Gold Coast Bulletin: Paradise Magazine Supports Barchinos Fundraiser

Paradise Magazine Acknowledgement and Thanks

She trekked through the dense jungle of Sumatra, from 400ft above sea level to 1000ft, in 93 per cent humidity but Tracey Courtney discovered the pain had plenty of gain when she came across this touching pair of orangutans. The mother and baby along with what remains of the wild orangutans, are endangered thanks to big corporations replanting the jungle with palm oil trees used for confectionery, potato chips and packaged foods.

Tracey will hold a fundraiser, including a slide show of her jungle trek, at Barchino Restaurant, Nobby Beach, this Thursday April 22, at 6.oopm. Monies Raised will go to Rainforest Rescue, http://www.rainforestrescue.org.au/

REF: Vanessa Jones Paradise Magazine Article pg 7 April 17-18 2010

Barchino's 'Date a Hottie' Fund Raiser

I have arrived safe and well from my 11 day trek through the Sumatran Jungle. This has been a life changing experience for me.


We saw and experienced Orangutans in the wild! They were so close I could literally reach out and touch them.

We trekked through the most beautiful jungle that is currently being destroyed by greedy and selfish manufacturing companies who wish to replace the natural habitat of not only my beloved orangutans, but also thousands of other precious species that are each an integral part of the earth's eco system, with Palm Oil trees which only serve the interests of commercialism and exploitation.

If you had a choice between having your favourite confectionary, pototo chips and packaged foods in the short term in your pantry, or the preservation of the rainforests of the world for the long term survival of our planet - which would you choose?


To find out more, become actively invloved, or just enjoy a great night out that has a purpose, join me at

Barchinos Cafe

Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach

Thursday 22nd April

6.00pm

The evening is 'By Donation' (so its what you can afford - every little bit helps) and in return you will enjoy.. comedy, great photos with fascinating stories, and I will be raffling off 2 Gold Coast Hotties to date!

All funds raised will go to Rainforest Rescue projects in Sumatra

If you have any enquiries, suggestions, or contributions call me ASAP


Tracey M: 0410738273

Day 1. Adventure Trek

Friday 5th March Day 1. Adventure Trek: I'm going on a Jet Plane!
I can't believe It! I am about to embark on a life long mission heading off to the Sumatran Jungle in Indonesia, to see Orangutans in the wild for the first time

I fly out today.
I will try and get to a computer as often as I can to twitter http://twitter.com/redredhead and blog my adventure so you will get a first hand report on what is actually happening over there and how we can help.

Many Thanks
I love my raincoat from ANACONDA in Ashmore and my denalli trekking shoes... man am I Pumped bring it on!!! Thankyou to Anaconda for donating the shoes the raincoat the hat the balmkie the shorts the shirts... Oh and my soxs!!!! good onya Ananconda they love Orangutans too XXX http://www.anaconda.com/

You can Still Donate
This is a dream come true for me you know a Bucket list.. but Orangutans are my bucket list!!!! If you still feel like you want to contribute to The Orangutan Adventure Trek and creating a sustainable future for the loc...asl people through conservation, please donate to www.everydayhero.com.au/tracey_courtney
 I will be hosting film nights and a presentation of the Trek when I return [see The Burning Season Entry]

Wish me luck!

“BUT WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?”

Palm oil costs the lives of about 50 orangutans every week and its cultivation is a major cause of global warming.

In February 2007 the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) called the situation a state of emergency in a new report, “Last Stand of the Orangutan”. According to the UN, ”The natural forests of Sumatra and Borneo are being cleared so fast, up to 98 per cent may be destroyed by 2022”. These forests are the last viable habitats for the orangutan species.

ORPHANED BY PALM OIL COMPANIES

In the time it takes you to read this report another orangutan may have died as a consequence of the rapacious drive by multi-national palm oil companies to get rich regardless of the environmental consequences. Orangutan experts predict that these extraordinary animals will be extinct in the wild within 20 years.

What Can I do About it?

A great deal!
be more aware of what you buy inthe supermarket

Even though these products contain palm oil or palm oil derivatives, the labelling isn’t clear. Consumers have a right to know if the oil used in a product is contributing to the destruction of rainforests and the slaughter of wildlife. Insist on knowing if the vegetable oil used is palm oil from Indonesia or Malaysia and if it has been grown sustainably. Food manufacturers can find other ways of making these products however we can’t find other ways of making orangutans.As palm oil is used in many of the items you buy in the supermarket, use your power as a consumer to do the following:

The relevant companies have verified that all of the products displayed as at 3/4/07 contain palm oil or a palm oil derivative.


1. Demand that food companies label their use of palm oil – you have a right to know what you eat.

2. Urge supermarkets and other manufacturers to STOP using palm oil from destructive sources NOW, to switch to environmentally and socially responsible sources and seek out healthier alternatives to palm oil.

