Alright, i rec, which of the headlines here in al jazeera and people who don scrambling for fuel food and basic necessities after their nation was thrown into turmoil by a violent power struggle between the army and the par military. Rapid support forces, the warring sides have agreed to a 3 day extension of a shaky seas far. But despite the truce fighting continued in and around the capitol, how to on sunday continued fighting his make it difficult for thousands of people trying to leave sudan. Many a may he, a treacherous journey to ports you down on the eastern coast for evacuation ships . Thousands of pack the area and some of waiting for days to board. A ship pergola is conservative, Ruling Party Candidate has won the president ial election. Santiago penas, Colorado Party has been in power for most of the last 75 years, is sent to left rival, a friend allegory, last by huge margin. Despite running a tight campaign, scubas government has canceled the nations biggest annual event mondays may day parade because of an acute fuel shortage. Long queues at petrol stations have seen some drivers wait for days to fill their tanks. The government used to provides buses to transport hundreds of thousands of people from across the island to attend the parade. A combination of us sanctions and reduce fuel supplies from cuba, ally, venezuela, is causing the shortages. U. S. Regulators are rushing to find a rescue. Its a by the travel, the 1st republic bank, several major Financial Institutions have reportedly been asked to make bids. First republic she has plunged last week, all through real that customers have withdrawn 100000000000 dollars and deposits last march. That was when Silicon Valley bank and Signature Bank collapse, causing fears of a wide up market fall out. Or to that headlines. More news coming up here on our desert right after one or one east. On counting because europe is turning to africa, gas, some Free Hydrogen trying to cultivate, meet the demand. The us china bratia racing for economic influence on the continent, plus the scramble for africa, spread of elements is hinting up counting the cost on al jazeera and island nations and Resource Companies are exploring the possibility of mining at the Pacific Ocean for Renewable Energy on the Prime Minister of the cook islands is one pacific lita considering extracting minerals from the deep sea. Weve been blessed with a resource that sits and lp potion. Its low, good sitting on the surface and being afraid of the unknown. Good. Some islanders via it will have some via impacts. Our sion cannot handled us, i really do not feel like the technology is there at all to be even considering doing this in a sustainable fashion. In the 2nd of 2 special reports, 1. 00 oh, 1. 00 east examines how deep sea mining is dividing the pacific. Ah, its easy to sell the cook islands as opposed cod paradise. Because the 19 told the Prime Minister mark brown a valuable lesson, he needs to diversify his countrys tourism reliant economy. When the pandemic heeds in 2020, many of the resorts shot down in a single year, the economy dropped by 25 percent. It was tough when cobra came. The 1st thing of course we did was close our borders and essentially we closed the borders for 2 years. That was very, very difficult on our industry and on, on the, the private sector in particular cove, it was definitely a wake up cool for us that we must diversify our economy. We dont know what the future holds in terms ofa, the Tourism Industry globally, and regionally. So definitely for us, the need to diversify has taken on greater significance much more importance, which is why our Minerals Industry is going to be so important for us in the future. If given the green lights, the Minerals Industry will involve to raging the se for 5 kilometers below the ocean surface. A Remote Control mining vehicle used to suck up gulf full size rocks. These unknown as holly metallic nodules and cosign co boat, manganese and other minerals needed to palate, rein technology, the rocks of palms from the deep sea through a hydraulic crime to a sheet on the surface. We see our country being a leader of this particular industry, not only as i deriving income to help protect ourselves, but also playing our pop in helping the world transition to green energy. Even before the pants are making the cook islands, economy was facing its fair share of challenges in a country that is 99 percent water. Agriculture is small scale, like out of pacific nations, many young people in overseas seeking high a paid jobs to send money back home to their families. For as of 5 cook islanders leave and work in australia or new zealand. A sign of the exodus abandoned houses in villages across the country. The Prime Minister says dave c mining could bring social as well as financial benefits by providing jobs that will encourage the population to stay. People go where the money is. So currently, many of our people, our children, grandchildren, theyve moved overseas to work in the district that pay them more money, such as in the horticultural industry in new zealand. Picking apples, well we referred well minerals. These are al golden apples. And if developed properly, we have an opportunity for our people into collect our own apples which are sitting at the bottom of the ocean. Is tourism with the resort as well from deep sea mining. The Prime Minister has boldly claimed his small country could become the dubai or norway of the pacific. Weve got in place a financial regime ah, which involves taxation royalties, so and so forth. And we are certainly looking at the establishment of the sovereign welcome. The cook islands is given out to Ocean Exploration licenses, to 3 Mining Companies. Which of all set up shop on the biggest islands main street assign this potential new industry could help this smooth South Pacific nation emerge from the doldrums. With the ra economic risks. The cook islands isnt the 1st nation to try deep se mining in 2011. The Mexican Government issued an exploration licensed or raises company, but cited not to go ahead with the mining permit. Its now being sued for 2000000000. 