Here’s a brief fact-based bio explaining how the seabed mining order near American Samoa came to be:

 
📘 Background: The Seabed Mining Push in American Samoa
In April 2025, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to accelerate permitting for deep-sea mineral exploration in U.S. waters. This included fast-tracking leases for offshore mining of critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, and rare earth elements, which are used in electric vehicle batteries, defense systems, and renewable energy infrastructure.

As part of this national push, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced on June 12, 2025, that it was launching a 30-day public comment period to evaluate interest in leasing parts of the seabed near American Samoa—a U.S. territory with federal waters.

This marked the first federal step toward seabed mining in over 30 years and made American Samoa a frontline site in the geopolitical race for minerals. However, the move came without local consultation, violating the spirit of territorial self-determination and sparking strong opposition from Samoan leaders, environmentalists, and the community.

American Samoa already has a local moratorium on seabed mining, citing cultural, ecological, and spiritual concerns. But this federal action threatens to override it...

We are now in a OPEN COMMENT PERIOD and want the WORLD to know 

WE DO NOT WANT YOU IN OUR WATERS...

Because our ocean is sacred.

Because our people were not consulted.

Because deep-sea mining threatens marine life we haven’t even discovered yet.

Because cultural survival is more valuable than cobalt or nickel.

Because we are not a resource colony.

American Samoa, with its breathtaking beauty and rich cultural heritage, stands at a dangerous crossroads. The prospect of seabed mining in our pristine waters not only threatens the ecological balance but also disregards the voices and traditions of our people. Our marine environment, which has nurtured generations, faces irreversible damage. The untouched depths of our ocean harbor life forms yet to be discovered, and their destruction could mean the loss of invaluable biodiversity.

Deep-sea mining might promise economic gains, but at what cost? The extraction of minerals like cobalt and nickel could turn our treasured homes into mere resource hotspots. This is not just an environmental issue; it is a violation of our rights as stewards of our land and sea.

The companies eyeing our seabeds have failed to consult with us, the very people who will be most affected by their actions. We deserve a voice, a say in the decisions that concern our heritage, our environment, and our future. The potential risks—including habitat destruction and pollution—are far too high.

By signing this petition, you stand with us in safeguarding not just the waters of American Samoa, but the rights and dignity of its people. Let us send a clear message that we refuse to be treated as expendable in the global quest for resources.

Join us in saying NO to Trumps seabed mining order for American Samoa. Protect our Pacific home. Sign the petition today to help preserve the legacy we wish to leave for future generations.