Three states are claiming the seabed and subsoil at the top of the world
THERE ARE three reasons why Thomas Nast, the 19th-century American illustrator who created the twinkly grandfather image of Santa Claus, decided to place his workshop at the North Pole. The location was cold enough for the reindeer that pulled his sleigh; it was sufficiently remote so that curious children could not contemplate a visit; and it lay in neutral territory, allowing Santa to be an international goodwill ambassador. The last will not be true for much longer.
Anywhere else on Earth this would look like a recipe for armed conflict. A steady drumbeat of stories about the militarisation of the region creating a new cold war in the Arctic lends support to that idea. Russia has been forthright about its ambitions. It made a big deal of planting a titanium Russian flag on the seabed at the North Pole in 2007. Yet armed conflict over rival claims is unlikely for two reasons.
Co-operation is most evident in the scientific domain. To collect its data, Canada conducted joint surveys with Denmark, Sweden and the United States, with which it has an overlapping claim in the western Arctic. The scientists who posed for a photo at the North Pole in 2016 displayed the flags of 14 countries. Russia, Denmark and Canada could have blocked the commission from studying a rival’s claim, but each gave the required permissions and have remained in close contact throughout.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A 26th race horse dies at Santa Anita ParkA thoroughbred named Kochees died Sunday at Santa Anita Park in California after sustaining an injury in a race, a track spokesman said. It's the 26th horse to die at Santa Anita since December.
Read more »
3rd horse in 9 days dies at Santa Anita racetrack, marking 26 fatalities in 6 monthsAnother horse died at Southern California's prominent Santa Anita racetrack over the weekend, marking the third thoroughbred fatality at the facility in the last nine days, and the 26th fatality since December.
Read more »
Another horse dies at Santa Anita, bringing toll to 26 since late DecemberThe California track had temporarily halted its racing season in March after a string of equine fatalities.
Read more »
PETA sides with Santa Anita on new horse racing safety rulesSanta Anita has found itself on the good side of the spotlight on Tuesday when a leading animal rights group called on the country to adopt safety reforms currently being implemented in California.
Read more »
Cool, hot and close to home: Celebrate Memorial Day in Southern CaliforniaSome of the best events for the holiday weekend in Riverside, Fountain Valley, Simi Valley, Los Angeles, Orange and Santa Monica.
Read more »
Failed asylum seekers wait in rural Danish departure centerWhen Ali Adnan, 27, fled his home in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad in 2015 and ar...
Read more »
Can you skip 47 days of English class and still graduate from high school?At some Maryland high schools, you can. Hundreds of students are excessively absent.
Read more »
There are raccoon dogs on the loose in an English villageResidents in Nottinghamshire, England, are being warned by police to be vigilant of the animals that dug out of their enclosure on Tuesday.
Read more »
European soccer posts record revenues with the English Premier League leading the wayThe 92 professional soccer teams in the English Premier League (EPL) and the three divisions below have amassed a record £5.8 billion ($7.3 billion) in revenue during the 2017/18 season, topping the table of Europe's elite leagues.
Read more »