8 replies to this topic

[benbakelaar]

could it be? thinking of all the natural resources, it seems likely to me.

http://news.bbc.co.u...ope/7005483.stm

nice map included too, although i was a little confused by it.

[Hans van der Maarel]

I'm afraid things might go wrong there in the next few decades... Now that the ice is melting, the area is becoming more and more interesting for the harvesting of natural resources. Canada and Denmark are already squabbling over a tiny island...

Anyway... by the Russian reasoning, the British Isles are a natural extension of the Dutch mainland, so...

[frax]

nitpick: I wouldn't call it a map dispute though, but a geo-political one. It is not like they are arguing on how things are represented on maps...

I know a fair bit about this actually, since my institution is supporting developing countries in stating their claims for the continental shelf for the law of the sea.

[benbakelaar]

frax, i was considering just posting it as a "land dispute", but the more i looked at the map and thought about it, the more i felt that "map dispute" was actually fairly accurate. but i think you are clearly right, it really is a geo-political struggle. it's just funny that lines have already been drawn on "the map", but now are being redrawn by several players.

[rudy]

frax, i was considering just posting it as a "land dispute"

Sea dispute might be better. Or ice dispute (but that might not last).

[benbakelaar]

oops. i was getting antarctica and the artctic circle confused!

http://answers.yahoo...06211410AAUlCiJ

[mike]

another more in-depth article about the same topic:

http://www.time.com/...00.html?cnn=yes

[benbakelaar]

nice article...

""
The Danes know that scientific inquiry alone will not determine who gets what in the north. "When we are talking resources, we are also talking politics," says Sander, who predicts that the demarcation of rights to the Arctic will end with a "dogfight at the International Court of Justice in the Hague."
""

interesting, maybe this isn't as big of a deal as i pictured it, if it can be resolved in court.

another more in-depth article about the same topic:

http://www.time.com/...00.html?cnn=yes

[Jean-Louis]

Canada and Denmark are already squabbling over a tiny island...

I think Canada should declare war on Denmark. I think we could take them. and their beautiful women would make wothwhile booty.
On a more serious note, there is a great article in this month's Harpers Magazine on the issue of Artic ressources