Skip to content
Archive Zoka Actions for Future Use
Emails
Email to Ministry of Water and Environment/National Forest Authority
SUBJECT: Plea to Stop the Destruction of the Zoka Central Forest Reserve
Honorable Sam Cheptoris (Ministry of Water and Environment) or Paul Buyerah Musamali (National Forest Authority)
I am writing to you and the Ministry of Water and Environment on the case of communities living in West Nile districts of Adjumani and Moyo and also those living around Zoka Central Forest Reserve in northern Uganda. For the past few decades, the districts in West Nile and Northern Uganda have fought for their land and protecting their forest covers, but their voices were silenced. Just recently, a journalist covering the illegal logging occurring in the Moyo district was assaulted by the loggers.
Environmental crimes have not stopped during the time of COVID-19, in fact, they continue to worsen. Zoka Central Forest Reserve is a national treasure to Uganda and is essential to the lives of the Ma’di people and the communities around Zoka. Community members who tried to stand up against destruction of the forests in Moyo and Adjumani continue to be threatened with violence.
We, along with Friends of Zoka and the Ma’di people, urge that you enforce the official suspension of harvesting and trade in Afzelia Africana and Shea Nut trees from December 2017 to break the stronghold of the illegal logging cartel and protect Zoka Central Forest Reserve in defense of these communities’ lives.
I call on you to:
• Enforce the ban of all illegal logging in Northern Uganda and commercial charcoal production in Zoka Central Forest Reserve, effective immediately
• Protect all endangered trees within the forest
• Stop the illegal charcoal and logging trade trafficking trees to Kampala and to countries including China
• Ensure that all communities that have been harmed in the past due to deforestation in Zoka are protected from further abuse.
• Eradicate all future overseas trade regarding illegal logging
• Ensure that communities who were detained because of their efforts towards protecting Zoka are released and properly accommodated.
• Ensure that the army and the police involved in the illegal logging are prosecuted and brought to justice
• Increase funding in environmental police to ensure there will be less environmental crimes in the future.
Yours sincerely,
[name]
Ministry of Water and Environment
Summarize our request
Thank for reading, and hope that they will address
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Email to International Embassies (US, EU)
SUBJECT: Plea to Stop the Destruction of the Zoka Central Forest Reserve
Dear US and EU embassy,
I am writing to you to help stop cartels from destroying Zoka Rainforest by illegally extracting and trading endangered trees in northern Uganda. For the past few decades, these cartels have trafficked thousands of these logs overseas unpunished under your scrutiny. Zoka forest hosts 75% of the world’s bird and insect species in Uganda, yet thousands of acres for this precious wildlife are being lost due to this injustice.
The Ma’di people of the Moyo and Adjumani districts have bravely fought for their land in recent times, but their voices have been silenced. Just recently, a journalist covering the illegal logging occurring in the Moyo district was assaulted by the loggers—environmental crimes have not stopped during the time of COVID-19, in fact, they continue to worsen. The Zoka rainforest is a national treasure to Uganda and is essential to the lives of the Ma’di people. Community members who tried to stand up against destruction of the forests in Moyo and Adjumani are continue to be threatened with violence.
We, along with Friends of Zoka and the Ma’di people, urge that you put pressure on Ugandan authorities and provide assistance to help these Adjumani and Moyo districts defend themselves from the illegal loggers.
I call on you to:
• Alert all Foreign Service Officers of this situation
• Urge local governments and militaries to defund cartels
• Raise awareness of this crisis immediately
• Ensure that authorities of foreign trade management take charge and track down cartels responsible for these communities’ suffering
Yours sincerely,
Format
Email to International Embassies (US, EU Ambassador)
Your Excellency
I am writing to you to help stop cartels from destroying Zoka Rainforest by illegally extracting and trading endangered trees in northern Uganda. For the past few decades, these cartels have trafficked thousands of these logs overseas unpunished under your scrutiny. Zoka hosts 75% of the world’s bird and insect species in Uganda, yet thousands of acres for this precious wildlife are being lost due to this injustice.
