You know that a documentary series has to be cool if Reckoner by Radiohead is its theme song. I checked out Vanguard on Current TV and was impressed. These 30-minute episodes about global issues pack in a lot of information. I watched the episode Forest of Ecstasy, which was about the harvesting of a chemical used to make ecstasy in the Cambodian rainforest.
Drug users are typically not in the habit of, nor do they care where their drugs come from. A good many environmentally conscious casual drug users could benefit from doing a tad bit of research. They would be appalled and may even be able to curb a certain degree of use among the people they know. This is especially the case with ecstasy.
The largest intact rainforest in Southeast Asia supports 12 endangered animals and the Mreah Prew Phnom tree, itself rare. In the Cardamom Mountains, within the pristine beauty of the forest, there are clearings where deforestation has occurred and makeshift factories are found. At ground level, you can smell smoke from constantly burning fires. In many areas, no animal sounds are heard due to excessive poaching and a poisoned water supply.
This is a relatively new phenomenon for the Cardamoms. In the 1970's the Khmer Rouge ruled the area and swept the area with genocide and famine. When they were driven out, land mines were left behind in the forest, effectively keeping people away. The Cardamoms and the Mreah Prew were slowly rediscovered. Deforestation, poaching, and environmental destruction increase each year.
What is so special about this endangered tree? The strong smelling tree is the holder of a very valuable treasure; safrole or sassafras oil. This golden oil has traditionally been used for perfumes, cosmetics, and traditional medicine. However, it also has a similar chemical composition to MDMA (ecstasy) and is a key ingredient in its manufacture.
The tree is cut up and the wood chips are distilled over constantly burning fires for 5 days before the oil is extracted. A large amount of firewood is needed to keep the kettles going, causing deforestation. It is estimated that one ton of trees is felled per day. The oil and the byproducts of its extraction are carcinogenic. It is fabulous to know that everything goes right into the water supply. Even more exasperating is that most of these trees are found in a wildlife sanctuary.
The oil brings in big bucks, but most of the harvesters and the rangers that search for manufacturers do not even know what it's used for. Sold for up to $30/liter and smuggled into Vietnam and China, the oil eventually reaches drug producers in Europe, America, and Australia. Approximately 7,000 pills can be manufactured from one liter with a street value of approximately $200,000.
Besides the 'evils' of drug use, the environmental consequences are huge. Roads and trails are built through the forest as well as clearings for the factories. Deforestation and the resulting erosion is clearly an issue. The byproducts are carcinogenic to the indigent workers and animals in the forest. But, it also allows poachers an easy route through the forest. Some areas have 'Empty Forest Syndrome', where almost no evidence of animal life is found. Please take note that this is happening in a wildlife refuge!!!
Fighting this is difficult because it can take days to hike out to possible coordinates of sites previously gathered by helicopter. By the time the rangers get to a site that may have been active, it is deserted. When a live camp is found, it is easy for the harvesters to scatter into the dense forest around them. They are also heavily armed.
The Australian government has been trying to help. They assisted in burning several tons of the oil in 2008, releasing chemicals into the air. What a good plan! This is an issue that I would not mind one bit if the US government would stick its dirty little nose in. Oh wait, it would hurt China if we did that. God forbid we do anything to hurt China's economy!
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