By Rick Mendenhall
Call
them Ishmael. Or Ahab. Possibly Jack Sparrow?
Maybe all of the above. Since the 1960’s, large transnational companies
have foamed at the mouth for the chance to deep-sea mine for precious minerals
like manganese, copper, and gold. The underwater gold rush, however, never
materialized. Affordable technology that would enable an undersea treasure
cruise just did not exist.
That
is, until now.
Equipped
with new technology and a larger demand for precious metals, companies are
acting like it’s the Summer of Love. The UN’s International Seabed Authority has
even approved
mineral exploration licenses.
But
it’s not all peace, love, and Jimi Hendrix. Scientists are anxious
about the impact on deep sea ecosystems, and New Zealand’s Environmental
Protection recently struck
down a deep sea mining contract because of its potential effect on the
environment.
Recognizing
the tension and the lack of an international legal framework on deep sea mining,
the American Society for International Law is hosting
a brown bag lunch at the Tillar House on December 9th devoted to
ocean mining. Please join them for a rousing discussion!
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