White House Sees Black Gold in Melting Sea Ice
By Barbara Slavin
USA Today
Washington - The Bush administration is worried about missing out on a bonanza of oil and other resources in the Arctic unless Congress approves a treaty that helps determine who has rights to the area's wealth.
Arctic sea ice has decreased nearly 20% in the last two decades as the Earth's climate warms, making access to the area easier. The eight countries bordering the region, including the USA, are now staking competing claims.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the Arctic seabed and subsoil hold as much as 25% of the world's undiscovered oil and gas. Other resources such as nickel and diamonds also are present.
The melting ice also has led to increased traffic from ships seeking a shorter route between Europe, Asia and the Western Hemisphere.
All Arctic border countries except the USA have signed a 1982 treaty that establishes guidelines for where maritime boundaries should be drawn and a commission for resolving disputes. A two-thirds majority of the Senate is necessary to approve the law.
Ratification of the treaty "is a top priority for us," said John Bellinger, the State Department's top lawyer. "We've been watching as other countries are actively pursuing their own interests."
The treaty stipulates that countries can extract natural resources within 200 miles of their coast. Countries can claim more if they prove their continental shelf extends further into the sea.
Adm. Thad Allen, commander of the Coast Guard, said the treaty is "absolutely critical" and will aid U.S. law enforcement by clarifying rules and jurisdiction.
The treaty was not ratified in the 1980s because of opposition from Republicans who contended the treaty infringed on U.S. sovereignty. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the treaty in 2004, but it never got to a vote. Current Chairman Joseph Biden, D-Del., supports ratification but has not scheduled hearings until the fall.
Some conservatives, including Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., continue to oppose the treaty.
"Right now we have total control," Inhofe said. "There's still a little sovereignty left in America. Let's hold on to it."
Source
Full Version: White House Sees Black Gold in Melting Ice
I guess no one has to be a phsycic to guess where the future battle ground will be and why! 
OK Canadians, better give up your weapons of mass destruction or Dubya is on his way !!!! 
QUOTE(questionmark @ Aug 2 2007, 01:47 PM) 
OK Canadians, better give up your weapons of mass destruction or Dubya is on his way !!!!
Living in Alberta and having the oil sands here, you sure notice what oil can do for a province/contry. It wasn't to long ago the goverment of Alberta handed out free money($400.00) tax free to evey single Albertan. I wonder what we will get when Canada lays it's claim on the northern oil "fields"
chaaching LOL P.S. We will never give up our secret WMD's , we now how much you Americans hate mayonnaise.
I read something about this. Russia is trying to claim rights in the arctic too :-O.
Dun dun dunnn....
Dun dun dunnn....
Ah always the opportunists. Lets all scramble and try and get a piece of natural resourses...
So much for save the planet and all that...
So much for save the planet and all that...
Guess the Live Earth gigs and save the environment fell on deaf ears....
great another war
What goverments need to do is spend money to find other energy efficient ways to make oil useless, all oil is going to do is send off a whole war
And after everything is staked out....the ice will keep melting and there will be even more resources! Woohoo! (While the rest of the world continues to suffer.)
QUOTE(Athena22 @ Aug 4 2007, 02:23 PM)
And after everything is staked out....the ice will keep melting and there will be even more resources! Woohoo
You are aware of the environmental consequences from all that melted ice... right?
QUOTE(Reincarnated @ Aug 2 2007, 08:59 PM)
White House Sees Black Gold in Melting Sea Ice
By Barbara Slavin
USA Today
Washington - The Bush administration is worried about missing out on a bonanza of oil and other resources in the Arctic unless Congress approves a treaty that helps determine who has rights to the area's wealth.
Arctic sea ice has decreased nearly 20% in the last two decades as the Earth's climate warms, making access to the area easier. The eight countries bordering the region, including the USA, are now staking competing claims.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the Arctic seabed and subsoil hold as much as 25% of the world's undiscovered oil and gas. Other resources such as nickel and diamonds also are present.
The melting ice also has led to increased traffic from ships seeking a shorter route between Europe, Asia and the Western Hemisphere.
All Arctic border countries except the USA have signed a 1982 treaty that establishes guidelines for where maritime boundaries should be drawn and a commission for resolving disputes. A two-thirds majority of the Senate is necessary to approve the law.
Ratification of the treaty "is a top priority for us," said John Bellinger, the State Department's top lawyer. "We've been watching as other countries are actively pursuing their own interests."
The treaty stipulates that countries can extract natural resources within 200 miles of their coast. Countries can claim more if they prove their continental shelf extends further into the sea.
Adm. Thad Allen, commander of the Coast Guard, said the treaty is "absolutely critical" and will aid U.S. law enforcement by clarifying rules and jurisdiction.
The treaty was not ratified in the 1980s because of opposition from Republicans who contended the treaty infringed on U.S. sovereignty. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the treaty in 2004, but it never got to a vote. Current Chairman Joseph Biden, D-Del., supports ratification but has not scheduled hearings until the fall.
Some conservatives, including Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., continue to oppose the treaty.
"Right now we have total control," Inhofe said. "There's still a little sovereignty left in America. Let's hold on to it."
Source
By Barbara Slavin
USA Today
Washington - The Bush administration is worried about missing out on a bonanza of oil and other resources in the Arctic unless Congress approves a treaty that helps determine who has rights to the area's wealth.
Arctic sea ice has decreased nearly 20% in the last two decades as the Earth's climate warms, making access to the area easier. The eight countries bordering the region, including the USA, are now staking competing claims.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the Arctic seabed and subsoil hold as much as 25% of the world's undiscovered oil and gas. Other resources such as nickel and diamonds also are present.
The melting ice also has led to increased traffic from ships seeking a shorter route between Europe, Asia and the Western Hemisphere.
All Arctic border countries except the USA have signed a 1982 treaty that establishes guidelines for where maritime boundaries should be drawn and a commission for resolving disputes. A two-thirds majority of the Senate is necessary to approve the law.
Ratification of the treaty "is a top priority for us," said John Bellinger, the State Department's top lawyer. "We've been watching as other countries are actively pursuing their own interests."
The treaty stipulates that countries can extract natural resources within 200 miles of their coast. Countries can claim more if they prove their continental shelf extends further into the sea.
Adm. Thad Allen, commander of the Coast Guard, said the treaty is "absolutely critical" and will aid U.S. law enforcement by clarifying rules and jurisdiction.
The treaty was not ratified in the 1980s because of opposition from Republicans who contended the treaty infringed on U.S. sovereignty. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the treaty in 2004, but it never got to a vote. Current Chairman Joseph Biden, D-Del., supports ratification but has not scheduled hearings until the fall.
Some conservatives, including Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., continue to oppose the treaty.
"Right now we have total control," Inhofe said. "There's still a little sovereignty left in America. Let's hold on to it."
Source
As you said... sovereignty is dependent on the comtinental shelf. Who can possibly deny the Russsians sovereignty if they conclusively prove that their continental shelf extends into the Arctic?
Quite honestly why does it matter? The oil extracted will end up on the Exchange Markets anyway, whoever extracts it.
QUOTE(Reincarnated @ Aug 4 2007, 05:31 PM)
You are aware of the environmental consequences from all that melted ice... right?
No why dont you tell them to us
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