As we say goodbye to 2023, I want to share some highlights. With each passing year in ever deepening turbulent times, I realise the importance of looking back in gratitude at my own journey, my development and on the things that I can control. 

We published a book! The Ocean and Us brings together the expertise of over 35 specialists. If you want to learn about the ocean and all the ways our lives affect it, then this book is for you! Order here.

We launched a petition against deep-sea mining. At one point this was the largest petition on deep-sea mining in the world with over 340,000 signatures collected. Sign here.

We handed-over the petition to Dutch parliament. The buzz created and (ongoing) discussions with political parties in the Netherlands resulted in NL taking a position on this issue. With the formation of a new Dutch government we will work to improve that position.

With thanks to our funders EarthPercent & Patagonia we were able to attend the final negotiations of the High Seas Treaty at the UN in New York (an historic milestone for the ocean) as well as the Assembly meeting of the International Seabed Authority in Kingston. At the ISA we witnessed the blatant unpreparedness of this woefully ill-equipped body to regulate mining in our global commons. The simple fact is we can’t afford to allow mining on the High Seas at all.

I was invited to speak at over a dozen different events in 2023 on the issue of deep-sea mining and the intersection with the High Seas Treaty, including:
European Court of Auditors, Luxembourg, Pakhuis De Zwijger, Amsterdam,
Change Now, Paris, The Ocean Race & Women in Energy, The Hague.

I am a proud ambassador of Stop Ecocide NL. For years I have been arguing that deep-sea mining is the perfect example of ecocide as defined for entry to the Rome Statutes of the International Criminal Court.
 
We changed our name to The Ocean and Us to reflect our broader mission. We joined 1% for the Planet.

W4O continues as a project of The Ocean and Us. Among others we are a partner in the EU co-funded WIN-BIG project -empowering women in the blue economy.
 
We are developing an ambitious new project to take the campaign to stop deep-sea mining to a new level! Check-out & support here.

I am grateful that I can continue my passion for the ocean. But the truth is it isn’t always easy. Most of what I do, I do with very little funding. Not enough for a salary let alone hire anyone to boost capacity. In my experience ocean advocacy seems reserved for the privileged.

If there is one thing I draw courage from it is all the messages from people inspired by what I do and who I represent. Thank you! I am not going anywhere. I will keep getting louder on ocean issues and on deep-sea mining in particular. We have such exciting work planned for the year ahead. Join us!

Love & Peace to all.
- Farah Obaidullah

#theoceanandus #thankyou

Mexico is the latest country to support a moratorium on deep-sea mining. That's 24 countries so far saying NO to deep-sea mining either by supporting a moratorium or a ban on this reckless, out of touch, greed driven, speculative industry.

Growing resistance, not least from YOU, has helped countries like Mexico think twice about opening up the deep-sea to mining. After all, if allowed to go ahead, Mexico sits on the edge of ground zero of deep-sea mining.

In other good news North Volt, a major battery developer, joins industry leaders in supporting a moratorium on deep-sea mining. Tech, battery and mobility companies have the foresight to know that we don't need metals from the deep-sea for the energy transition.

The power is ours! We are the voices for the planet and our own future. We must build on this resistance and make sure deep-sea mining is not given the green light. Support this mission by donating here.

Continue signing and sharing our petition!
Thank you! - Farah Obaidullah, Founder of The Ocean and Us

Some good news in such devastating times. The UK joins the growing chorus of nations supporting a moratorium on deep-sea mining.

Over 20 countries now say no to deep-sea mining. The race is on to protect the deep-sea and the ocean systems that sustain us by stopping this reckless industry from starting! 

Governments are listening to you. Don't give up hope. Where ever you are keep signing and sharing our petition. Together we can stop this disaster from starting!

Help us continue our mission for the ocean. Support us. 

For the Ocean and Us,
Farah Obaidullah, Editor of the book The Ocean and Us, Founder of Women4Oceans

Photo credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute. 

