Giant octopus rises from the Thames to demand sea-change in ocean protection

Coral the octo-activist has emerged outside Parliament. She's asking the government to get serious about ocean protection.

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Greenpeace brought a giant octopus activist to Parliament to expose the government’s lack of ambition on ocean protection.

Ministers have just announced they’re backing a temporary ban on deep-sea mining, which is welcome news, but they’re already undermining that by delaying the ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty and by unleashing more oil and gas drilling.

These decisions pose serious threats to the ocean and marine life, so our Octo-actvist Coral and her friends don’t have the time to wait on political leaders.

She was placed on the riverbank at the foot of the Houses of Parliament by Greenpeace UK’s co-executive director Will McCallum, a week before the King’s Speech – a crucial marker of the government’s priorities for the year ahead.

It’s important that this treaty – one that millions of people campaigned for and the UK government signed at the UN – becomes legally binding before the next election.

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Join Coral and call on the government to act. Tweet, email or call your MP today.
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A giant pink inflatable octopus sits on the bank of the Thames directly below the Houses of Parliament
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A giant pink inflatable octopus sits on the bank of the Thames directly below the Houses of Parliament, with a police boat alongside
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Giant pink inflatable octopus on the steps leading up from the river Thames to parliament
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Activists in a small boat with UK parliament in the background
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A giant pink inflatable octopus sits on the bank of the Thames directly below the Houses of Parliament
A giant pink inflatable octopus sits on the bank of the Thames directly below the Houses of Parliament, with a police boat alongside
Giant pink inflatable octopus on the steps leading up from the river Thames to parliament
Activists in a small boat with UK parliament in the background
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What the government needs to do to protect the oceans

The Global Ocean Treaty will only enter into force 120 days after 60 countries have passed it into law. The UK needs to lead on this to stay on track to deliver at least 30% global ocean protection by 2030. Any delay would directly impact the creation of ocean sanctuaries crucial to protecting marine life and the livelihoods of communities that depend on the oceans.

We know the government has an appetite to be an ocean leader. Earlier this week, they announced support for a temporary ban on deep sea mining, which is a huge campaign win. But true leadership demands a joined-up approach.

There are three things the government can do right now:

  1. Immediately announce a new Bill to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty in the King’s Speech. This speech is where the government sets out its plans for legislation in the year ahead and it’s happening next week.
  2. Support a full ban on deep sea mining. What they announced this week is support for a temporary pause. We need a full ban on an industry that will further harm our oceans
  3. End new oil and gas development. Continuing to drill in the North Sea will be a disaster for the climate and harmful to ocean life.

Ready to call on the government and tell them they must protect the oceans? Show Coral she’s not the only octo-activist by tweeting, emailing or calling your MP now.

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