(SoS) Clinton tours Arctic as big powers vie for resources

[Rhiannon12866]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton boards a research ship on Saturday to tour the Arctic, where big powers are vying for vast deposits of oil, gas and minerals that are becoming available as the polar ice recedes.

The top U.S. diplomat took the unusual step of visiting Tromso, a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle, to dramatize U.S. interests in a once inaccessible region whose resources are up for grabs as the sea ice melts with climate change.

"From a strategic standpoint, the Arctic has an increasing geopolitical importance as countries vie to protect their rights and extend their influence," Clinton told reporters in Oslo before making the nearly two-hour flight north to Tromso.

"We want to work with Norway and the Arctic Council to help manage these changes and to agree on what would be, in effect, the rules of the road in the Arctic, so new developments are economically sustainable and environmentally responsible," she added.




Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/02/arctic-clinton-idUSL1E8H20FF20120602?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews&rpc=43

[WCGreen]

1. They are looking for more of the stuff that increased the heat of the earth in order

that let these new areas available to be exploited to mine and use more of the stuff that made the stuff accessable....

I think I got that right....

[dipsydoodle]

2. Sounds about right

[Rhiannon12866]

3. Here's my first post of the day:

It's the second article I read on this and it scared the hell out of me. Why isn't this the lead story on the news?!

Greenhouse gas levels pass symbolic 400ppm CO2 milestone

Monitoring stations in the Arctic detect record levels of carbon dioxide, higher than ever above 'safe' 350ppm mark

http://www.democraticunderground.com/112716607

[dipsydoodle]

4. I did post that on Thursday

when I found it in AP news. I posted it in the Environment Forum then : http://www.democraticunderground.com/112716442



ps I can see now that at least the Guardian published that yesterday too so at least we got it over here : http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jun/01/record-greenhouse-gas-trouble-scientists?newsfeed=true

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Damn! I thought it was likely that someone had...

But I looked and I didn't see it. As a long-time mod, I'm clearly opposed to dupes...

Thanks for pointing this out! But I don't think this can be discussed often enough. This should have been headlines on both sides of the Atlantic.

[dipsydoodle]

11. I wasn't complainin' - just sayin'

I agree it can't be discussed orphan enough.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. I just gave it a K&R... ;)

This needs to lead the news rather than the latest yammerings of Mittens and company.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. When I was a kid it was three-fiddy.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. What global warming?

How do rightwing idiots keep their heads from exploding? The compartmentalization of irreconcilable beliefs must be very very difficult.

[Blue_Tires]

17. What about our big oil boys in Houston? They've got a buck to make!!

[Cooley Hurd]

7. Kick and Rec

[MoreGOPoop]

8. K & R

Does anyone know if they 'tested' nookz under the Polar Cap? We know how far they've gone to suppress the science of Global Warming. Just how far would they go to speed up access to all that oil?

[WriteWrong]

9. Does this imply the natives are all wiped out or coopted? They had undisputed title at one point.

Mining is not sustainable. Period. It just isn't, unless you have an infinite supply of new planets to mine. We don't.

So it seems clear we can expect short-term exploitation with no goal but to make more money this quarter than last.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. You are so right!

What good does it do to argue about this? It's not like the deniers won't be affected, too...

Welcome to DU, WriteWrong! It's great to have you with us!

[JDPriestly]

14. When I was a child, I had this feeling, this nagging idea that one day

humans would be forced to live underground and never go into the open air.

If we keep using fossil fuels, that could become the reality.

Why do we keep drowning our lungs in CO2.

How stupid can we be?

[Arctic Dave]

15. Hmmmm, thought I was going to be able to meet Hillary.

I'm right on the shore of the arctic ocean right now.

[BlueIris]

16. Ew.

I am embarrassed that we are going this route.