'Playing gods with the cradle of life': French Polynesia's president issues warning over deep-sea mining

Exclusive: Moetai Brotherson fears environmental risks of controversial practice and says independence from France must not be 'rushed'Read more Pacific leaders: in their wordsFrench Polynesia's president has issued a stark warning over the risks of deep-sea mining, saying it will be allowed in his territory "over my dead body" as he argues the potential for environmental damage outweighs any benefits.Moetai Brotherson's comments to the Guardian come as countries in the Pacific and elsewhere grapple with whether to extract minerals from the sea floor. Deep-sea mining has not yet begun, but some companies and countries are exploring the practice, which could start in the coming years. Continue reading...