Last year, Russia planted a flag on the seabottom under the North Pole, claiming it, and its valuable resources, as their own. This has caused outrage from the other countries bordering the Pole, but meetings to arrange the matter diplomatically so far have come to no avail.

Now Russia's planning military excursions in an effort to hold on to its claim. In response, Canada has also expanded their military presence in the area near the North Pole.

http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/jun/24/russia-planning-arctic-training-exercises/


What do you think, will Russia go to war over this?

One question is, "Will Russia go to war to get Alaska back so they can tap in to it rich resources?" We are foolish not to do more of this ourselves. I hope we do not go to war over the Arctic. Surely the world can share! Well, maybe not...

Not yet.
Claiming the bottom of the Artic Ocean is a very long term thing. Step one is to stake your claim. Russia will now wait and see what happens. There will be a lot of diplomacy, expert discussions and drinking tea and vodka for a long time. The problem of ownership had presented itself with Antarctica too. That resulted in the Antarctic Treaty which has preserved peace on the South Pole for 50 years now, though there are many resources. I expect a similar scenario at the North Pole. Russia's main objective is to make sure that noone else starts to exploit the Arctic riches and/or encroach on their territory. I do feel it is important that the International Community (most importantly the UN) strongly rejects this course of action.

Earlier this morning I read an article on the polar cap, and how this summer, for the first time in recorded history will (most likely) be completely broken up, thanks to global warming. Now I read this thread, and my blood is boiling!

Quote:

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Russia's main objective is to make sure that noone else starts to exploit the Arctic riches and/or encroach on their territory.

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"Exploit" being the key word here. The governments of the world should be working on preserving the North Pole, not exploiting it! But no, greed abounds, and the race is on for more gas, more oil, regardless of the green cost. Global warming, and the reversal of, should be our main concern, not 'Let's grab the last of the untapped source of oil, regardless of the consequences of messing further with a fragile environment.'

Unfortunately the link to the polar cap breaking up is broken, but here is a link that I read after that one.

Global Warming: Myths & Facts http://green.sympatico.msn.ca/article.aspx?cp-documentid=472766

Time to wake up, oil-greedy countries! You are not the only ones on this planet!