00 in a legend losses of future profit. The company in that dispute odyssey was denied a mining permit on the grounds. Its projects could hom vital total habitat. However, a mexican legal tribunal found the governments refusal was unlawful. Some like well see a similar scenario because odyssey is a contractor and share hold up of so you know, i see one of the 3 beneficiaries over exploration licenses and odyssey spokesperson told 11 east. It has no legal right to sue in the cook island. But Jacqueline Evans and environmentalists who help set up the cook islands moraine park, one of the Worlds Largest says it leaves the nation vulnerable. Im very concerned because actually in the legislation there is no possibility to just decide not to issue a license just because we changed their mind and decided to take up a Different Development option. So we could potentially be sued for that. Are you worried if you dont go ahead with a mining permit that your government could be sued . I think our legislation has a safeguards that are in place in terms of our legislation in terms of our regulations to ensure that we are protected as a people. One of the things that we made sure that when we embark on this journey, that theyre up levels of protection. Both from a legal perspective, from an environmental perspective, but also from a financial perspective that these measures are in place to ensure that we operate as it with good sound regulatory laws and regulations. If its not feasible, if its not viable, then it wont be done. But its as simple as that. Across the pacific peoples livelihoods depends on a healthy moraine environments. The threat to fisheries is a key reason why 7 nations in the region, vehemently oppose deep se mining the with the cook islands and 3 other pacific countries in favor of mining. There are fees, it could defied the region. They are already rifts and the Pacific Islands at the moment. So if we dont work with our neighbors that could be affected by this activity. I do see the says continuing. Rather than looking at the potential of creating a rift, i would encourage countries to respect the decisions that each country is going to make in regards to any resource in their own jurisdiction. Mm. Despite the briscoe of inflaming tensions, the Prime Minister believes deep c mining could help a city nations boost their finances. Was tackling Climate Change. The region is one of the worst affected by global warming. Bassett, by rising sea levels, droughts and psych, lawrence. We have been that the front line of Climate Change for a number of years while the world is trying to get our g 20 countries to commit to reducing Carbon Emissions and reduce impacts of Climate Change. We are feeling that he is so we can do how part to help will these minerals not only provide an opportunity for income for our country. But it also provides an opportunity for us to contribute to the worlds push to green energy and reducing Carbon Emissions. Were doing them a favor if you like, a stray leon has filled it strongly economy off the back of fossil fuels like coal. But in a push to curb Climate Change. Its one of the many nations committed to mitzy or a calvin emissions point 2052000000000 electric cars will be needed globally to meet that target at these Green Energy Festival in sydney. Theres a lot of interest in such vehicles. Deep sea Mining Companies say industry is vital to be with the batteries required to power these cars. We consider to being raised at these events about the sustainability of recycling minerals instead of plundering the when youre talking about money, you can only talk about making it as sustainable as practicable. Obviously, if youre taking virgin material for ground and might use with the 1st time youve got to have an extraction, we will reach the point where all of the materials that go into a battery are in fact, recyclable. Many consumers here, a wary of Mining Minerals from liberty to say, do you think we need to go into the ocean for these minerals . I guess ultimately like what is the ultimate Environmental Impact . Think not. I think weve got enough sort of on the earth alarms outgoing sort of down into the oceans that they would want to, you know, be buying cars that are going to get more delicate environment. We probably need to dig it out of our backyard phones. Do you think we need to be going into the oceans to . No, absolutely not in the fall i knew that thats where the metal is coming from. That would a 100 percent with me or flying that vehicle . Was the lights as they all the interests in electric vehicles here today as various fighting hi, ashley monson. Merrick is the National President of volvo, group, the largest manufacturer of vehicles in australia. He is Company Alongside b. M. W rana. And volkswagen supports a 10 year moratorium. On div c mining, they avowed not to use c bed minerals in their electric vehicles until they Environmental Concerns