3. Write letters to the Government and request they make labelling of palm oil compulsory.

4. Write to the Indonesian Ambassador urging Indonesia to STOP the clearing of primary rainforest on Sumatra and Borneo NOW.

Palm oil is used in…

ice cream • chocolate • biscuits

chips • margarine • crackers

cooking oil • toothpaste • soap

detergents • cosmetics

to find out more go to http://www.palmoilaction.org.au/

"A Redhead Saving Redheads"- How it all began

Growing up in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney with an uncle who had a travelling dog and monkey show: Gold Coast resident Tracey Courtney ( me) fell in love with primates and their personalities....

"Coco the chimpanzee was the star of the show and made a family member. Coco roamed the house, helped himself to the Coco Pops in the pantry (hence his nickname)"Coco!". He also joined the boys at the Centennial Hotel in Woollahra for an afternoon beer and a cigarette! That began my love affair with monkeys and their relatives orangutans.

After watching a disturbing documentary on Orangutans and their plight in Indonesia over 4 years ago, I cried my eyes out.! I could not believe what was going on as I like most people had no idea! 5 football fields a minute of pristine rainforest destroyed and logged.The lives of Orangutans, Elephants and Sumatran Tigers threatened and extinction imminent.

Phone a Friend

I then rang a friend and said.. "I have to do something about this tragic situation and give the Orangutans a voice on the Gold Coast!" we talked about it at length and decided that people need to be educated and informed about this atrocity.. all because we consume potato chips, soaps, chocolates, biscuits and cosmetics containing Palm oil!!! Products that contain Palm Oil and the manufacturers that supply them are the curse!

Finding a Lifeline

I scoured the net found an Australian Organisation protecting and saving Orangutans and their habitat and she has been unstoppable ever since. Rainforest Rescue are a well regarded non-profit organisation, who tirelessly protect and save rainforest and its ecosystem in Daintree, Sumatra, India and Ecuador.

So impressed am I with the work Rainforest Rescue are doing I decided I would give funds raised to their projects.

The Orangutan Adventure Trek

Tracey is about to embark on "The Orangutan Adventure Trek" with 13 others, to fulfill a lifetime dream and raise ongoing funds. "I will be trekking in the Sumatran Jungle for 4 days 6 hours a day. When I spot my first Orangutan I think I will be so moved by their awesome prescence..... I will definitely cry!!

We are camping by the Bohok River in tents for 4 nights and I was told we have to urinate in the river..... the reason being.. tigers can smell it and are then attracted!!! YIPES!!!!

We then visit the rehabilitaion program set up by Rainforest Rescue, for the local people, creating an economy based on conservation.

Our project is employing local people to restore land and protect forest.

Conservation is the answer.

National Parks are being logged and cleared.. corruption is the major problem.

Caught On Film

On her return from Sumatra, Tracey (a redhead herself) will be holding Film Night fundraisers around the Gold Coast, Sunshine coast and Northern NSW area.

Look for the Blog entries in March 2010 that will give you all the details 

My legacy is to leave this planet knowing that I assisted saving a rainforest and an Orangutans life.

Tracey can be contacted at tracey@rainforestrescue.org.au or leave a comment here and have your say

With love
Tracey
'The Redhead'

Making Mission Impossible Possible

My story: Orangutan Adventure Trek: Preliminary Fundraising Effort 


I can't believe It! I am about to embark on a life long mission heading off to the Sumatran Jungle in Indonesia, to see Orangutans in the wild for the first time

This is a lifelong dream come true for me, as I have been raising funds and awareness of the plight of the Orangutans for over 3 years now.


"Orangutans will face extinction within the next few years. This is a serious issue that affects us all. Without remaining rainforests being protected, the ecosystem faces a great threat.


We perpetuate this crisis situation by purchasing products that contain palm oil and add to the demise of precious habitat. Read your labels when you purchase your next bar of soap!


If it says made from pure VEGETABLE OIL then DONT BUY IT!!!!"

I am raising funds for the trek with 13 other passionate trekkers. To help me along and make a difference to the lives of orangutans in Summatra, please send a donation to www.everydayhero.com.au/tracey_courtney


All donations are tax deductible.





This amazing fundraising trek through the jungles of Sumatra is in support of Rainforest Rescue.
I will be visiting the Bukit Lawang viewing centre, trekking through the stunning rainforests of Indonesia and contributing toward the protection of this vital ecosystem.

Depart Date
05/03/2010 Orangutan Adventure Trek Rainforest Rescue Download Info Pack


Adventure Summary
when they told me that, "there is no such thing as an easy trek and that these treks may spend successive days at altitude and are usually between 10-15 days in duration.
I immediately joined a gym!

Fundraising Target: $6,000 Trip Duration: 11 Days Challenge Duration: 4 days trek &