Amsterdam, The Netherlands \u2014 A Dutch court has largely rejected a request by a deep seabed mining company to issue an injunction against protest by Greenpeace International, stating that it is “understandable” the organisation has resorted to direct action in the face of the “possibly very serious consequences” of the company’s plans.[1]\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
In the case brought by NORI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Metals Company (TMC), the judgement states that Greenpeace International\u2019s climbers who were occupying the vessel\u2019s stern crane must disembark, but denies NORI\u2019s request to keep Greenpeace activists from being within a 500 metre radius of MV COCO. The court decision comes after nearly 200 hours of peaceful protest by Greenpeace International<\/a> activists against the MV COCO, which is collecting data for TMC as part of its drive to file the first-ever deep sea mining application next year.[2]<\/p>\n\n \u201cThis is without question a massive setback for the deep sea mining industry. The Dutch court not only affirmed Greenpeace’s right to protest but also agreed that nodule mining is a highly controversial activity. The Metals Company has never been interested in scrutiny and they can’t stand that Greenpeace is watching and opposing them at every turn. Our activists are speaking the truth to destructive companies like TMC that are only out for their own profit, at huge cost to us all. We are determined to keep bringing this dangerous industry to public attention and will continue to disrupt its plans”, said Mads Christensen, Executive Director of Greenpeace International.<\/p>\n\n After five days of a non-stop kayak activity around the MV COCO<\/a>, the vessel was safely climbed by five Greenpeace International activists on 25 November. Activists aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise took turns occupying the vessel\u2019s stern crane to peacefully draw attention to the demand that TMC stop its deep sea mining exploration activities and drop its destructive plans in one of the world\u2019s last untouched ecosystems. NORI claims the protest has been costing it 1M Euros a day. <\/p>\n\n The Dutch court denied NORI\u2019s request for an injunction to keep Greenpeace activists from being within a 500 metre radius of COCO, a call that was repeated by the International Seabed Authority Secretary-General but which the judge described as \u2018not an enforceable measure\u2019.[3]<\/p>\n\n Greenpeace International climbers descended on 30 November, but the 200-hour ongoing peaceful protest continues. <\/p>\n\n \u201cThe ISA Secretariat should learn from Greenpeace International activists as an example of a bold fight back against the destruction of this still unknown ecosystem. The power of the global movement against deep sea mining is growing, and is undimmed by corporate efforts and behind the scene\u2019s agreements to limit protest. Brave action across the world by people standing up for what is right will stop deep sea mining\u201d, said Greenpeace International Stop Deep Sea Mining campaigner Louisa Casson, aboard the Arctic Sunrise.<\/p>\n\n Greenpeace International activist Sofia Castellanos said: \u201cWe are standing up against the first ever deep sea mining application that TMC are trying to rush through against scientific warnings and political opposition of 24 countries calling for a moratorium<\/a>. We will continue to protest every time TMC tries to push forward this dangerous industry, for the sake of our oceans and the rich and mysterious life of the deep sea.\u201d <\/p>\n\n ENDS<\/p>\n\n Photos and Videos<\/strong> can be accessed from the Greenpeace Media Library<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n [1] Full judegement from Court of Amsterdam (in Dutch)<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n [2] <\/strong>TMC have repeatedly claimed they will file a mining application next year irrespective of the scientific warnings and the negotiation process taking place at the International Seabed Authority. If TMC obtains the right to start commercial deep sea mining in the absence of regulations, they would be conducting unregulated mining in the global oceans.<\/p>\n\n [3] The judgement states that \u2018Imposing a ban on Greenpeace\u2019 from being within 500 metres of the MV COCO \u2018without concrete evidence of the need for it, is too great an infringement on Greenpeace’s right to take action\u2019. In reference to the measures taken by the International Seabed Authority Secretary General, calling for Greenpeace to maintain a distance of at least 500 metres from the MV COCO, the judgement decides that it is \u2018unclear to what extent this authority is authorised to actually impose the measures mentioned on (in this case) GPI\u2019. <\/p>\n\n Contacts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Sol Gosetti, Media Coordinator for the Stop Deep Sea Mining campaign, Greenpeace International: sol.gosetti@greenpeace.org<\/a>, +54 (0) 1128313271, WhatsApp +44 (0) 7380845754<\/p>\n\n Greenpeace International Press Desk: pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org<\/a>, +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours)<\/p>\n\n