After a week long of observing negotiations at the International Seabed Authority Assembly meeting in Kingston Jamaica, it is clear that the body in charge of regulating deep-sea mining, if allowed to go ahead, and protecting the deep-sea from serious harm is no where near ready to be stewards for almost half our planet.  The ISA is not fit for purpose! Press Statement in Dutch and English below. 

PRESS STATEMENT (ENGLISH)

July 27th. Kingston, Jamaica. The end of the fourth day of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority has drawn to a close and the agenda has yet to be approved. Tomorrow is the last day of the Assembly. 

The two points on the agenda which do not have unanimous agreement are a discussion on the mandatory review of the ISA and a discussion on the protection of the deep-sea. This last point forms the basis of the ISA's mandate. 

If the Supreme Organ of the ISA, the body responsible for the protection of the deep sea cannot even agree to an agenda how can they be charged with regulating deep-sea mining and therefore the fate of the deep-sea ocean.

Deep-sea mining is an extractive industry that will cause irreversible damage to life in the deep sea, have unknown yet detrimental consequences to the very systems in the ocean that sustain us and will disturb locked away carbon.

This week's stalling of any meaningful discussion emphasises once again that the ISA is not fit for purpose. It must be reformed to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We are living in a time of a triple crisis: The climate crisis, unprecedented biodiversity loss and universal pervasive pollution.

Women4Oceans is calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining.

- Farah Obaidullah, Director Women4Oceans. Sign and share our petition.

PRESS STATEMENT (DUTCH)

July 27th. Kingston, Jamaica. De vierde dag van de Assembly vergadering van de Internationale Zeebodemautoriteit (ISA) zit erop en de agenda voor deze bijeenkomst van het hoogste orgaan van de ISA is vooralsnog niet aangenomen. Morgen is de laatste dag van de Assembly.

De twee agendapunten die het struikelblok vormen zijn de verplichte herziening van de ISA en een voorstel om de bescherming van de diepzee bespreekbaar te maken. Dit laatste punt vormt nota bene de kern van het bestaan van de ISA.

Als het hoogste orgaan van de organisatie die verantwoordelijk is voor de bescherming van de diepzee het zelfs niet eens kan worden over de agenda, hoe kunnen we het reguleren van diepzeemijnbouw en dus het lot van de diepzee aan hen toevertrouwen. Women4Oceans blijft pleiten voor een moratorium op diepzeemijnbouw. 

Diepzeemijnbouw zal onomkeerbare schade toebrengen aan het leven in de diepe oceaan, nadelige gevolgen hebben voor de functies van de oceaan en zal het opgeslagen CO2 verstoren.

Dit uitstel van overleg benadrukt opnieuw de noodzaak tot hervorming van de ISA. Dit orgaan is niet meer van deze tijd. 

- Farah Obaidullah, Directeur Women4Oceans. Teken en deel onze petitie. 

Contact: [email protected] 
​​

The government of The Netherlands released their position on deep-sea mining just days before collapsing.

A letter with carefully chosen language was issued that sets a dangerous precedent for deep-sea mining and allows our government to change tack as necessary.

In summary, the Dutch government's position is that we shouldn't mine the deep sea unless it is scientifically proven that it can be done within marine ecological thresholds and on the condition that there are robust rules & regulations in place that can effectively be applied.

This sounds good on the face of it, but unlike other countries they will not use the words moratorium or precautionary pause. What they also say is that in order to regulate the industry The Netherlands must have a seat at the table. This means becoming prospective miners themselves by applying for an exploration licence. Again this sounds reasonable. But the truth is The Netherlands is quite happy to reap the economic benefits of mining. "If you can't beat them (and they are not even trying), join them". 
 
It is no secret that Dutch marine engineering companies will benefit from whoever goes mining.
Recap on why we should not mine the deep sea.

