Arctic Sovereignty, Self-Government in the North, Climate Change Migration, Political Correctness & Security

Hans Island the tip of iceberg in Arctic claims -- "what's really at stake is Canadian sovereignty over more important sites in the Arctic." CTV.ca News Staff

[. . . ] If sea ice continues to thin due to climate change, the Northwest Passage will eventually open up as a major shipping route. More and more, the U.S. and other countries believe that the Arctic waters are international waters -- as is the case in the Antarctic.

[. . . . ] The fact that Canada hasn't had the resources to conduct surveillance in the area, and track down these submarines, diminishes the Ottawa's claim to sovereignty. [. . . . ]

Search: unidentified submarines , about to change



Related:

CSIS: Climate Change, Migration and Security by Robert McLeman and Barry Smit, Winter 2003 (CSIS: March 2, 2004, COMMENTARY No. 86)

Based on previous experience, the hockey stick graph, for example, I would like to know what other scientists think of the information and graphs. These might be of interest:

6. Forms of climate change-driven migration
9. Characteristics of climate change migrants
10. Implications for the security and intelligence community
11. Illustrative cases: Climate change and migration patterns in China and Pakistan

How long do you suppose it would take the government to sell out to the highest bidder and promises of votes? Maybe in return for . . . well, read on; then think about it.



The Return of the Vikings -- New Challenges for the Control of the Canadian North By Rob Heubert Ph.D, (Originally Published in Vol VII, No. 21, Winter 2002/2003 edition of Starshell)

Dr. Rob Heubert is a member of Calgary Branch, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Calgary. He is also the Associate Director of the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies.

[. . . . ] First, Canadians need to be concerned about the precedent that will be established by an unfavourable resolution of this dispute. Most Canadians may believe that the territorial integrity of Canada is complete and without challenge. This is not true. There are now two other current boundary disputes (not counting Hans Island) and one potential boundary dispute in the Canadian north. The United States still maintains that the Northwest Passage is an international strait and not internal waters as Canada claims; and the northern maritime boundary between Alaska and Yukon is disputed. The possibility also exists that Canada and Russia may have overlapping claims for the continental shelf in the high Arctic. [. . . . ]

N.W.T. park expanding Updated Sun, 31 Jul 2005, CBC News

Tuktut Nogait National Park in the Northwest Territories, centred on tundra where 100,000 caribou bear their young, will expand by 1,800 square kilometres on Monday.

[. . . . ] Tuktut Nogait, 170 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, totals 16,340 square kilometres, the Parks Canada website says. [. . . . ]

What does "self-government" mean? Who makes decisions? Natives only or does this include non-natives living within the territory? Where does decision-making / self-government fit into the federal, provincial, municipal or districts outside the cities? Is it another level of government? If so, subject to whom? To what level of government . . . or is that something that will be handled outside Parliament, perhaps by the PMO?

Who pays? If taxpayers, does this ever end? Who owns the subsurface resources? Do the rest of Canada and Canadians have any input to make or is this one of those deals that didn't come before Parliament like the latest one made by Min. Andy Scott with one or more groups of natives?

Self-government usually means you earn, as well as decide how to spend, your income.



N.W.T. band moves closer to self-government Aug. 24, 03, CBC

[. . . . ] "The agreement, building on the Sahtu Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement signed in 1998, gives the community law-making powers in several areas, including education, health, social services, justice, language and culture."

Think about the implications. I have posted previously on promotion of natives' languages. Is this the most important use of time and resources when the lives of natives are so abysmal, from all reports? Will this help them succeed nationally or globally? Economically?

Apropos of nothing . . . or perhaps not, why was Dyane Adam, Minister of Official Languages visiting China -- a year or two ago? Surely not checking on the use of French in Canada's embassy in Beijing alone. Ms. Adam is the minister taxed with language which usually means enforcement and promotion of French -- Is her mandate about to expand? Has it already? Note the Quebec and Paris connection in promotion of native language(s) in Labrador. It began years ago. I posted on it within the last three months. Think about it. Do you see a further breakdown of anything unifying Canada? To whose benefit?




B.C. truck companies to vote on tentative deal Aug. 31, 05, CBC

It includes an immediate increase in hauling rates and a fuel surcharge. It also proposes rate hikes again next year.

Did Paul Martin praise you for taking a stand against terrorism? -- Is loyalty not normally the job of a citizen? Walking on eggs, Paul?



The Problem with Political Correctness.....When the Profile Fits the Crime Paul Sperry, published July 28, 05, New York Times, posted by Joan C

IN response to the serial subway bombings in London, Mayor Michael Bloomberg prudently ordered the police to start searching the bags of New York's subway riders. But there will be absolutely no profiling, Mr. Bloomberg vowed: the police will select one out of every five passengers to search, and they will do so at random, without regard for race or religion.

In that case, the security move is doomed to fail.

Young Muslim men bombed the London tube, and young Muslim men attacked New York with planes in 2001. From everything we know about the terrorists who may be taking aim at our transportation system, they are most likely to be young Muslim men. Unfortunately, however, this demographic group won't be profiled. Instead, the authorities will be stopping Girl Scouts and grannies in a procedure that has more to do with demonstrating tolerance than with protecting citizens from terrorism. [. . . . ]

Search: young men praying to Allah and smelling like flower water , why two grandmothers were chosen for a pat-down (in a letter below the article)

---