Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Right to Democracy (RtD) and the America the Beautiful for All Coalition have united in support of American Samoa's right to protect its ocean and seabeds from destructive deep seabed mining. The organizations have drafted a petition to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), backed by residents and diaspora from the five U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

The letter calls for an immediate halt to unilateral deep sea mining proposals, expressing strong solidarity with leaders and local communities of American Samoa who have voiced their firm opposition to extractive activities that threaten their ecosystems, traditions, and right to self-determination.

“A logo i tai, ua logo i uta” — What is felt in the ocean is felt in the land!” explained Jaiyah Saelua from American Samoa. “This Samoan proverb is especially true in small Pacific nations who are culturally, spiritually, economically connected with the ocean that surrounds and sustains us. Even the smallest of disruptions in the ocean can have huge impacts on our lives on the land.”

“This issue is deeply tied to legacies of colonial rule, perpetuating a long-standing pattern of extractive exploitation in our territories,” said Adi Martínez-Román, co-director of Right to Democracy, which works to advance democracy, equity, and self-determination in U.S. territories. “Pacific and Caribbean territorial communities have borne the brunt of resource extraction and exploitation made without our consent.”

“Thirty percent of all US oceans are in the territories,” said Angelo Villagomez, ocean co-lead for the American the Beautiful for All Coalition.  “The people living in the territories need to play a larger role in deciding what takes place in American waters.”

The groups emphasize this issue is not only about environmental protection.  The petition urges the U.S. federal government to:

•         Halt all unilateral plans for deep seabed mining in American Samoa;
•        Commit to community-led decision-making processes, listening to Indigenous and territorial voices and respecting their power and agency;
•         Invest in clean, sustainable alternatives that support island economies and sustainability for future generations.

As part of this effort, RtD and the America the Beautiful for All Coalition are inviting residents and diaspora from U.S. territories to sign the petition and stand in defense of the ocean, cultural heritage, and future of American Samoa.

JOIN US:
Add your name in support of American Samoa’s right to democracy, to protect its seabed and shape its future.

Visit to sign the petition:

https://forms.gle/kiyrpNjMcAB29zN59