Prutehi Guåhan, in collaboration with the University of Guam’s Social Work Student Alliance, is screening a short documentary titled “Deep Sea Mining 101.”
The showing will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at the UOG Fine Arts Theater.
According to Prutehi Guåhan, the event is being held to educate and engage the community on the basics of deep-sea mining. Participants will discuss the politics and potential consequences of deep-sea mining in the Mariana Islands. Naek Flores, executive director of Prutehi Guåhan, said the federal government has announced the lease sale to begin in December for the areas flanking both sides of the Marianas. Flores said that the efforts of Prutehi Guåhan and organizations like UOG will help engage the community with what is being attempted in the oceans of the Marianas. “Unfortunately, Guam has been locked out of the comment period, and so we need to come together, have these conversations, talk to our elected officials, speak to the leadership in the CNMI, and also find ways to connect and collaborate with other Pacific communities going through these same risks,” Flores said.
On Aug. 17, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued a notice for a mineral lease sale near the Marianas. While a notice, as well as a request for comment, was sent to Gov. David Apatang of the CNMI, the same opportunity was not given to Guam. On Sept. 15, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero wrote to the Trump administration requesting that Guam also have a voice in the process. The proposed lease area is situated 57 miles from Saipan and 47 miles from Guam.
Prutehi Guåhan has hosted several events around deep-sea mining. In 2025 and 2026, they hosted two comment-writing workshops with attorneys from Earth Justice to help community members prepare comments on the proposals for deep-sea mining in the Marianas. Additionally, they have also hosted protests in Guam and Saipan.
This is the first of two screenings Prutehi Guåhan plans for the community. Their second will be in November at the Guam Community College.
