Tidings Out Of The North

Amazing times we live in. I know I keep saying it but its true. Big things are happening as we enter a new era of global change culturally, economically, politically and especially in the sphere of foreign policy. We have former Vice President and loser of the 2000 American Presidential election, Albert Arnold Al Gore Jr, proclaiming apocalypse if we don't reduce greenhouse emissions from that worldwide bogeyman, Global Warming. And yet, its been getting colder and colder throughout the earth. Clearly, God is making fun of Al Gore. Is this the future? Or is Al Gore simply and sadly mistaken.

Speaking of "cold", other apparitions from the past have arisen from the dead. The age old quest for land! But not just any land will do. In this case its the Arctic that now looms larger than ever in the minds of men. At least in the minds of Russians, that is.

Russia has staked their claim on the Arctic because this area of the world holds approximately 25% of the worlds oil and gas reserves. This of course has alarmed the other nations that have a stake in the Arctic's future namely Denmark, Canada, Norway and the United States of America. Even after degrading remarks from the Canadian Prime Minister, she too has decided to build both a naval and army base in its more northerly outpost in Canada's bid for this icey region. But wait there's more!

From the Telegraph:

The scramble for the Arctic gathered pace yesterday as Denmark prepared to challenge Russia's bid for the North Pole and Canada vowed to defend its "sovereignty" over the region's frozen waters.

Spurred into action by a Russian underwater mission last month to plant a flag on the ocean floor beneath the Pole, Danish scientists will depart tomorrow for the Arctic to pursue Copenhagen's rival claim.

Over the next month they will seek evidence that the Lomonosov Ridge, a 1,200-mile, underwater mountain range running close to the Pole, is a geographical extension of Greenland, a Danish possession.

Now the Danes are in the race. Leave it to the Vikings not to be outdone in the frigid north by their cousins from Moscow. Perhaps if Al Gore is right and we do see the Arctic "melt" from the extreme heat of Global Warming then perhaps the time is ripe to claim the Arctic from the Russians before its too late?

The mission will strain relations between Denmark and Russia, which claims to have found evidence linking the ridge to Siberia.

Both countries will seek adjudication from a United Nations commission in the next few years that could award a large swathe of Arctic territory to the country with the most compelling case.

Facing accusations that his government had ceded advantage in the race to the Russians, Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, yesterday vowed to defend what he called Canada's sovereignty over the Arctic after a three-day tour.

"We either use it or lose it," he said. "And make no mistake, this government intends to use it."
Russia, Denmark and Canada all have overlapping claims in the Arctic, which is believed to have vast energy resources.

Denmark predicted confidently that it would emerge the winner.

"The preliminary investigations done so far are very promising," said Helge Sander, the Danish science minister."There are things suggesting that Denmark could be given the North Pole."

Canada and the US are also at odds over control of the Northwest Passage, which could become more accessible to shipping as the polar ice cap continues to melt.

And you thought we had arrived at the "end of history". Think again.