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Canada stakes its claim on the Arctic

By Keme Nzerem

Updated on 11 August 2007

Barren ice floes to some - a future military base to the Canadians.

Would-be imperial giant Canada wants to make this tundra - and the oil and gas deep underneath - its own.

Talk of a frosty new world order.

Stephen Harper, Canadian Prime Minister, said: "Canada's new government understands the first principle of Arctic sovereignty: use it or lose it."

For the Canadians don't want to be left out in the cold in the scramble for Arctic control, following last week's deep sea expedition from the Russians to place their flag under the north pole.

But who in fact owns the North Pole? Well, at the moment, no one. The surrounding states are restricted to 200 mile economic zones around their coasts.

But under the UN Convention on the law of the sea, countries can apply to extend their claims.

Norway wants parts of the Barents Sea, the Arctic Ocean and the Norweigan Sea.

Russia says it's landmass extends to the north pole itself - planting that flag there a week ago.

Meanwhile Denmark insists it has the nearest coastline to the Pole.

And Canada says the NorthWest Passage - shipping routes linking the Pacific to the Atlantic - are theirs.

But the US refuses to ratify the treaty - and runs nuclear submarines under the ice without requesting permission.

Global warming - and melting sea ice - means lucrative new shipping routes between Europe and Asia could cut the journey by thousands of miles. No wonder Canada wants a military base here - playing gatekeeper requires brawn as well as brain.

APTN Pierre Leblanc, Commander Canadian Forces (Retired), said: "This is going to be one of the actions that the government is taking, concrete action that's actually now put a bit of a gate, if you will, on the North-West passage."

The thinning ice also makes it easier - and cheaper - to pump the oil and gas lying deep below the permafrost. The prize - as much as a quarter of the world's untapped reserves. But the overwhelming scientific consensus - the more we burn - the more greenhouse gas pumped into the atmosphere - the more the ice melts away.

So with Canada and Russia clearly happy to throw their weight around - Denmark has now deployed it's own expedition to the tune of 20 million pounds to try and prove the north pole is theirs.

Danish Minister of Science, Helge Sander, said: "In connection with the Russians' litte summer provocation I'd like to point out that it does not matter whether you set flags on the North Pole. Nor does it matter whether you're a big country or not. The decision will be made in accordance with UN rules."

How perfectly European. Just don't expect any decisions in a hurry.

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