Lush New Zealand: Stop Seabed Mining with Lush

Stop Seabed Mining with Lush is a campaign in support of protecting New Zealand's natural coastlines.  These natural coastlines are in danger from seabed mining since as much as a third of future mineral production could come from beneath the oceans, and mining here has put it's marine life in danger.  The Seabed Mining experimental industry collects sand primarily for construction and also for the replenishment of urban/popular beaches.

Seabed Mining is a problem since the sea floor is the home to loads of ocean creatures such as mussels, worms and many others.  These creatures are part of an ecosystem and support a food chain that leads all the way up to sharks and dolphins.  Anyone who knows me and has read some of my other posts know by now I'm a massive shark lover.  This, therefore, is very serious to me.  It not only affects the sea creatures that live where the mining occurs, it also affects distant habitats due to the plume created when mining.  Each time seabed mining takes place all the creatures that live there die.  This turns the seabed into a dead-zone.

The coastline is also facing coastal erosion from mining.  Coastal erosion happens because of the removal of large amounts of sand.  In past mining cases, coastal erosion was predicted, but the outcome of erosion was much higher than predicated.  Therefore the science behind seabed mining isn't as "carried out" as it should be.  Coastal Erosion is a battle on it's own never mind it being increased by seabed mining.  Coastal Erosion is responsible for the destruction of sand dunes, beaches and coastal rock (stacks, stumps, cliffs).  So it's really important awareness of Seabed Mining's impacts come to public's knowledge to be a part of something greater than what it may seem at first glance.  This is clearly important and I'm really pleased Lush are supporting such an incredible campaign.

Plus, if you're a surfer you'll want to support this.  No sand means less waves or no waves at all! Waves won't be able to take the distinctive shape they do, what all you lovely surfers enjoy to ride.  Time to find a new hobby, I guess.  Skateboarding is just like surfing, right?

From April 8th to April 15th Lush New Zealand have ran a campaign to help stop Seabed Mining.  Lush has teamed up with the organisation Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) to bring awareness to it's impacts and to help raise funds for KASM's campaign.  The aim of the campaign is to put pressure on legislators to implement a moratorium (a temporary halt of action) until a thorough scientific investigation has been carried out on the impacts and implications seabed mining could cause.

Gathering awareness and support for campaigns such as Stopping Seabed Mining is vital in achieving a victory. Below is a direct quote from Phil McCabe, the founder of KASM.

"New Zealand is an Island Nation full of Coastal People. We love our marine environment and will not allow it to be damaged by an unproven industry called Seabed Mining. Our government has underestimated the destructive nature of seabed mining as well as the commitment of New Zealanders to protect our oceans for future generations. We’re stoked to have LUSH standing beside us as we call on our government to place a moratorium on seabed mining."

Lush created a body scrub called "Life's a Beach" to raise the funds to go toward KASM's campaign.  It's a one week exclusive product available both online and in store and has been a complete success.  Unfortunately, Lush New Zealand don't ship internationally like Lush Australia so Lush Australia's campaign was the only option of purchase before it went out of stock.  Thankfully, I was able to pick up a couple of pots (happy dance!)

The problem overall is a lack of oceanic knowledge and understanding.  People don't know and don't realise the damage humans are inflicting on the ocean and sadly, seabed mining is only one problem on a list.  I myself didn't comprehend the massive impacts seabed mining would have so I am very thankful for Lush to join in on this campaign.  Not only has it brought awareness to me, sharing it now here, it's given me another campaign and organisation to support, not only for the better good but for my sharks too.   We need to stop taking beautiful and natural resources for granted before the damage is irreversible and all that's left in it's wake is regret.  I was out with my driving instructor last week and we discussed the ocean and what she said (in my opinion) is a perfect fit to the ignorance of these actions.  

'If I can't see the sea bottom then I'm outta there! Noooo way, I don't like it.'

Just because we can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there.  Just because it isn't our day-to-day habitat doesn't make it any less important.  And just because the damage inflicted each day is gradually unseen, it doesn't mean the damage will be unseen in years to come.  It doesn't mean the damage isn't happening right now.  Seabed Mining has to stop now! And hopefully, with growing awareness, it will soon.


Click here to go to Kiwis Against Seabed Mining's official website to learn more and to see what else you can do!


Thanks for reading!

Instagram: @lushvoyage