Tell American Samoa’s leaders: hold the line on deep sea mining
Local American Samoa government officials.
American Samoa is being targeted as the first place on Earth for commercial deep sea mining. Despite our territorial moratorium, and despite nearly 76,000 public comments opposed, the federal government is rushing toward a lease sale. Our local leaders still have power: to hold the moratorium, to demand a full Environmental Impact Statement, and to keep mining vessels out of our ports. Add your name and tell American Samoa’s elected officials and Matai to stand with our community and protect our ocean, our fisheries, and our future.
Petition by
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To:
Local American Samoa government officials.
From:
[Your Name]
Dear,
I am asking you to stand with the people of American Samoa and oppose deep sea mining in our waters. Our territory has already issued a moratorium, and nearly 76,000 public comments opposed this industry, yet the federal government is rushing toward a lease sale as early as this year.
A 20-year lease is a permanent decision with irreversible risks to our tuna, our reefs, and the freshwater and air our families depend on. The math does not work for us: it costs more to pull these nodules from the seafloor than they are worth, no royalties would stay in the territory, and almost no local jobs would be created. We would carry all of the risk while the profits go elsewhere.
I am asking you to publicly hold our moratorium, demand a full Environmental Impact Statement before any lease sale, use our port authority to keep mining and transshipment vessels out of our waters, and coordinate with our Pacific neighbors who have taken the same stand.
This ocean is our home and our children’s future. Please do everything in your power to protect it.
Sincerely,