The Ma’di people of the Moyo and Adjumani districts have bravely fought for their land in recent times, but their voices have been silenced. Just recently, a journalist covering the illegal logging occurring in the Moyo district was assaulted by the loggers—environmental crimes have not stopped during the time of COVID-19, in fact, they continue to worsen. The Zoka rainforest is a national treasure to Uganda and is essential to the lives of the Ma’di people. Community members who tried to stand up against destruction of the forests in Moyo and Adjumani are continue to be threatened with violence.
We, along with Friends of Zoka and the Ma’di people, urge that you put pressure on Ugandan authorities and provide assistance to help these Adjumani and Moyo districts defend themselves from the illegal loggers.
I call on you to:
• Alert all Foreign Service Officers of this situation
• Urge local governments and militaries to defund cartels
• Raise awareness of this crisis immediately
• Ensure that authorities of foreign trade management take charge and track down cartels responsible for these communities’ suffering
Yours sincerely,
Format
Email to International Embassies (China)
Your Excellency,
I am urging you to help stop cartels from destroying Zoka Rainforest by illegally extracting and trading endangered trees in northern Uganda. For the past few decades, 90% of all logs taken from Zoka Rainforest have been exported to China. Your embassies took a large toll on several communities within Uganda by letting illegal traders benefit from mass overseas logging transport. The Zoka forest hosts 75% of the world’s bird and insect species in Uganda, yet these cartels who export countless logs into your country are not only harming multiple endangered species per day, but even harming the lives of communities in need.
The Ma’di people of the Moyo and Adjumani districts have bravely fought for their land in recent times, but their voices have been silenced. Just recently, a journalist covering the illegal logging occurring in the Moyo district was assaulted by the loggers—environmental crimes have not stopped during the time of COVID-19, in fact, they continue to worsen. The Zoka rainforest is a national treasure to Uganda and is essential to the lives of the Ma’di people. Community members who tried to stand up against destruction of the forests in Moyo and Adjumani are continue to be threatened with violence.
We, along with Friends of Zoka and the Ma’di people, urge that you help terminate all logging exports derived from Zoka rainforest and provide assistance to help Adjumani and Moyo districts defend themselves from the illegal loggers.
I call on you to:
• Alert all Foreign Service Officers of this situation
• Urge local governments and militaries to defund cartels
• Raise awareness of this situation
• Ensure that authorities of foreign trade management take charge and track down cartels responsible for these communities’ suffering
Yours sincerely,
Format
Email to International Embassies (Vietnam)
Your Excellency,
I am urging you to help stop cartels from destroying Zoka Rainforest by illegally extracting and trading endangered trees in northern Uganda. For the past few decades, 1 out of every 10 felled trees taken from Zoka Rainforest have been exported to Vietnam. Your embassies took a large toll on several communities within Uganda by letting illegal traders benefit from mass overseas logging transport. The Zoka forest hosts 75% of the world’s bird and insect species in Uganda, yet these cartels who export countless logs into your country are not only harming multiple endangered species per day, but even harming the lives of communities in need.
The Ma’di people of the Moyo and Adjumani districts have bravely fought for their land in recent times, but their voices have been silenced. Just recently, a journalist covering the illegal logging occurring in the Moyo district was assaulted by the loggers—environmental crimes have not stopped during the time of COVID-19, in fact, they continue to worsen. The Zoka rainforest is a national treasure to Uganda and is essential to the lives of the Ma’di people. Community members who tried to stand up against destruction of the forests in Moyo and Adjumani are continue to be threatened with violence.
We, along with Friends of Zoka and the Ma’di people, urge that you help terminate all logging exports derived from Zoka rainforest and provide assistance to help Adjumani and Moyo districts defend themselves from the illegal loggers.
I call on you to:
• Alert all Foreign Service Officers of this situation
• Urge local governments and militaries to defund cartels
• Raise awareness of this situation
• Ensure that authorities of foreign trade management take charge and track down cartels responsible for these communities’ suffering
Yours sincerely,
Format
Template (from another storm from Amnesty )
Your Excellency,
I am writing to you on the case of communities living in the Adjumani and Moyo districts, northern Uganda. Between 3 January and 27 March, the communities living in the Acholi Ber, Oyobi and Oloyo Kampala villages in Apaa area were subjected to forced evictions by rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The rangers burnt homes, looted property and beat up villagers despite the presence of Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers who were deployed to the area on 2 February to protect the communities.
