(Vancouver) – As the world convenes for the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, the ocean conservation community is organizing an anti-deep sea mining demonstration outside the headquarters of one of the industry’s main players – The Metals Company.
Beginning at 1 PM on Saturday, February 4, a demonstration against deep sea mining will begin at Jack Poole Plaza beside the Vancouver Convention Centre (venue for IMPAC5) and march down Howe St. to Dunsmuir St. and Burrard St. before returning to Jack Poole Plaza.
The demonstration will bring together 200-500+ demonstrators and will include a march to The Metals Company HQ, speeches from ocean activists, music, and art.
The deep sea is the largest biome (living space) on our planet. A healthy deep sea supports a rich web of life, locks away carbon for centuries, provides significant cultural value globally, and supports commercially important fish populations. However, it is one of the most fragile environments on our planet and deep-sea mining poses a direct threat.
According to recent polling, over 70 percent of Canadians oppose deep-sea mining—but Canada has yet to announce its support for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in international waters, despite growing momentum and calls from countries around the world to do so. The public demonstration will call on the Canadian government to ban deep-sea mining in Canadian waters and support a global moratorium on deep-sea mining in international waters. It will also call on The Metals Company to stop this destructive activity.
WHAT: Demonstration against deep-sea mining coinciding with the the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5).
Held every 4 years, this year’s IMPAC5 Congress is expected to be the largest to date. The Congress is a global forum that brings together ocean conservation professionals and high-level officials to share knowledge and experiences on marine conservation.
WHEN: Saturday, February 4, 2023, 1-4pm
WHERE: Demonstration will begin at Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver Convention Centre (venue for IMPAC5) and march down Howe St. – Dunsmuir St. – Burrard St. before returning to Jack Poole Plaza.
WHO: Blue Climate Initiative, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, Greenpeace, MiningWatch Canada, Oceans North, Sustainable Ocean Alliance, The Oxygen Project, Ocean Uprise, UBC Surf Club
CONTACT:
- Catherine Coumans, MiningWatch Canada | [email protected], phone # 613-256-8331, +1-613-869-6049 (via Whatsapp)
- Nicole Zanesco, Oceans North | [email protected], phone# +1-587-573-7513
- Travis Aten, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition | [email protected], phone# +1-902-219-3883
- Mark Haver, Sustainable Oceans Alliance | [email protected], phone # +1-443-470-0216
- Bodhi Patil, Ocean Uprise | [email protected], phone# +1-571-789-8024
ABOUT:
The above listed non-profit organizations are an informal grouping of organizations working together to safeguard vulnerable deep sea ecosystems and address the potential threat of deep-sea mining.
