THE LARGEST MINING OPERATION IN WORLD HISTORY COULD IMMINENTLY START
BLUE PERIL PREDICTS DEEP SEA MINING BY TONGA AND THE METALS COMPANY TO POLLUTE HAWAII AND KIRIBATI WATERS
Blue Peril provides a compelling argument for stopping deep sea mining (DSM) before it starts. Blue Peril is the first science based visual investigation of the impacts of DSM in the Pacific Ocean to be conducted independently of the industry and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) that promotes it.
Blue Peril is a 16-minute visual investigation that presents a scientifically robust and disturbing picture of far-reaching impacts of deep sea mining for Pacific Island communities. There are serious implications for Pacific Island economies and way of life – with Hawaii and Kiribati predicted to be in the firing line.
Accompanied by detailed technical notes, Blue Peril uses the best available data and internationally accredited oceanographic models to present independent, scientifically valid predictions of how far-reaching the impacts of deep sea mining in the Pacific Ocean are likely to be.
Blue Peril builds on the Deep Sea Mining Campaign reports (see below), Predicting the impacts of mining deep sea polymetallic nodules in the Pacific Ocean (2020) and Why the Rush: seabed mining in the Pacific Ocean (2019), using architectural and spatial analysis to present a ground-breaking simulation of the potentially irreversible impacts of deep sea mining in the Pacific Ocean.
Perhaps the most alarming prediction that Blue Peril makes is that it would take only 3 months for the waste discharged by The Metals Company in its Tonga Licence area to reach Hawaiian waters and the Northern Line Islands of Kiribati and the United States.
You can watch the soft launch of Blue Peril streamed live on Facebook as an official side event of the United Nations Ocean Conference 2022. The launch included a 30 min Q&A with Pelenatita Kara, Civil Society Forum Tonga, Dr. Catherine Coumans, MiningWatch Canada, Filip Wesołowski, INTERPRT, and Jan Pingel, Ozeanien-Dialog.
For more information and access to Blue Peril for screenings please contact: james@dsm-campaign.org
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BLUE PERIL TEAM
INTERPRT is run by a group of researchers, architects and spatial designers dedicated to environmental justice advocacy. We believe freely available, open source geospatial data can empower civil society groups to leverage powerful environmental evidence in the fight against impunity.
Deep Sea Mining Campaign (DSMC) has had a consistent focus on this emerging and very real threat to the world’s oceans. Our unique approach combines research and evidence-based advocacy, finance advocacy and collaborative solidarity with frontline communities, and regional and international partners and networks.
Ozeanien-Dialog strengthens Pacific voices in Europe and works together with Communities, NGOs and churches in Oceania for Resource Justice, Climate Justice and Human Rights
Special thanks Dr. John Luick from Austides Australia Consulting for his oceanographic modelling and analysis.
Thank you to the many scientists who gave of their time in discussions and assisted with providing data and photographic surveys.
Blue Peril has also been supported by MiningWatch Canada
MiningWatch Canada works toward a world in which Indigenous peoples can effectively exercise their rights to self-determination, communities must consent before any mining activities may occur, and mineworkers are guaranteed safe and healthy conditions. Affected peoples and communities have the means to protect their human rights, ways of life, livelihoods and environment from the potential or actual effects of mineral exploration and extraction activities, and have effective access to justice and reparations for mining harms.
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