I was with you until

> I think the environmental losses are justifiable if they lead to better livelihoods for Africans

I have been to Borneo, I have seen the future and it is bleak. The guy running the Palm Oil Plantation has a car, AC in his house and a big screen tv. The ground is poisoned forever (after less than 20 years of growing palm oil) and ultimately the topsoil of Borneo will wash away into the leaving a lifeless desolate bump sticking out of the ocean.

Nothing abstract about that.