A message from GreenPeace
I’d
like to take a moment to introduce myself to you. Ko James tōku ingoa
and I’m the new Seabed Mining Campaigner for Greenpeace Aotearoa.
Ko Māhuhu-ki-te-rangi te waka
Ko Taurere te maunga
Ko Tāmaki te awa
Ko Ngāti Whātua te iwi
Ko Te Uri O Hau te hapū
Ko James Hita ahau
,
I’d
like to take a moment to introduce myself to you. Ko James tōku ingoa
and I’m the new Seabed Mining Campaigner for Greenpeace Aotearoa.
I began life as a young Māori boy growing up in urban Auckland. Living
in the suburbs of Tāmaki Makaurau I saw diversity, care, and compassion
amongst the community I grew to call family. Being raised in a community
with a large Pacific population, I developed a strong sense of home
with my Pacific brothers & sisters.
Whilst I saw happiness in the world, I also saw it being taken advantage
of. Our planet has been subjected to huge pressures from extractive
industries worldwide, being ripped apart for oil, gas, metals, and
minerals. I knew then that I needed to join my elders in fighting for
what is right: Protecting our natural environment.
The oceans are a direct lifeline to the people of the Pacific. A place
to harvest kaimoana, connect with one another, and to share knowledge.
Ko te wai te ora ngā mea katoa – water is the life giver of all things.
I’m humbled and privileged to be the Seabed Mining Campaigner at
Greenpeace Aotearoa, working to protect the ocean that is such a huge
part of my identity and culture.
There is a huge threat on the horizon. Seabed mining companies
are eyeing up the Pacific to yet again take advantage of its resources.
Dredging up soil from the bottom of the ocean, taking what is of “value”
to the industry, then pumping back the rest in a sediment plume,
leaving a trail of darkness and destruction behind.
The seabed mining industry PR spin promises untold riches and a
seemingly magical ability to do no harm, but their promises are empty
and their words are hollow. We’ve just recently seen a glaring example
of how untrustworthy the seabed mining industry is right here in
Aotearoa. The Media Council upheld a complaint by our allies Kiwis
Against Seabed Mining, and found two statements in an industry opinion
piece defending seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight, contained
lies. A decision by the Supreme Court around Trans Tasman Resources’
(TTR) bid to carry out seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight is
looming.
The good news is that it hasn’t started at full scale yet and we can stop it together!
I’ll be working to amplify the voices of indigenous people fighting
this industry, sharing their stories of resistance against this
dangerous new form of extraction. You can take a stand right now, by
learning more about the issue, sharing conversations about the risk of
seabed mining, and adding your name to the ever growing list of people
who want to see a ban on seabed mining both in NZ and around the world.
We’re calling for New Zealand to become the first country in the world to ban seabed mining - closing the doors to this nascent industry.
Your support is appreciated, please sign the petition now.
|
Many
communities in the Pacific are already mobilising to keep the mining
machines out, and as their neighbour it’s essential we join this call.
I look forward to sharing with you; the stories of the Pacific, and the
actions we can all take to stop seabed mining in its tracks. In the
meantime whanau, stay safe, warm, and healthy.
Ngā mihi nui koutou,
This sounds absolutely fantastic, if anyone has the time to sign the petition that would be really great.
If one country starts then the rest are sure to follow. As individuals we can all try to do our bit, but we need governments on board too, after all they are individuals too.
It is too late to stop some things but from now on we can slow down others. It is the responsibility of our generation now to do something.
The blog song for today is "Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens
TTFN
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