In an online project, don't put your source in parentheses, use it to preface the point it's making and create a hyperlink from the organization's title to its webpage. You might move the hyperlink from "destroyed" in that case. Develop the background information here--what is the history of our being concerned about clear-cutting the rain forests? When did it first become an issue? What organizations beside RAN exist to combat their destruction? Give me a little history behind the motives for their development, with hyperlinks to them. Develop your thesis a bit--specifically, how must we stop this phenomenon? Be specific, as a strong thesis makes for a strong sense of direction and purpose in the paper.
Develop this idea along the motives these oil companies have for running this pipeline through that area. What are their alternatives? Could they build roads to transport the oil more efficiently than building a pipeline? What exactly does building the pipeline entail? How much of the rainforest would have to be destroyed? How many jobs would this create for the Baka and Bakola? Is that an issue? Develop this idea of oil leakage being deadly...in what sense and to whom? Your initial reference to RAN should be in the first paragraph, where you first used them as a source. How will letters from non-interested protest groups convince the World Bank to cease funding for this project? How much investment does the World Bank have in it? Finally, how are your concerns for preventing development in underdeveloped regions important against the need to develop these regions? You have to focus your argument around the idea that undeveloped regions should not be developed.
This is a good idea for development. Much of the time, Old Growth forests are replaced after clear-cutting, especially in the Pacific Northwest, with new trees. If we replace the forests with new tree crops, what is wrong with harvesting them after they reach maturity? You might research what is being done in Washington State and Oregon about this problem and look into the solutions they've found. Can these solutions be applied to the rain forests of Central and South America, Africa, and Asia with the same rate of success. A more important argument to be stressed here is that cutting down old growth forests also drives old species extinct, and while the trees can gradually be replaced, an extinct species cannot be. How effective would attacking companies like Home Depot be against the universal demand for new wood sources? With what alternatives can Home Depot be provided to ensure that they can still meet the demand at minimal cost to the environment?
A successful ranching operation takes into consideration the need for replanting of grass seeds. Besides, cows don't pull grass out by the roots like goats do, so that guarantees the survival of new grass growth the following season. Research modern ranching techniques to increase your knowledge of this subject. Are these forests being cleared exclusively to provide grazing land for the cattle, or isn't it more of a reciprocal relationship that the trees are sold for wood and the remaining land is merely put to use? How long does it take after the cows are moved off the land into new grazing pasture before they will be allowed to return to that grazing land? Is there anything that can be done with the land once the grass is eaten, i.e. building homes for the increasing populations of those countries? In short, what's the basic problem with raising cows on foreign soil? Doesn't that maximize the efficiency of the land being used? Don't conclude with an introduction to a new idea. Bring closure to this idea by telling me how the issue of ranching is important to advancing your thesis. Move the reference to global warming to the next paragraph.
"...which has an impact on."--what? This is a good discussion point--develop it along the lines of how significant this idea of global warming is and give me some stats on the rise of carbon dioxide levels in the past fifty years or so that we've had the technology to monitor such things. You might reference Brandon Sumski's paper on the ozone for ideas on how to pursue this.
Develop this idea along the lines of their being greater investment potential in proper harvesting methods than there is in clear-cutting. You might research this idea at the St. Louis Science Center, where they have a section of their building set aside specifically for this type of display. Clarify the distinction you mean to be making between responsible regional development and full-scale destruction.
You already bring this subject up in body paragraphs 1 & 2. How is this associated idea of working against rain forest destruction by writing letters to corporations that involves themselves in it unique to what you've already mentioned? You'd do better to focus here on progressive and affirmative action against these companies, such as in sponsoring organizations that buy up acreage to keep it from being sold to corporate interests. Your idea about using less gasoline is a good one, but how do you prevent that from being balanced by all the new drivers being introduced into global circulation routes each year? Are we not better off supporting auto manufacturer's research and development efforts to make their cars more gasoline efficient, in addition to the efforts of oil refineries to improve the production methods of gasoline to make it more efficient (like we did in moving from leaded to unleaded gasoline in the 70's, and from there to the introduction of various detergents in the gasoline to improve carbon monoxide levels, etc)? How about recycling products that would normally be made from the rain forests, like paper and wood?
Develop this paragraph along the idea of the impact this issue is having on our global awareness--how is the controversy being handled and resolved, for instance? What regulations have the government placed on corporations and non-governmental agencies that use the rain forests for research and development?