Greenpeace activists stormed the UK Cabinet Offices in Whitehall, London on the morning of April 10 in protest at government plans to use African hardwood doors and window frames in the building.
The 40 protestors, who entered the office dressed as building workers, claim the timber is sourced from endangered ‘old forest’ areas and said that an alternative wood should be used.
They said the Cabinet Office building was an ‘ancient forest crime scene’ and claimed that the government was not living up to pledges to buy timber and timber products derived only from ‘sustainably managed’ forests.
The activists unfurled a banner as part of the protest addressed to Prime Minister Tony Blair reading ‘Dear Tony, stop ancient rainforest crime’.
The installation of new doors and windows at the Whitehall building forms part of a £22.6m refurbishment.
An estimated 20 Greenpeace activists were arrested.
A spokesman for the Cabinet Office said: ‘The contract for the refurbishment of 22 Whitehall clearly stipulates that any hardwood used should be obtained from certified sustainable sources in line with govenment policy. All the documentation received from the contractor, Balfour Beatty, to date suggests that this requirement is being met.
‘Balfour Beatty have informed us that they are investigating the claims made by Greenpeace and we will take a very keen interest in the outcome of those investigations.’
Mark O’Brien, head of communications at the Timber Trade Federation, said: ‘We have been working closely with DfIT and DEFRA over the last 18 months helping to develop a more sustainable procurement policy. Greenpeace ever ready with a publicity stunt ignore the complex reality on the ground in many supplier countries. The UK imports relatively small amounts of timber from Africa, a continent characterised by major economic problems but the UK trade is committed to encouraging its suppliers wherever they are to source their timber from sustainable and legal sources.’
