Monday, March 29, 2010

Arctic.....Everybody Wants A Piece!

I must admit I hadn't heard about the Arctic Counsel until Hillary blasted Canada for not including it in today's meetings, and with the same breath asked Canada to stay in Afghanistan. The US, making enemies of their friends, at an astonishing rate!

Clinton blasts Canada for exclusive Arctic talks

Ms. Clinton's bombshell, delivered in a prepared statement as she was meeting with Mr. Cannon and senior ministers from three other Arctic coastal nations - Denmark, Norway and Russia - cast a cloud over a meeting that was intended to show solidarity among the ocean's five shoreline states and highlight their "unique" position as chief guardians of the region's environment and resource riches.

"Significant international discussions on Arctic issues should include those who have legitimate interests in the region," said Ms. Clinton, "and I hope the Arctic will always showcase our ability to work together, not create new divisions.

"We need all hands on deck because there is a huge amount to do, and not much time to do it. What happens in the Arctic will have broad consequences for the earth and its climate. The melting of sea ice, glaciers and permafrost will affect people and ecosystems around the world," she said, "and understanding how these changes fit together is a task that demands international co-operation."


Well Hillary, good to see you didn't need a teleprompter to read your prepared notes, too bad you can't think about what is good for the Arctic, and it is not the EU! They banned seal, why should they be included in Arctic discussions? Also if you would look on a map, the only true Arctic nations are Canada, US (thanks to Alaska), Russia, Norway and Denmark. Why should Finland be included? Or Iceland, they are in the Atlantic, it appears India and China want in on our resources as well.

To many in the European Union - which was recently blocked by Canada and others from gaining even "observer" status at the Arctic Council because of the continent's ban on seal products - Monday's party-of-five brainstorming session represented a troublesome narrowing of polar interests at a time when the wider world, including China and India, is angling for greater involvement in charting the future of the circumpolar realm.


HA! At least Canada stopped the EU from gaining any status on the Council! Maybe the EU should think about their position... ban seal products worth about 2 million a year, or get your grubby little muckers on some Arctic oil?

Oh, Hillary, the Northwest passage is Canada's waters, NOT international waters, that's what this is all about isn't it? Band together with other countries so you get free sailing through our waters.

If you think that is bad, go to the Arctic Counsel's site and see how many organizations and special interest groups think they should have some say in what we do with our land!

The environmentalists have their sticky little fingers all over this Council.

There are six Working Groups of the Arctic Council:

* Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP)
* Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)
* Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)
* Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR)
* Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)
* Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG)


No working group on oil drilling? It's an environmentalists dream come true! No wonder only countries who actually have land in the Arctic Ocean were invited, look at just one of the lists of organizations:



Well, well, well, looky there, it's the WWF!! Who would have guessed? These are the organizations that want some say in the Arctic? PM Harper sure is right, if we don't protect it, we will lose it! Not to be left out:



That's right the UN! The snakes are all lined up in the grass, just waiting for the Arctic to melt. Too bad, it's going to get much colder before anyone is going to be cruising through the Northwest passage with anything but a nuclear sub!

Butt out of Canada's Arctic!

6 comments:

Dance...dance to the radio said...

I love it when Canada tells the EU to go piss up a rope.
They have no legs to stand on.

But this culture of debt has infected us, too.
And it's time to stop it.

The_Iceman said...

Who in the Hell at the CBC picked Stombo to do the Clinton interview?

Unknown said...

Piracy could make a good pass time as well.

Unknown said...

I think those arctic rangers could use some stinger missiles. Unless these countries are preparing a merchant submarine fleet, I think that closes the book on it.

Mines could work just as well. Even the green nutters would help us with this one. Play by our rules in our water or don't play at all.

robins111 said...

I was especially impressed that Shrillery took the time to point out that Canada didn't invite all the Arctic players. Such as the Inuit, Bob & Cecil, from James Bay, Chubby from None-of-it, and that guy who serves such a good rye & coke at the bar in Gander.

Then Demands that Canada keep troops in the Stan so Bammy can look good.

Gabby in QC said...

Umm, I don't know what else Clinton said, but from what she is quoted as saying, I don't see it as "Clinton blasts Canada ..."

I mean, how does saying that those who have "legitimate interests in the region" constitute a rebuke or a "blast" aimed at Canada?

Sorry, but I see this as "journalistic" sensationalism. Headline writers in particular have to create some kind of crisis so that people will read the article. And of course, anything that might cast the Conservatives as somehow diminishing Canada's international standing is always good fodder for journalists.

That's not to say that you're incorrect, Hunter, in the rest of your argument: that the EU and other countries -- not to mention all the other groups you list -- who want in on the bonanza the Arctic holds should butt out.