Not So Fast, Putin
For years the North Pole has been considered international territory, and that seemed to suit everyone just fine until global warming came along, making it theoretically easier to extract oil and gas from the region. The Russians kicked off the land grab by planting an underwater flag, and now Denmark is launching a similar expedition. Canada, Norway and the U.S. also have territory disputes in the Arctic.For years the North Pole has been considered international territory, and that seemed to suit everyone just fine until global warming came along, making it theoretically easier to extract oil and gas from the region. The Russians kicked off the land grab by planting an underwater flag, and now Denmark is launching a similar expedition. Canada, Norway and the U.S. also have territory disputes in the Arctic.
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...BBC:
The month-long Danish expedition will study the Lomonosov Ridge. Russia believes the underwater feature is linked to its territory.
Denmark will investigate the ridge to see if it is geologically connected to Greenland, a Danish territory.
Canada, Norway and the US also have claims in the Arctic.
The area is believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves, which global warming could make easier to extract as the ice melts.
This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.
At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.
Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.
Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.
Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.
Donate now.
TD Original
With a threatening and unpredictable U.S. to the south and a mining scramble in the Arctic, Canada confronts a strange new security landscape.
Environment
The debate over deep-sea mining exposes a contradiction between the country’s proud culture of environmental stewardship and its dependence on the extraction of the ocean’s riches.
Environment
The phrase grabs people's attention, but some scientists argue it does more harm than good.
Environment
In the Canadian Arctic, two ambitious research initiatives try to strengthen climate data through community engagement.
As climate change accelerates and our biosphere begins to collapse, superpowers will jockey for access to the ice cap's natural resources.
The NOAA's annual report on the Arctic contains some terrifying findings. Here are just 5 of the most worrying ones.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.