admits them, needs to be a deep understanding of the risks to them vitamin before we start any d. C, bed mining and our customers really want to know a kid about where wed source material from. They want it done in a responsible way. Did i tell you all by group believe they can make consumer demands . Perverse cycling, and land space mining. Recycling is a key focus part of all will group. Weve made really Good Progress and tims off recycling the materials and batteries. Today, we actually have a battery sale at that has been produced with 100 percent. Recycle bt. Do you know its such as the car industry thats thinking twice about dave . Same mining, this big tag the likes of microsoft, google and samsung. Theyve all said noise to the mining of the worlds oceans, with environmental campaigning globally, as played a huge role in pushing corporations, consumers and investors to reject results extraction from our oceans. You are facing what i would call a notion emergency. We must take action as you must sustainably manage the oceans resources for the google humanity and the health of for the plant since cause for a moratorium on mining began at the 2022 un oceans conference. In portugal, a growing list of nations have backed those concerns. This includes Major Economies like canada, germany, spain, and france. Left house switches until the suited to, to exploit as shown, to go from the pacific nations who want deep se mining up pushing back. Well, the, the g 20 countries are responsible for 80 percent of Carbon Emissions globally. And i think its mex, a little bit of ah, a patronizing attitude to try and tell us that we should not be doing what were doing. Because it may damage the ocean environment. The Carbon Emissions of all civic countries put together would amount to a match stick in a forest fire. Were not the countries that put plastic into the ocean. We didnt acidify the ocean. And were not one of those countries that help radioactive storage or exploded bombs in our ocean. So it is somewhat patronizing i find, or even insulting. So to suggest that we would cause damage to the ocean by what were proposing to do. Now pacific nations who want deep, se mining are also demanding the right to mine, im, International Voices beyond their territory. And theyre taking bass flies to the International Se then authority. In jamaica, these United Nations affiliated body regulates and licenses mining in International Waters. Effectively half of the planet surface, the i say is issued 31 exploration licenses to 22. 00 companies to say if osha mining is viable. Most of these permits they issued for a vast c trench at me. The cook islands were the biggest known deposits of felt for a decade, the i say has argued overrules needed to galvan osha mining. Now, that debate has come to a head in 2021. The tiny pacific nation of newbury triggered a Legal Mechanism within the i as i, the requires delegates to come up with a mining code within 2 years. If they cant agree by july 2023 b i, as i was, does assessing deep sea mining applications. Even without proper regulations, only who protections in place, new rule, and the missiles company plan to start mining in the Pacific Ocean in 2024. The early on the study field at a very, in marine lower expo, dr. Alina jenkins is concerns at the lack of governance and monitoring to ensure deep c mining is dom safely. There is a lot of work to do to, i have a fully formed mine in code. It is unclear at the moment who would ensure compliance within the i say, and who would undertake inspections. It is unclear what the financial regime would be, so it is unclear how much of any mining profits would have to be shared. And if so, with whom, all these questions are outstanding, is that problematic . But up until recently, the only compliance and mechanism has been supp reporting by the Mining Company some states involved. And that is obviously problematic, given that were talking about see that mining file show under water, which is very difficult to monitor. And the 1st place dont, de jacob has risen a bull kids numerous papers about the i a say. She says its a Secretive Organization that rarely consults openly. I think its fair to say that the, i say is not the most transparent organization. Im a lot of their Decision Making happens behind close door, and thats despite the fact that states have repeatedly asked for more transparency. It doesnt align with global could governance standards. Um, but decisions continue to be might behind closed doors by and large. Ah, dont de jacob is small nations who carry out deep sea mining, like the cook islands, could face catastrophic consequences. Under international law, these countries can be financially liable. If a Resource Company causes a disaster on the ocean. The risk would be quite significant and it would be significant for any country, but in particular, for small economies way. Of course, the liability could make up at quite a proportion of their g d p. While economic can Environmental Concerns have been from them since in this debate, dr. Jacob is concerned, the social implications have been largely ignored. Under the i, essays rose mining in International Waters must benefits all of humanity. But she says there hasnt been enough transparent consultations with the islands communities because that mining is a High Technology industry. Therell be a lot of automation involved. So its not a sure thats a bad mining would generate a lot of local jobs in across the cook islands, weekly, volleyball matches, and much an