainforest Action Network (RAN). RAN along with Change.org and two Girl Scout activists, Rhiannon Tomtishen and Madison Vorva, declared today a social media day of activism against the Girl Scouts for using palm oil in their popular cookies. The oil has been linked to rainforest destruction in Indonesia and Malaysia.
According to RAN, after receiving around 50 comments on its Facebook page, Girl Scouts of the USA “removed every last one and altered the settings on their Facebook page so that no individual comments or links from fans could be posted there. Those individual messages cannot be retrieved.”
The Girl Scouts Facebook page is now allowing comments, but only under a single thread under this announcement: “This morning, Girl Scouts was the focus of an article regarding Palm Oil in our cookies. Our bakers exclusively source palm oil from members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.” At the time of publication this thread has received over 350 comments.
 Palm oil is now found in up to half of packaged processed foods, including Girl Scout cookies. By virtue of its high yield, palm oil is a cheaper substitute than other vegetable oils. In an effort to reduce costs, some candy makers are using palm oil in place of cocoa butter in their milk chocolate products. Photo by Rhett A. Butler |
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is the official body that sets environmental and social standards for the production of sustainable palm oil. However, Rhiannon Tomtishen and Madison Vorva are asking Girl Scouts to take palm oil completely out of the cookies. According to a petition the activists are concerned that RSPO has not yet been able to fulfill its promises, contending that RSPO member companies have been “documented clearing forest, peatland and critical wildlife habitat while ignoring human rights—all of which are prohibited in the RSPO principles and criteria.”
After meeting with Girl Scouts execs in 2008, Tomtishen and Vorva have not heard from the organization related to their concerns.
RAN accuses Girl Scouts USA going against its mission to empower girls to be leaders in order to make a better world and then “[making] the decision to censor the comments of scores of its young leaders rather than listen to their concerns about the use of rainforest-destroying palm oil in its famous Girl Scout cookies.”
Girl Scouts USA has responded to allegations of censorship on the Facebook page with this message: “Girl Scouts of the USA welcomes interaction, discussion, commentary, questions and criticism but ask that comments are kept relevant and respectful. GSUSA reserves the right to remove comments or ban anyone who violates these guidelines. Personal attacks, inappropriate language, spamming and excessive posting will not be tolerated.”
Palm oil is the world’s most productive oil seed (far outstripping soy, which has been linked to deforestation in the Amazon), but is responsible for a significant percentage of deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia. For example, a study in Conservation Letters found that 55-59 percent of palm oil plantations in Malaysia built between 1990 and 2009 occurred on forested land.
Such aggressive deforestation has contributed to an environmental crisis in the region: biodiversity loss in some of the world richest habitats, conflict with indigenous groups who depend on the forests for their livelihood, and substantial greenhouse gas emissions.
While some palm oil is now being produced more responsibly, Girl Scouts USA hasn’t committed to greener palm oil for its cookies.
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