Global warming helping with commercial Arctic passage

The global warming effect in the Arctic is causing a major rift in US-Canadian relations.  Canada has dispatched eight patrol ships to the Northwest Passage in a show of force to fend off US claims that those are international waters.  Canada, obviously, insists that the water is part of Canadian territory.  In the end, the dispute is -- you guessed it -- over oil:

As global warming melts the passage – which now is only navigableduring a slim window in the summer – the waters are exposing unexploredresources such as oil, fishing stocks and minerals, and becoming anattractive shipping route. Commercial ships can shave off some 2,480miles from Europe to Asia compared with current routes through thePanama Canal.

The disputed route runs from the Atlantic to the Pacific through the Arctic archipelago.

Canadians have long claimed the waters. But their government hasgenerally turned a blind eye to the United States, which has sent navalvessels and submarines through what it considers an internationalstrait.

The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says the icecap is warming faster than the rest of the planet and ice is receding,partly due to greenhouse gases.

See how oil changes the whole equation.  Initially, Canada did not mind that US submarines used the water, and the US did not care if Canada secured the region.  Now that global warming is resulting in new oil, a fight has erupted between close neighbors in a delicate part of the world.

It will be interesting to see how the US responds to Canada's show of force.  People are already whispering about possible US military action to grab control of the territory -- although it is highly unlikely.

Comments

[George]

I think I have a solution for this problem and it's time I let out the secret: ENERGY INDEPENDENCE. How stupid is this country? Really now. How stupid are we? I hope this country drowns in oil one day. It's so pathetic.

Can anyone tell me a reason why every home in this country should not have solar powered heating/cooling systems by 2020? Every home.

Can anyone tell me a reason why every car should not get 35 miles per gallon by 2020?

Can anyone tell me why there are no windmills this dumb country?

Is this all technologically impossible?

[Chief Editor: Todd]

Good questions. I share your outrage and frustration. Technologically speaking, just about anything is possible. We can't change the system until we have forces to counteract the oil lobbying forces in DC -- and that won't happen until more people in this country start following and participating in the political process.