(Link to PDF version for printing)

VOL 1 ISSUE 1       SEPT 2007

September 2007
Newsletter

Stick with me! Baby

 

Contents

LocSec Column The Tenth Story Life Is One Crazy Rush DAG (Dining Adventure Group) Review and next Adventure Happy Birthday to our members with birthdays in September Newsletter Delivery Coming Attractions

 

LocSec Column

Palm Oil or your land

How would you feel if you awoke one morning to discover that your property which has been handed down from, generation to generation to you is being plowed over and Palm trees were being planted all over it. Imagine how Barto, leader of the Fayak Kanayan community in a remote part of deepest Borneo felt when this happened to him. Barto says he is more sad than angry. "This is our ancestors land which we have had for years now and we have lost it. "I went to my land one morning, and found it had been cleared. All my rubber trees, my plants had been destroyed," he says, fighting back the tears. "Now I have to work as a builder in Malaysia, so I can feed my three children."

       Barto's village is Aruk, and is on the border with Malaysia in West Kalimantan. This region marked for oil expansion. Indonesia plans to supply the growing palm oil demands of Europe and China. The EU recently agreed to use biofuels, with includes palm Oil, in its transport fuels by 2020. His village is one of many where land rights of indigenous people butt heads with government concessions given to Palm Oil Companies.

       The company, a subsidiary of the Indonesian Duta Palma group, did offer Alexander compensation for his land. But Alexander says it is not enough, and that he is yet to receive anything. "Deep in my heart I feel I don't want to let go of my land, but if I have to, they have to pay me," he adds.

       Villagers say some 25 of their plots were cleared without their consent, so in desperation 300 of them seized a equipment belonging to the company. It was returned when the police intervened.

       Why is this occurring all over the West Kalimantan Area? The demand for Palm oil has shot up says Jefri Gideon, Campaign worker for the Indonesian NGO supported by OXFAM. There are now 400 communities involved in conflicts like this one.

       After reading the whole story above, which I have summarized, I was wondering what are all these uses for Palm Oil. Certainly something I was not aware of. I discovered a lot from the following URLs:

www.fedepalma.org/oil_uses.htm

www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/palm_oil_summary.pdf

www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/greasy_palms_impacts.pdf

www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/greasy_palms_buyers.pdf

Palm oils rich orange color is from it 16 times as much beta Carotene as in a carrot with equal mass, making it a rich source of vitamin A. Tocopherols and tocotrienol (vitamin E fractions) are also found in palm oil. Carotene, tocopherols and tocotrienol act as antioxidants and can reduce cell damage caused by toxic substances and environmental pollution. In addition, palm oil is an excellent source of tocotrienols; powerful anticarcengic substances.

In Asia , it is called 'gold oil' for its perfect balance of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids which do not adversely affect cholesterol levels.

How much Palm Oil is used today worldwide? Surprisingly 24,952,000 metric tons, of which the largest users are India and China.

Why has the demand risen so rapidly lately? The answer is ecological fuels. In 1900, Rudolf Diesel used vegetable oil as fuel for his car, from which the motor engine subsequently took its name. Years later, palm oil was successfully developed as a biofuel for cars. Using palm oil as a biofuel is more environmentally friendly and its more advantageous than other combustible fuels such as petrodiesel and standard petrol.

Colombia has pledged to produce biodiesel using palm oil mixed with diesel. This will eventually play an important role in providing energy fuels which can power thousands of cars and machines with motor engines across Colombia . Using palm oil as a biodiesel brings benefits and is environmentally friendly. It also generates employment and contributes to the demand for renewable energy sources. Europe has passed legislation requiring 10% biodeisel, much of which will use palm oil.

Brian Johnson
LocSec.

 

The Tenth Story

THE LDW IS COMING! It is official now - Region 10 will be holding a Leadership Development Workshop November 3, 2007.

LOCATION: The Red Rose Inn and Suites (formerly Ramada Inn Plantation), 2011 North Wheeler Street, Plant City, 33563 - at Exit 19 on Interstate 4.

We have a $75 nightly room rate, for up to 4 in a room. Staying at the hotel does include a full breakfast buffet. To allow for 4 in a room, they are blocking 20 guest rooms with 2 double beds for us, but you can have a king bed if you request it.