- We don't need to. There are enough minerals on land to meet demand (we can improve practices, efficiency & set high standards (in terms of labour, waste streams, regeneration etc). We can recover metals from waste streams to increase supplies. Importantly battery tech is evolving with many big companies already using batteries that do not require metals from the deep (which is why tech & EV companies are saying no to DSM). 

- DSM will happen in an area that cannot be effectively regulated (the High Seas, which is almost half our planet), where no country will be held accountable (we see this with the fishing industry), where auditing will be impossible (4-6 KM deep, in plumes of sediment). 

- Areas cannot be restored on human time scales. 
- We will lose biodiversity we haven't even discovered yet (we have already lost over 2/3 of global wildlife). 
- Ploughing the seafloor will release CO2 back into the water column (we can't afford this). 
- Wildlife, including valuable commercial fisheries will be impacted (which is why fisheries associations including from the EU reject deep-sea mining.
- We just don't know what the effects will be on ocean systems. But we know that deep-sea mining is an experiment we cannot afford and cannot reverse. (which is why over 700 scientists have lodged their concerns).
- Once one country begins to mine, the flood gates open for all to mine. Again with no single country feeling the burden of responsibility because the High Seas belong to no one (but are essential to all of us).

With the collapse of the government we will keep a watchful eye at the upcoming assembly meeting of the International Seabed Authority (later this month) to ensure they don't make their already dubious position worse!
​
In Dutch we have a saying: 'met alle winden meewaaien'. A sailing metaphor to mean: we bend with the wind. The Netherlands can still change tack! We will keep pushing for the best outcome for the ocean and us.

Thank you for supporting our work. Without you we cannot hold our governments and leaders to account!
​
For the Ocean and Us,
Farah
ps. Keep sharing the petition. Our work is not over yet!
​

Good news alert! Switzerland announces support for a moratorium on deep-sea mining! They join the growing chorus of countries that say no to this reckless emerging industry.

Switzerland's position sends a strong signal to the International Seabed Authority and any countries still on the fence about deep-sea mining.

The Netherlands must take note. The Netherlands is service oriented country and their marine engineering capabilities make it very tempting to support mining in the ocean, but the reality is that we cannot afford to trash ancient ecosystems and disturb locked-away carbon for the sake of profits that benefit only a few.

Well done to all who helped to make this happen! Activism matters. Your voice matters! 
Keep sharing the petition. Together we can stop a disaster from starting!

Thank you.
For the Ocean, Farah
​

Last week I was invited to talk about the perils of deep-sea mining. We don't need to go 4-6 km into the ocean depths, destroy wildlife we have yet to discover, disrupt ocean ecosystem services and start a new gold rush in an area where accountability will be next to none.

We can stop this disaster from starting. Keep signing & sharing the petition. 

Thank you to Pakhuis de Zwijger and ABN AMRO for organising the event. - Farah Obaidullah

#women4oceans #together4oceans #theoceanandus #circulareconomy #energytransition #nodeepseamining

​SUPPORT OUR WORK
​

We did it! We successfully delivered our petition with over 340,000 signatures to the Dutch Parliament calling on the Netherlands to take a firm position against deep-sea mining! Read our press release here (Dutch).

Below are some highlights of the day. We are grateful to you all of you who signed the petition and who were able to join us on the day and show your support at the Parliament.

A big thanks to 'Partij voor de Dieren' (PvdD) for aligning with us and pushing our government on this issue. We need more Dutch political parties to speak out. Deep-sea mining is an ecological distaster that will worsen the climate and biodiversity crises. Deep-sea mining is ecocide! 

​We will not stop here! We will keep the pressure on the Dutch government until they join the growing chorus of nations that say NO to deep-sea mining. KEEP SIGNING AND SHARING THE PETITION!

We need your support to continue our work and take this petition beyond the Netherlands. To stop deep-sea mining from starting, more countries must speak out before the next meeting of the International Seabed Authority this summer.  

