International Paper Company's vision statement reads, "Ethical behavior and personal integrity are the core of our culture. With customers and facilities around the globe, we answer to the world." We say: Words are not enough. Join us in making International Paper really answer to the world!

One of Mexico's largest multinationals, Grupo Pulsar, and the US-based International Paper Company (IP) are planning eucalyptus plantations for pulp, paper and lumber production on indigenous and ejido lands in southeastern Mexico. IP wants to plant thousands of acres of eucalyptus in Chiapas. Because the species is notoriously greedy for water and soil nutrients, the areas selected for eucalyptus plantations are condemned to desertification.

The timber industry is one of the biggest global industries, behind telecommunications and the auto industry. The power and weight of the timber industry's influence in Chiapas is evidenced by the manipulation of Article 27 and the rewriting of other new laws to open up Mexico for timber exploitation. Article 27 was written as result of the Mexican Revolution of 1910, spearheaded by rebels such as Emiliano Zapata. It promised agrarian reform and land redistribution to peasant communities. A precondition for Mexico entering the North American Free Trade Agreement was reform of Article 27. It was rewritten by forestry under-secretary Luis Tellez (later Mexican President Zedillo's chief of staff and now energy secretary) to permit the privatization of communal land holdings. In part, the reform of Article 27 forced the Zapatistas to declare war on the government.

Tellez authorized two subsequent laws: a 1992 forestry law that allowed commercial tree plantations and a 1997 revision of the law that literally granted big timber's wishes. The new regulations implemented a series of proposals made in a June 1995 letter to Tellez from Edward Krobacker, IP's forestry division vice president. Big timber could now receive hefty subsidies to acquire land parcels of unlimited size.

The Mexican daily La Jornada recently reported, "Finally, International Paper and its counterparts gained government protection against the insurrection and a resolution on the uncertain situation in Chiapas, where Krobacker promised to dedicate 400,000 hectares to cellulose production [eucalyptus]. The military fence around the EZLN [Zapatistas] and its supporters has been a palpable demonstration of the commitment by the government of Ernesto Zedillo to the security of transnational corporations."

On November 24, 1998, International Paper announced its money saving merger with Union Camp. The combined net sales for both International Paper and Union Camp reached $24.5 billion in 1997. Big business means big abuses as International Paper, the largest landholder in the US, has a horrific reputation for employee health and safety, union relations and environmental devastation.

As social change and ecological movements grow and unite, many people globally are understanding that environmental devastation and human suffering are just different sides of the same coin. Action for Community and Ecology in the Rainforest of Central America (ACERCA) and other groups are calling for a campaign to force IP to "answer to the world" with regard to its blatant disregard for the indigenous peoples, native species and forests of Chiapas and elsewhere.

This is an excellent opportunity to tie local struggles in with global ones and vice versa. This campaign intends to open up dialogue and common ground with the movement for social justice and human rights.

Please write IP Chief Executive Officer John Dillon and tell him it is not acceptable to put eucalyptus plantations in southern Mexico and that you are boycotting IP products.

John T. Dillon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, International Paper Company, 2 Manhattanville Road, Purchase, NY 10577; 1-800-223-1268 or (914) 941-5145

To get involved with ACERCA, write to POB 57, Burlington, VT 05402; (802) 863-0571 fax 864-8203; acerca@sover.net; www.nativeforest.org/campaigns/acerca/index.html