The environment doesn't need any more
threats to its safety, but unfortunately, this isn't its
lucky day.
Donald Trump just signed
yet another executive order attacking the environment —
specifically, the ocean floors, where he wants to
increase mining.
Trump's new
executive order has directed the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to more quickly
approve permits that allow companies to ransack
seabeds for mineral extraction.
Mining is an
incredibly disruptive and poisonous activity. It
creates all sorts of pollution — from possible leaks
of fossil fuels and toxic chemicals, to artificial light
pollution, to horrible noise pollution that can throw
off entire species' ability to navigate their own watery
homes.
The "sediment plumes" that mining creates
can also smother and kill off sensitive — and
important — habitats like coral reefs, which are
already suffering. And, of course, the actual mining
process itself can just directly come in and wipe out
whole ecosystems.
In fact, it's so damaging
that upwards of 30 countries — and even multiple
auto companies, tech companies, and trade organizations
for fisheries — are calling for a pause on seabed
mining. Unfortunately, multiple other tech
companies and even the U.S. military are hunger
for access to more minerals like cobalt, nickel, and
manganese.
Trump's executive order would not only
hurt the Earth and the oceans, but it would also hurt
all wildlife that lives there — and humans, too. But
this greedy, profit-motivated administration doesn't
care. And it will keep not caring, unless it hears
massive public outcry.
Help us protect the
Earth, dolphins, sea turtles, fish, and more by loudly
opposing deep-sea mining! Sign the petition to demand
the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration refuse
to grant any further seabed mining permits!