A particular thank you to Hans Bothe, Julia Godet (on Insta @skytrotter), Lanny Kho and Patricia Wit (www.pwitphotos.com) for capturing the day through your photos! High resolution photos available upon request.

​TOGETHER WE CAN STOP A DISASTER BEFORE IT BEGINS!

SUPPORT OUR WORK
​

Persbericht:

April 11, Den Haag. Stichting Women4Oceans roept de Nederlandse overheid op zich uit te spreken tegen diepzee-mijnbouw. Hierover zal vandaag een petitie aangeboden worden aan de Tweede Kamer met inmiddels 340,000 handtekeningen.
 
Diepzee-mijnbouw is een opkomende industrie die onomkeerbare schade zal toebrengen aan het leven in de diepe oceaan, nadelige gevolgen zal hebben voor de functies van de oceaan en de klimaatcrisis dreigt te verergeren door de verstoring van opgeslagen CO2.
 
Op de diepzeebodem liggen 'mangaanknollen' die waardevolle metalen bevatten zoals nikkel, mangaan en kobalt. Zij hebben miljoenen jaren nodig gehad om zich te vormen en zijn essentieel voor diepzeedieren. Het leven in de diepte groeit uiterst langzaam; vissen die een paar honderd jaar oud worden en koralen zelfs duizenden jaren. Deze verwoestende mijnbouw zal plaatsvinden in een gebied waarover geen enkele staat zeggenschap heeft en dus van ons allemaal is.
 
Farah Obaidullah, Directeur Women4Oceans: “We kunnen het ons niet veroorloven om aan een nieuwe vorm van ecocide - diepzee-mijnbouw - te beginnen. Wereldwijd is er een biodiversiteitscrisis - al tweederde van de wilde dieren is verdwenen. De klimaatcrisis versnelt dit verlies en veroorzaakt grote schade aan de natuurlijke systemen die ons in stand houden. We voelen allemaal de gevolgen hiervan".

Studies tonen aan dat we onze vraag naar nieuwe metalen aanzienlijk kunnen verminderen door metalen terug te winnen uit afvalstromen. Technologiebedrijven en elektrische-auto-fabrikanten ontwikkelen voortdurend nieuwe technologieën die geen metalen uit de diepzee nodig hebben. Daarom steunen bedrijven zoals BMW, Volvo, Google en Philips een moratorium op diepzee-mijnbouw. Ook honderden wetenschappers roepen op om deze industrie een halt toe te roepen.

De tijd dringt om deze industrie tegen te houden. Landen zoals Canada, Nieuw-Zeeland, Fiji, Panama, Costa Rica en vele andere lopen al voorop. In de EU pleit Frankrijk voor een verbod op diepzee-mijnbouw en ook Spanje, Duitsland, Finland en het Europees Parlement trekken aan de alarmbel.
 
Farah Obaidullah: “We hebben een paar maanden voor dat de internationale gemeenschap een gezamenlijk standpunt moet innemen over het wel of niet toestaan van deze roekeloze industrie. De VN, waaronder Nederland, heeft vorige maand nog een verdrag gesloten om de oceaan, inclusief de diepzee, te beschermen. Diepzee-mijnbouw ondermijnt dit verdrag. Het is tijd dat Nederland zich aansluit bij de groeiende groep landen die NEE zegt tegen diepzee-mijnbouw”.
 
Contact: Farah Obaidullah: 06-46177538, [email protected]
Petitie online te vinden op women4oceans.org 
Aanbieding vindt plaats tussen 13.30 en 13.45 uur. Mensen verzamelen buiten op de Bezuidenhoutseweg 67 tussen 13.00 en 14.30 uur.
 
Farah Obaidullah is pleitbezorger voor de oceaan, oprichter van Women4Oceans en Editor van het nieuwe boek: The Ocean and Us. Farah is Executive Producer en Co-Producer van de award winning film: In Too Deep - The True Cost of Deep-Sea Mining.