The arctic.
Temperatures are nominally between 50 F ( 10 C) in July to about -90 F ( -60C) in the drop dead cold of winter.
However things have been heating up and not in the global warming sense.
Turns out that Russia seems to think it has ownership of the arctic as stated by presidential envoy to the North and South Poles, Artur Chilingarov. Russia claims its continental shelf extends deep into the arctic much more so than recognized internationally.
Excerpt from RT News below.
Problem is that other arctic nations such as Canada, The United States, Denmark and Norway don’t necessarily recognize or appreciate Russia’s claims.
However due to clever statesmanship it may be that Russia has neutralized one competitor by coming to an agreement with Norway over the portion of mutual interest to both countries. The two countries signed an agreement over drilling rights September 15, 2010 ending over 40 years of dispute.
So whats at stake? Just over 30% of the world’s gas deposits and approximately 90 billion barrels of oil. At the time of this article a barrel is worth about 80 USD so about 648,000 BILLION dollars at stake!!! Not to mention precious metals and other valuable commodities including shipping rights, etc.
Canada and Denmark had a row over Hans Island. Seems the Danes put up one flag just to have Canada come by and put up another. The matter is still in dispute.
Canadian Department of National Defense; Polfoto, via AP
The United States have made claims that their continental shelf extends 180 Kms ( or 100 Nautical miles) further than previously thought as outlined in National Geographic.
Problem with that is Russia has already placed an underwater flag right nearby.
Even more interesting is that the PRC ( Peoples Republic of China) has made their own claims but in the usual China fashion (For all of China’s talk of global partnership, mutual understanding and hemogeny.):
“The Arctic belongs to all the people around the world as no nation has sovereignty over it.” “China must play an indispensable role in Arctic exploration as we have one-fifth of the world’s population.” As stated by the Chinese Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo, -official China News Service on March 5 that essentially staked Beijing’s claim to the North Pole. – Emphasis my own- EvS.
So China plays the we have more people than you do card, by the same logic they could make a claim just about anywhere and justify it for their own needs. Seems like everyone is in agreement to disagree then?
So its getting pretty hot in a cold place!
Now what about the Inuit anyone think of asking their opinion? Again indigenous people get shoved aside as the world cuts each others throats over profits. Figured we learned from the last few centuries. Guess not. -EvS
