Music is Killing the Rain Forest
Gibson, the famous guitar maker, is facing a criminal investigation that claims it broke environmental laws on importing wood.
On August 28, federal agents seized shipments of Indian rosewood from Gibson's Nashville and Memphis grounds. Feds claim that Gibson had violated the terms of the Lacey Act. The law requires that imports to the US comply with laws in the country of origin.
This was the second time that Gibson was raided since the law took effect 2008. The first raid was about wood imported from Madagascar.
Rosewood, specially Brazilian rosewood is regarded by some guitarists "holy grail". It is effectively unavailable as it is officially an endangered species. Wood from Madagascar has been banned amid pressure from environmental groups. Although available in India, it is only under certain conditions.
The wood is used for fingerboards. It is a strip running along the neck of the guitar. Rosewood is touted by serious guitar players as the best material for it.
In a bizarre move, Gibson head chief, Henry Juskiewicz, has turned to the Tea Party for support. Claiming that this is an example of "unacceptable over-reach" of the US federal government, he has even appeared on stage in Nashville and was introduced as the "the man who stood up to the federal government".
On their website, Gibson released a statement on the raid saying, “The Federal Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. has suggested that the use of wood from India that is not finished by Indian workers is illegal, not because of U.S. law, but because it is the Justice Department’s interpretation of a law in India. (If the same wood from the same tree was finished by Indian workers, the material would be legal.) This action was taken without the support and consent of the government in India.”
This situation is impacting musicians, most of whom have environmental causes, directly. How will they react when the very instrument they use may have a detrimental effect to their cause?
Follow Technorati