Greenpeace

In my day to day work, I frequently think about the vital role student activists have played in social movements throughout history. Yet, when talking to individual students (which I have done a lot of in the past 7 years), I often hear them express doubts about their own power. Some feel as if student power peaked in the 1960s and has only waned since then. Others think that today's students have little to no ability to influence the multinational corporations that are the typical players at most universities.

Well, guess what? To those who may have doubted the ability of today's students to be powerful actors in their communities, today's Kleercut victory speaks volumes to the current strength of student activism!

Since 2004, countless student activists have asked Kimberly-Clark to save the Boreal forest. Hundreds of students hosted events on their campuses, and 22 colleges and universities took action by canceling contracts, phasing out products, and writing letters of concern to Kimberly-Clark. As a result of this and other work, the company that makes Kleenex, Scott, and Cottonelle announced a new policy today that places it among the industry leaders in sustainability.

That's right, students have been integral players in our Kleercut campaign over the past several years, and today we're announcing the successful end of our campaign!

This is a tremendous victory for ancient forests, including the North American Boreal, and it would not have been possible without dedicated student activists. Schools that took action on the campaign include the following: American University, Skidmore College, Harvard University, Rice University, University of Miami, University of Central Florida, LaSalle University, Northern Arizona University, University of Vermont, UC-Berkeley, Wesleyan University, Principia College, the University of Florida, Purchase College, Regis University, University of Indianapolis, Lakehead University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Goucher College, Kalamazoo College, Mercyhurst College, and Tulane University.

So if you are a student activist, take a minute to congratulate yourself as well as your fellow student activists. Just as importantly, please take a minute to thank Kimberly-Clark for its new policy that helps protect ancient forests!

Kimberly-Clark has set a goal of obtaining 100 percent of the wood fiber for its products – including its flagship brand, Kleenex – from environmentally responsible sources. By the end of 2011, the company will no longer use any pulp from the Boreal Forest unless it is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified. The policy also prevents the company from cutting Endangered Forests, and increases the company’s use of FSC-certified pulp and recycled fiber globally. Read more at www.greenpeace.org/kleercut.

Thanks for all your hard work, and congratulations on a hard-earned victory! Continue building power in your community and on your campus with the Greenpeace Student Network - check out ways to get or stay involved at www.greenpeacestudents.org.