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Boonie Tails

By Grace Keilbach

Deep Sea Mining in the Pacific

One of the most incredible things that has come out of Boonie Babies is the platform it has given us to share so much more than just dog related issues. For thousands of people, we are their only insight to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory that is typically not even forgotten but just entirely unknown to the average American. Here’s the latest news that you may have not heard about but could be life changing for those who call the islands home.

Recently, deep sea mining in the Pacific has become a hot topic, starting with President Trump’s executive orders supporting it as part of U.S. mineral strategy. The U.S. government’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management opened up a request for information, taking the first step of moving towards sea bed mining in the CNMI.

Unsurprisingly, the communities who will be facing the environmental and potential humanitarian consequences from mining were not consulted in these conversations and as of now, stand to gain nothing from it. Guam and CNMI officials have asked for more time to study the potential effects of deep sea mining as it is still a relatively new idea and the extent of damage that it may cause is entirely unknown. The majority of community members have also spoken out, taking a strong stance against this project moving forward. So, what even is deep sea mining and why are people concerned about it happening near them?

Digging deeper

Deep sea mining is the process of using machines to scrape or vacuum up the seafloor looking for polymetallic nodules, which are little mineral-rich rocks containing cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements. These are super valuable for batteries, electronics, and renewable energy tech. Areas like the deep ocean floor around the CNMI are rich with the nodules, making it a prime target for deep sea mining. Mining thousands of feet below the surface for minerals we all need and use may initially sound like an okay idea. However, there are some major drawbacks for the marine communities exploited to retrieve them.

Damage from deep sea mining has the potential to destroy habitats we haven’t even discovered yet, with unknown repercussions. Sediment plumes — basically underwater dust clouds that will be caused from mining — can spread for miles, smothering marine life. Another major concern is noise pollution. This can disrupt whales and other animals that rely on sound, since loud noise transients can be extremely dangerous for them and negatively impact entire ecosystems. These concerns all add up to a long list of “what could possibly go wrong”. The truth is, the extent of damage caused from deep sea mining and risks associated with it are still largely unknown, but what we do know isn’t very encouraging.

As of now, it looks as though deep sea mining around the CNMI and Guam isn’t a matter of if, but when. Historically, experimental projects like this originate in places like the CNMI that are either forgotten about or just entirely unknown, such as nuclear testing in our neighbors of the Marshall Islands. We may not be able to stop deep sea mining in the Pacific, but by bringing awareness to this issue we can push for transparency of tradeoffs, strong regulations, benefits to the impacted communities, and greater light shed on the environmental destruction that continues to take place on these commonly forgotten and unknown islands.

Free ways to support Boonie Babies

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But wait, there’s so many more easy and free ways to help (imagine the song ‘Angel’ by Sarah McLachlan has now started playing)! One of which being, getting your friends, family, and even co-workers to subscribe to Boonie Tails. Help us reach our goal of 400 followers by sharing your love for Boonies with more people. Who wouldn’t be excited to have their Monday afternoon brightened by the smiling faces of rescue dogs popping into their inbox? Friends don’t let friends not Subscribe to Boonie Tails. Share the link and help us make a difference today!

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Share the love this holiday season

Every December, we love to thank you all for your support and generosity. Donate $10 or more via Paypal by clicking HERE and receive a special post card in the mail, just don’t forget to write your address in the donation note! This can even be the perfect gift for others. Make a donation on someone’s behalf and share the love (again, just make sure to note the name and address of the recipient in your donation). There is no better gift you can give than helping save the Boonies!

This year, we ordered 50 postcards and still have 41 left. Last year, we were able to raise about $3000. Every donation makes a difference and 100% of proceeds raised go towards spay and neuter, necessities such as flea, tick, and heart worm preventative, other medical care, food, and so much more that directly benefits the Boonies and our community. If you are interested in receiving a tax write off for a larger donation, please send an email to [email protected] and we will be happy to write one for you! No matter how you choose to support Boonie Babies, thank you.

Boonie of the Week

I put my hazards on and began to slow down as I was approaching her. When I was right next to her, I stopped the truck, opened my door and reached my arms out towards her. She jumped right in. Miraculously, she seemed completely physically unharmed and had not been hit. I’m sure if I had arrived only moments later, it would have been a very different story.

Poppy quickly became my best friend and greatest adventure buddy. I took her everywhere with me as she enjoyed the beach and hiking just as much as I did. She would swim with me and dig a cool hole in the sand so that we could lay next to each other in the sun as we dried off. Sometimes, she would simply just hang out with me in my room no matter what I was up to.

We were able to get Poppy spayed and adopted on island months later and I will always remember her as my first Boonie love. I am so thankful I was in the right place at the right time so that I could save her life, and she could change mine.

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