Vancouver – Greenpeace Canada, local indigenous artists, volunteers and sympathizers have gathered today in front of the headquarters The Metals Company (TMC) in Vancouver to paint a collective wall and denounce the destructive mining company that exploits the seabed. This demonstration, which takes place on July 4, the day of independence of the United States, is of particular importance, because TMC collaborates with the administration of Donald Trump to accelerate the mining of the seabed in order to exploit the seabed for profit. Following the decree signed by Trump in April 2025, TMC took charge in order to press for the very first American mining license in the seabed, bypassing global regulatory processes and threatening fragile Pacific seabed in search of polymetallic nodules rich in essential minerals in the Clarion-Clipperton area, which extends to 25,200 square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean. Many of its scientists and detracts warn that the mining in deep waters causes irreparable damage to ocean life and harms the species of vulnerable whales. The wall produced today by artists Coast Salish in downtown Vancouver sends a strong message: the ocean is not for sale. Daily people, such as families, workers and students, have united to carry out a courageous action to protect their families, their cities and their avenirs.
Salomé Sané, Nature and Biodiversity Campaign Manager at Greenpeace Canada, said:
“Art has always been political. Today, we are honored to share these places and raise our collective brushes to recall that for many communities, the ocean is a sacred space and not a playground for companies. We denounce the alliance of The Metals Company with Trump who rushes to plunder the Pacific funds, ignoring the science, international law and the votes of the Pacific communities. The world ocean is not a treasure to plunder, it is the common heritage of humanity. The Canadian government must denounce the irresponsible behavior of Trump and The Metals Company, and protect the seabed from extraction by reiterating its support for a global moratorium on mining in deep waters and by opposing the adoption of the mining code. »»
The demonstration precedes the United Nations International Summit to which the countries will decide if they wish to finalize the mining code, the regulations which could open the way for commercial mining in the seabed. As a country which is the headquarters The Metals Company, Greenpeace Canada urges Anita Anand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister Carney to reaffirm Canada’s support for a global moratorium in order to oppose any adoption against the mining code.
The wall has been painted using non -toxic and soluble paint in water. It is more than 4.5 meters long and wide. It was co-designed and produced by Aboriginal visual artists Kwiis Hamilton and Happy, both artists Coast Salish whose practice is inspired by cultural resistance, ecological protection and collective resilience. Urban art is a form of non -violent civil disobedience which makes it possible to send a strong message to the politicians who have not yet fully understood the seriousness of the climate crisis and the responsibility of protecting the oceans.
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Photos and videos of the event are available in the Greenpeace media library
For more information, contact:
Sarah Micho, communications advisor, Greenpeace Canada
[email protected]+1 647 428 0603
