The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) Commissioner appears to be under the false impression that foreign interests are interfering in our domestic issues in regards to the rally against deep seabed mining (DSM).

She recently stated, for example, that people from Greenpeace have arrived on the island last week, ahead of the Underwater Minerals Conference (UMC). This is news to us! We can assure the Commissioner that this campaign and peaceful protest planned for Wednesday, September 18, is a 100 per cent home grown movement against the push forward for deep seabed mining. 

We are aware that one lone Greenpeace representative, who is a New Zealand-based Cook Islander, is planning to be here for the UMC. This is after all an international conference, with many people representing different views on SBM. This is hardly an example of external groups with extreme tactics influencing our domestic affairs.

And what of the foreign interests lobbying and interfering on the pro deep seabed mining side? What of this outside influence in our domestic affairs?  What about the donations they are making to various sporting and cultural groups, education and Government events? Surely that is a much greater example of foreign influence in our country, buying favour in the community.

There was a recent Letter to the Editor (Friday, August 30), and a subsequent response from the Public Service Commission (Tuesday, September 3), about the risks to Government workers of protesting against Government policy or activities. In an attempt to dispel this fear, the Public Service Commissioner made it clear that there was no policy “instructing a government worker not to voice their opposition to a specific Government policy”. In fact, section 64 of the Constitution allows every Cook Islander the right to freedom of speech

However, this does not stop individual Heads of Ministries or other senior public servants from (unjustly) suggesting to their staff that they should not participate in public protests of a particular Government policy or activity (such as seabed mining or SBM). Even if it is not said, many public servants perceive that there will be repercussions if they participate. This could be in the form of not getting recommended for a pay rise or promotion, or being overlooked for overseas trips that may come up.

The fact remains that there are many Government workers who would like to join the protest, as they feel very strongly on this issue, but are worried about the implications. Many have mortgages to pay off, or rent to pay, and day to day living expenses which mean they will not put their income at risk by making a public stand on this issue. We all saw what happened to Jacqui Evans, for manager of the Marae Moana Marine Park, when she made an internal suggestion that deep seabed mining in our marine park may not be wise.

There are of course those that support Government’s moves to mine our seabed, and we respect their right to do that. We do hope however that their opinion is based on research, and not just on the one-sided presentations by Government that highlight the potential benefits that will come to the country from the money that may possibly be made from mining. These presentations largely ignore the risks associated with mining our deep seabed, and downplay any potential negative impacts. 

A good example is the recent reporting that manganese nodules actually produce oxygen down at these 5000 metre depths; no doubt a very important ecosystem function.  How many more benefits might there be from leaving the nodules where they are, where God has placed them? We will only know the answer after many more years of independent research.

The research currently being conducted by the mining companies has one goal, and that is to provide information to allow them to start to mine and make profits. They are not interested in any discoveries that may impact that goal.  For example, the Metals Company is currently funding studies to try and disprove the dark oxygen discovery, because it does not fit with the story they want to tell.

In any case, we do expect a good turn out from the public, both government workers and private sector, fishers, sailors, paddlers and the general community at the Sail Out Rally on Wednesday 18th September at 4.30pm, out from the Trader Jack’s carpark. For those with no sea legs who may prefer a more sedate approach, you could just sit in Trader Jacks having a drink and waving your sign boards or hanging your banner!