The Battle for the Arctic
The Arctic holds thirteen percent of the world's undiscovered oil and thirty percent of its untapped natural gas, which is trillions of dollars of potential profit.
And that means, here in the far north, issues of sovereignty, security, environment, and trade are intersecting at colossal pace.
This documentary looks at the potential environmental impact of resource extraction in the Arctic, and what that might mean for the people who live there.
The UN has imposed a 2013 deadline for the submission of scientific claims to the Arctic seabed. It is the precursor to a resource boom which would see Canada, the US, Russia, Norway and Greenland all attempt to exploit the region's resources.
These Arctic countries are desperately mapping out their territories so they can tap into the fossil fuels and minerals locked beneath the fast melting ice.
And with global warming speeding up the melting of the Polar ice caps, potential shipping routes are opening up - raising concerns about oil spills, and control over these new passageways.
looks like this Arctic needs some good ol Merican freedom and some religion too !
Thing is that Arctic states become more aware of the problems and threats posed by climate change and improper resources exploitation. Russia and Norway, US and Canada have already shown a lot of positive examples in collaborative search and rescue exercises, joint oil spill drills, and it's a very positive tendency. It points at their wish to use Arctic riches peacefully.
In fact, joint research projects in the field of Arctic ecology show that these countries are ready to preserve beautiful nature of the region and use its resources in accordance with international ecological standards.
The main thing now is to make oil-drilling and other corporations that want to get benefits from the region increase their research activity in the field of working in extreme weather conditions and new equipment.
This is the measure which may help avoid possible emergencies.
"Change will happen, when the fear of things staying the same outweighs the fear of change." - DigiWongaDude
The cyclic exposure of the northern waterways is a great opportunity to restart our stalled American economy.
Let's settle new colonies practicing old fashioned independence. Ice cities with underground structures, breeder power plants and large naval bases nearby, anyone?
As much as the oil companies and governments themselves seem unable to learn from past mistakes, we do not seem to learn that our little voices have little substance in the face of facts...
Demand for energy and hydrocarbon based products, 13% of world's supply under that ice and world energy needs set to double in the next 40 years. (see this video) - that's what the protests and arguments are up against.
Bitching about the U.S. foreign policy and environmental issues misses the mark (sorry but it's true) when the our accelerating demand for this 'black gold' so outstrips the finite, dwindling supply. If we had alternatives, believe me profiteering would drive our progress towards it. That time is not now.
The area in virtually untouched, arguably belongs to no-one and with vast potential profits beckoning, it is sadly realistic that I say no amount of protesting will not stop the onslaught or exploitation of the inhabitants or the land.
Because the whole world will use (and benefit) from the removal of this resource, it is up to us to ensure that profits are squeezed and no one company (or their shareholders) can make any grossly significant profit from the endeavour - just enough to convince them to do it, since it can not be stopped. We can not stop it, but we can at least take CONTROL of it. The grossly significant profits from permits and exploitation go back to the land and its creatures, so that for once in our miserable existence, we can stand together and proudly say that we as a species have finally managed to do something good in this world that goes beyond extending the longevity of our lives.
When this goes ahead, and we watch our TV's in horror at the next disastrous injustices, look in the mirror and ask "What did I do?"
The Arctic has nothing to do with the US it's more Canada's and the US has no right to be there they have the south to worry about the north is Canada's period.
The US need to get there greedy ass out of there they don't own anything in the north so I don't see why they are up there it's Canada's and Russia's and Greenland's land not the greedy Americans
probably part of the reason the US are using HAARP to help speed up the heating of our atmosphere!
The image presented when watching Ice Road Truckers is a little different. They talk about all of the environment regulations the truckers and drilling rigs have to comply with, you are left with the impression it's fairly clean operation.
But this might explain why the reaction to climate change is not very strong in the busienss world. Less ice means more money....even if it's still just a temporary situation. After all, the oil and gas and their injection into the atmosphere will not last forever.
Arctic oil exploration will turn the region into another garbage dump strewn with hydrocarbon pollution. It isn't realistic to presume the principals involved will treat the Arctic responsibly because their environmental impact histories are all terrible. There is more reason to believe the Arctic will be significantly ruined despite the hollow promises otherwise. Concentrating on sustainable energy and conservation would be more practical in the long haul verses these get rich quick schemes which have created universal hardships more so than anything else. The worst case scenario is war in the Arctic to whist bombing oil production facilities would take place. The pieces are once again coming together producing yet another environmental holocaust our world cannot afford.