Aug 15, 2025
For Immediate Release: August 15, 2025
Washington, DC — Today, over 2,000 residents and diaspora from U.S. territories submitted a powerful petition to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, opposing the imposition of deep seabed mining in the waters of American Samoa. The petition, organized by Right to Democracy and the America the Beautiful for All Coalition, was signed by community leaders, scientists, educators, cultural stewards, and everyday citizens from American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It demands meaningful participation in decisions that affect their ocean, lands, and future.
The petition, titled “Right to Democracy: Petition to Oppose Imposition of Deep Seabed Mining on American Samoa”, highlights the environmental, cultural, and democratic concerns surrounding extractive proposals in Pacific island waters, 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. It calls out the federal government’s history of sidelining territorial voices and urges a shift toward inclusive, community-led governance rooted in Indigenous stewardship.
“The people living in the territories couldn’t be clearer that they need to play a larger role in deciding what takes place in American waters,” said Angelo Villagomez, ocean co-lead for the America the Beautiful for All Coalition. “And the stakes are so high for health and safety, with thirty percent of all U.S. oceans being within the U.S. territories.”
Along with the 2,000 signatures, the Guam Daily Post reported that an initial 30-day comment period was extended to Aug. 15 after American Samoa's government formally requested more time. More than 31,000 comments were received, with approximately 27,000 opposing deep seabed mining. American Samoa's governor, lieutenant governor, legislative leaders and congresswoman all agreed to oppose deep seabed mining.
“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.”
The petition underscores the irreversible harm deep seabed mining could cause to marine ecosystems, cultural heritage, and territorial sovereignty. It calls for an immediate halt on mining activities and a commitment to inclusive decision-making that respects Indigenous governance and environmental justice.
“Crossing the threshold to 2,000 signatures in a matter of weeks is a powerful declaration that people in the U.S. territories have seen enough unchecked resource exploitation without their consent, and that they demand a voice in protecting the health and safety of their communities,” said Shantha Ready Alonso, executive director of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition.
Additional background is available in a virtual community dialogue Right to Democracy and America the Beautiful for All Coalition hosted earlier this week titled Oceans in Peril: The Imposition of Deep Seabed Mining and other Extractive Practices. Testimonial videos are also available at https://www.righttodemocracy.us/_sign_the_petition.
For More Information Contact: Angelo Villagomez, America the Beautiful for All Coalition or Adi Martinez Roman, Right to Democracy. The coalition’s original release featuring more reaction from impacted communities within the territories can be found here.
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