Call 813-752-3141 to book your room. Mention "Mensa Leadership Workshop" to get the $75 rate.

FRIDAY EVENING: We will have light hospitality (sodas and snacks) from 6:00 to midnight in the Abbey 1 room at the hotel. Purely social. (We cannot use LDW funds for alcohol, so you must bring your own if you want it.) SATURDAY MORNING: Breakfast buffet is included with your room if you are staying at the hotel.

SATURDAY: We will be presenting pertinent topics from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Twelve Oaks Room, which has a maximum capacity of 50 people.

SATURDAY 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.: Attendees will be treated to a hot buffet lunch in the hotel's excellent restaurant. (NOTE: They don't usually serve lunch on Saturday, so this will be just for us.) SATURDAY EVENING: Jerry and Merrell Fortner, who live 15 minutes from the hotel, are graciously hosting a party with dinner for all attendees of the LDW. We will carpool and caravan from the hotel to the Fortners.

You may attend the LDW without staying at the hotel, but for those at a distance, this is a good value. No registration fee. Meals provided all day Saturday, including breakfast if you are staying at the hotel. Sunday Breakfast provided if you stay over Saturday night.

TOPICS: Speakers will be dealing with all or most of these topics:

      Getting Public Relations for Mensa

      National Office Services

      Welcoming New Members

      Whole Family/ Child Friendly Activities

      ExComm Basics

      Forming and Using Committees

      Special Events and Speaker Meetings Previously I mentioned that our meeting room has a maximum capacity of 50. If you already know you plan to attend, please let me know NOW, so that you are assured of a reserved space. Reserve your space by October 26, as I must in turn reserve and pay for our lunch buffet. And do let me know if you are planning to attend the dinner and party on Saturday night, so we can make sure there will be enough for all.

If you are a current, former, or prospective volunteer leader in Mensa, please do make plans to attend.

Maggie Truelove, RVC 10

3333 Honeysuckle Lane   Orlando, FL 32812    407-855-9078

truluvs@cfl.rr.com rvc10@cfl.rr.com

 

Life Is One Crazy Rush

When you are in a great hurry to accomplish something it is wise to consider the following:

The early bird catches the worm, but the SECOND MOUSE gets the cheese!

 

DAG (Dining Adventure Group) Review and next Adventure

DAG needs restaurant suggestions -- where would YOU like the group to meet?

 

Happy Birthday to our members with birthdays in September

If your name is not shown in your birth month it is because Mensa Ltd does not publish your birthday. (Approximately 30% of members request their birthday to be unlisted.)

Steven A 'Sam' McCollough
Patrick Burke	Kathleen F Etherington
Michael A Manheim	David John Blackstone
Sandra Mae Groover	Henry Richard Lenga
Edith Niles	Robert D Rieffel
Roger A Bruce	Lester Lee Jones
Robert Harry Dodd	Randy J Clark
Linda L Stabile	Jason Michael Goldman
Harry H Hahamovitch	Dayton J Van Houten III
Sharry F Israel	Gayle Roberson Cherro

 

Newsletter Delivery

Newsletter Delivery - Some members have let us know that they have not received their Palm Mensa Newsletter. We mail via Boca bulk Mail Post Office. The mailing addresses are printed on the newsletters by the printer from the latest membership list. If you do not receive your copy by the 5th of the current Month please email the Editor.

       We will be making an effort to get the USPO to qualify the newsletter as a periodical. To do this additional information will be added to the back page. This will save between 25% to 50% of our monthly mailing cost, which last month was $84.00. A name has been crafted: the PALMTELA, and volume and issue numbers have been added.

 

Coming Attractions

Don't forget -- the American Mensa Committee (AMC - Mensa's board of directors) will hold its fourth quarter meeting at the Holiday Inn in West Palm Beach, Saturday, December 1, 2007. On Friday evening, November 30, the AMC members hope to meet local Ms in the hospitality suite, made inviting with appetizers and beverages. Interested in helping Palm Beach County Mensa throw out the welcome mat? We need volunteers to ferry arriving AMC members from the airport to the hotel and to keep the hospitality suite stocked. Contact Elissa (elissa12@bellsouth.net) for details.