SYDNEY / TONGA, Tuesday 27 August 2024 — as the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) continues today in Tonga, local groups have staged a peaceful demonstration against deep sea mining in its capital Nuku’alofa, as global momentum opposing the destructive industry grows.
Members of the Civil Society Forum of Tonga and the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) led a peaceful demonstration alongside dozens of activists and community members at the Pacific People’s Forum outside the Leaders’ meeting, concerned about risks the destructive industry poses to Pacific communities through impacts on fisheries, livelihoods and cultural practices.
Pacific leaders and decision-makers have arrived in the country for diplomatic talks starting today, where deep sea mining is expected to be high on the agenda following a controversial International Seabed Authority (ISA) meeting in July which saw its pro-mining Secretary General Michael Lodge ousted. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to attend.
Pelenatita (Tita) Kara Longopoa, Program National Coordinator at Civil Society Forum of Tonga, who attended the ISA meeting said:
“The race to exploit the seafloor is another example of profit-hungry corporations plundering the ocean at the expense of Pacific communities. The Ocean is my identity, my culture, and my inheritance. Mining its depth is equivalent to ripping apart what is central to me as a Pacific Islander and an ocean dweller.
“As leaders from across the Pacific, including Australia, meet here on Monday, it is crucial that they act to defend and protect our oceans from extractive corporations seeking to plunder our source of livelihood and the home for our fisheries for a quick profit.”
Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, who also attended the ISA meeting said:
“Pacific people have a long and proud legacy of custodianship for our oceans. We stand with the growing chorus of communities calling for a ban on deep sea mining to safeguard our Moana, which gives and sustains life for millions of people across our blue Pacific and around the world.
“For too long, greedy corporations have exploited the ocean — at great cost to the communities who depend on them, and whose lives and cultures are deeply connected with our oceans. But global momentum is growing with 32 countries, including New Zealand and the UK, already saying no to deep sea mining.
“Companies with vested interests in mining the deep sea must not be given space at international forums like PIF, where leaders come together to make decisions about protecting our climate and oceans that benefit the people of the Pacific. Representatives from deep sea mining companies, including The Metals Company, who have travelled to the Forum must not drown out the voices of the people.
“The risks posed by this destructive industry are too great. Greenpeace is calling on the Australian government to show true leadership on ocean protection and commit to a moratorium on deep sea mining.”
Over two weeks last year, Greenpeace activists staged a 200-hour peaceful, at-sea protest against a deep sea mining vessel operated by The Metals Company in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the northern Pacific — an area identified by deep sea mining companies as rich in minerals.
—ENDS—
Images and videos from today’s demonstration available here
Deep sea mining images and spokespeople headshots available here
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or [email protected]
