Louisa Casson

A reminder: Matt Goodwin lost heavily in spite of an almost total lack of tactical voting, not because of it.

The combined Green/Labour vote was 66%, versus 28.7% for Reform.

If Labour and the Greens split the vote 50/50 – a total coordination fail – he'd have finished third, not second.

Why Tonga should say no to deep seabed mining Nuku'alofa, Tonga: Deep seabed mining is often presented as a new economic frontier for Pacific nations—a source of revenue, jobs, and minerals needed for the global energy transition. But when we loo...

True development strengthens resilience rather than risking it. For Tonga, saying no to deep sea mining is not fear—it is leadership

Former MP makes strong case that “companies move on, but the environmental, legal & reputational consequences remain with the nation”
matangitonga.to/2026/02/12/w...

Scientist still diving at 90 says deep-sea mining won’t succeed “Going up in space is relatively easy compared to going deep into the ocean,” said Sylvia Earle.

Listen to the elders!

Scientist still diving at 90 says deep sea mining won’t succeed
www.mining.com/web/scientis...

'A really big threat': US territories brace for Trump's deep sea mining A Trump administration push to begin deep-sea mining is gathering momentum — and stirring alarm in United States Pacific territories.

"This is a wildly unpopular initiative that the Trump administration is trying to force on the territories in the Pacific"

Bipartisan resistance to "violent proposal for deep sea mining" unites across Guam, American Samoa and Northern Marianas

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Loving that clean energy is increasingly how governments are responding to Trump's chaotic oil grabs

From Canada-China & India-EU deals cutting tariffs on electric vehicles & renewables, to UK and EU hugely scaling up offshore wind to "get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster" - this is true security

What is the High Seas Treaty? The agreement ratified by 83 countries The world’s first legally binding agreement to protect marine life in international waters took effect on Saturday

The global ocean treaty is a sign that in a divided world, protecting nature and protecting our global commons can still triumph over political rivalries. The ocean connects us all.

www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...

Loving the unintended irony that putting British flags up lampposts is how China is welcoming Starmer to Beijing 😂

This headline omg

Another day, another political disaster for Starmer

New poll for the New Statesman: Let Burnham stand, voters say
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

‘Under my leadership, Starmer was admitting, this party is too broke and too unpopular to risk asking the voters of Greater Manchester — Greater Manchester! — for a mandate’ - not a good look

Err OBVIOUSLY not

Multilateralism isn’t dead. It’s full of the messiness of life. Through the twists and turns, don’t give up on it.

It’s remarkable, and in some parts of planet, it’s just getting started.

(And yes, it is easier to feel renewed hope looking out at the waves in south west Aotearoa right now)

Several countries are now bidding to host this beacon of hope - including, remarkably, China.

Ocean protection can defy polarisation and create political wins for the public good.

Governments can now develop proposals for protected areas, to create vast sanctuaries closed to extractive industries that allow marine life to recover and rebound.

Many have already started the work - from a coalition of west African states to Korea to Australia

Our journey has withstood Trump 1.0, Bolsonaro torching the Amazon and Putin trying to open up the Arctic for oil. 

After weathering so many electoral cycles, enough governments have signed this high seas treaty into law to make it internationally binding

Yes a lot in global politics feels dark - but that doesn’t mean we should shut our eyes to the sparks of light. 

Today, 17 January, a new Global Ocean Treaty enters into force. A generation of campaigners, scientists and diplomats across the world have plugged away over 20 years to make it happen

Would you believe me if I told you a new international law dedicated to environmental protection is coming into force today?

And that it covers nearly half the surface of the planet? 🌊

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last. And do not suppose that this is the end. This is only the beginning of the reckoning." -Churchill

European leaders appear torn in face of new world order after Venezuela attack Leaders try to focus on what comes next, as backing for ejection of Maduro mingles uncomfortably with voicing of support for international law

“This is not the time to comment on the legality of the recent actions” - this is PRECISELY the time to comment on the illegality of attacking & abducting another country’s leader

Upholding international law means actually defending it, esp when it’s not “easy”

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

Five Facets of the Attack on Venezuela by the Rogue Nation the US Has Become 1 They are saying it baldly: this is an oil grab. There is a history of oil grabs going back to British imperialism in the middle east in the late nineteenth century and murders of Osage Nation triba...

