When will we learn that when we create electronic equipment that needs metals such as lithium etc, there is a fine art to this creation? It seems that above ground we are running out of these metals.
It is disappointing to find that Parliamentarians have voted down the Te Paati Maori bill on no mining on the sea floor. Is it because Te Paati Maori have the bill against the House? As a voter I would have thought politics would be out of the way of a sensible vote.
While attending the 1992 United Nation Conference in Rio, Jacques Cousteau was warning us that the next big attack on the environment would be the mining of the sea floors.
We both sat together at the environmental parliament — that was his deep concern shared with me at that time.
We need to send the signal out loud and clear. No mining on the Pacific floors. This will have an effect on the food basket, which we all have a share of.
So maybe the news media must step up, as they have a very strong voice for everyday New Zealanders to voice their concerns.
Do we put our food basket in danger? Because the reality is that when you start turning up the ocean floor, the metals will have an effect on our fish life.
Personally, why should we have to take a petition to Parliament to voice our concerns when we have put people into Parliament who should know better than to vote against such a bill and wait for investigation?
Common sense should make us realise that our sea life and sea floor are more important than electronics. Maybe the scientist should create other options instead of destroying our environment.
Pauline E Tangiora
JP, QSO, QSM, Mahia