Hundreds of people have been rendered homeless and are exposed to a range of human rights violations. Villagers still living in the Apaa area risk being forcibly evicted. Forced evictions are in violation of the Ugandan constitution and international human rights law.
Journalists trying to cover the ongoing evictions and violence in Apaa have been denied access to the area.
I call on you to: • Ensure that forced evictions in the Apaa area stop immediately; • Ensure that the Apaa residents who have already been forcibly evicted are provided with access to effective remedies including adequate compensation and alternative housing; • Ensure that impartial, thorough and transparent investigations are carried out into the actions of the Uganda Wildlife Authority against the communities in the Apaa area as well as the role of the UPDF soldiers deployed in the area for the protection of the villagers and hold those found responsible to account without recourse to the death penalty. Yours sincerely,
Ministry of Water and Environment
Twitter storm
@nationalforestauthroity We demand that you immediately enforce the ban on illegal logging in Zoka Forest to protect the biodiversity of the rainforest and the lives of the Ma’di community! #SaveZoka @FriendsOfZoka
When will you stop allowing cartels from harming the Zoka Forest? Not only are the traders obtaining corrupt power with the military under your power, they’re harming local communities. Hand freedom and power back to our districts. #SaveZoka @FriendsOfZoka
你们什么时候才能不允许卡特尔破坏佐卡森林？商人不仅在你们的势力范围内利用军队获得腐败的权力，而且还在伤害当地社区。把自由和权力还给我们的地区。#SaveZoka @FriendsOfZoka
Please help ensure that all authorities, including your embassy, take charge for this current crisis! Zoka Forest Reserve is home to 75% of Uganda’s birds and insects. Act now to help save Zoka Forest from destruction! #SaveZoka @FriendsOfZoka
Petitions
Example petitions
Stop the destruction of Uganda’s Zoka Forest by illegal loggers!
Illegal cartels are cutting down the endangered trees of the Zoka Central Forest Reserve in Uganda and profiting off them by exporting them to countries like China and Vietnam. We need your help to stop these cartels to protect the livelihoods of the indigenous Ma’di people and to protect the precious biodiversity of the only rainforest of northern Uganda.
Defenders of Zoka have tried for years to stop these environmental crimes, but have been met with opposition and violence from the cartels who are often assisted by the local military. Just recently, William Amanzuru, the founder of Friends of Zoka, narrowly escaped arrest from the Moyo district commissioner who sought to stop his footage of the illegal logging from being shared, and a journalist doing the same was assaulted by the loggers and detained by the local police.
Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment has already established a decree that bans the logging of the Afezelia Africana and Shea Nut Trees, but the illegal logging has continued, threatening the entire existence of the Zoka forest. Friends of Zoka estimates that 90% of these logs are trafficked to China, with the rest going to countries like Vietnam.
Friends of Zoka and the Ma’di community desperately needs your help. Together, let’s demand that the National Forest Authority in Uganda and the Ministry of Water and Environment stop these illegal loggers from taking the precious treasures of Zoka, and that the embassies to Uganda of the European Union, the United States, China, and Vietnam ensure that the proper support is given to stop the illicit logging trade.
No to the blockade of Renewable Energies in Mexico!
The recent energy policy, steamed by the Energy Secretariat in the midst of the health crisis, will make our energy expensive and dirty. This does not benefit the country and only accelerates the effects of climate change, threatening the environment and our health, including the international commitments to generate 35% of electricity from clean sources by 2024. Let's demand transparency in the operation of Public and private companies to achieve a Mexico with renewables, but without corruption.
Do not prioritize highly polluting fossil fuels such as fuel oil, coal and natural gas to produce the energy we need, over renewable sources that are cheaper and help combat climate change. We need to ensure a just energy transition with respect for human rights, communities and ecosystems.
It requires Rocío Nahle, head of the Ministry of Energy, to stop blocking renewable energies in Mexico and to bet on them with a social and environmental perspective.
When will you stop allowing cartels from harming the Zoka Forest? Not only are the traders obtaining corrupt power with the military under your power, they’re harming local communities. Hand freedom and power back to our districts. #SaveZoka @FriendsOfZoka
Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.
This is not the way.
Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (
CtrlP
) instead.