Wrote a thing:
The carnage associated with fossil fuel is why speeding the transition to renewables is good for international stability as well as everything else. Fossil fuel is inseparable from violence, and dependence on it it has created a brutal world order....

Maduro is a brutal and oppressive dictator of Venezuela.

Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.

Both of those facts are simultaneously true.

What changed for deep-sea mining in 2025? Everything. Trump reshaped the industry this year, even as it faced opposition from the United Nations, scientists and Indigenous peoples.

What changed for deep sea mining in 2025?

Everything - except the fundamental point that this risky industry still hasn’t started anywhere in the oceans, and Trump’s interest is galvanising more opposition than ever before

grist.org/global-indig...

Hope comes alive when we take action - 7 Good News stories 2025 - Greenpeace International So much can seem wrong in this world right now yet one thing remains certain: in troubling times, hope is an act of resistance. At Greenpeace, we know that collective action fuels hope.

Hope comes alive when we take action - and even in 2025, we can win

Take some inspiration from these victories for the oceans, forests and against Big Oil this year from @greenpeace.org

www.greenpeace.org/internationa...

The concept of 'critical minerals' has always served the military - but Trump's stockpiling doubles down on military priorities, rather than an industrial strategy to deliver public benefits, stabilise the climate and provides the foundation for climate co-operation
www.ft.com/content/42ab...

UN experts commend Norway decision to postpone deep-sea mining licensing GENEVA – Norway’s decision to halt the issuance of any deep-sea mining licences until at least the end of 2029 and to withhold all public funds for such activities – a move endorsed by the Parliament ...

Norway’s decision to halt any deep sea mining licences and withhold public funds for such activities marks a major advance for ocean protection, environmental integrity, cultural identity and human rights, say UN experts @srenvironment.bsky.social

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Cook Islands deep sea mining nodule extraction has high risk of economic losses – independent study - Greenpeace International Cook Islands deep sea mining nodule extraction has a high risk of incurring economic losses, an independent study indicates

Deep sea mining nodule extraction in the Cook Islands is more likely to lose money than turn a profit, says independent new report act.gp/4aAcgCb

#stopdeepseamining #protecttheocean

Over a third of animals impacted in deep sea mining test - scientists The findings contribute to a controversial debate that pits green technology against the environment.

Even test-scale deep sea mining significantly damages life on the seafloor - reducing the diversity of species by a third and the number of animals by even more

That's not ok

We need to stop this new threat before it starts at industrial scale - and we can

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Global race to secure critical minerals for weapons threatens climate, warns report Study reveals US earmarked billions to stockpile critical minerals for military use, including precision-guided weaponry and AI-driven warfare

Welcome to dystopia

Under Trump, the US is diverting minerals that could build climate technologies to “AI-driven autonomous warfare platforms” (was there ever a more hideous phrase)

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

In 'Historic Victory' for Oceans, Norway Pauses Controversial Deep-Sea Mining Plans "We will not let this industry destroy the unique life in the deep sea, not in the Arctic, nor anywhere else," one campaigner said.

"Wherever this industry tries to start, it fails. We can protect the oceans from extraction," said @louisacasson.bsky.social of @greenpeace.org.

Deep sea mining in the Arctic stopped once again - Greenpeace International Oslo, Norway,  3 December – The newly elected Norwegian government[1] today ruled out deep sea mining licenses in Arctic waters until at least the end of 2029. The agreement to…

Deep sea miners thought it would be easy to start mining the Arctic seafloor… 🤨

But thanks to campaigning, Norway has just halted all deep sea mining development!

Wherever this industry tries to start, it fails. We can protect the oceans from extraction 💪

www.greenpeace.org/internationa...