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UN chief visits 'doomsday' seed vault in Arctic
AFP ^ | 9-2-09

Posted on 09/02/2009 2:37:16 PM PDT by kingattax

UN chief Ban Ki-moon visited Wednesday a vault carved into the Arctic permafrost, filled with samples of the world's most important seeds in case food crops are wiped out by a catastrophe. "The world faces many daunting challenges today, one of the greatest of which is how to feed a growing population in the context of climate change," a bundled-up Ban told reporters after he toured the site in the Svalbard archipelago some 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) from the North Pole.

"The seeds stored here in Svalbard will help us do just that. Sustainable food production may not begin in this cold Arctic environment, but it does begin by conserving crop diversity," he said.

Aimed at safeguarding biodiversity in the face of climate change, wars and other natural and man-made disasters, the seed bank has the capacity to hold up to 4.5 million batches of seeds, or twice the number of crop varieties believed to exist in the world today.

The vault was inaugurated in February 2008, and so far some 25 international and national institutes from 22 countries have deposited some 400,000 batches, according to the Norwegian government.

Overlooking a fjord, the vault forms a long trident-shaped tunnel bored deep into the Svalbard sandstone and limestone.

Metal shelves lining three cold chambers will eventually be stacked with airtight bags filled with seed samples.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: arctic; bankimoon; doomsday; seed; seeds; svalbard; un; vault
the UN has always been very 'seedy'
1 posted on 09/02/2009 2:37:16 PM PDT by kingattax
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To: kingattax

I’ve read about this. It would make a kickass super villain lair.


2 posted on 09/02/2009 2:40:51 PM PDT by Rodebrecht (Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.)
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To: kingattax

If the UN’s running the project, that vault probably contains every variety of cannibis, coca, and opium plant known to man, and not much else.


3 posted on 09/02/2009 2:40:58 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Stop dissing drunken sailors! At least they spend their OWN money.)
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To: kingattax

Moon should’a gone there in January.


4 posted on 09/02/2009 2:41:12 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: kingattax

Has it been stocked with the seeds from Columbia and Mexico?


5 posted on 09/02/2009 2:41:57 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: kingattax

http://www.ted.com/talks/cary_fowler_one_seed_at_a_time_protecting_the_future_of_food.html


6 posted on 09/02/2009 2:47:14 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: kingattax

Hope they check real carefully that no seed “pods” are being placed. “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and “The Thing” come to mind.


7 posted on 09/02/2009 2:49:51 PM PDT by bubbacluck
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To: kingattax

Do you suppose Clinton has tried to store his seed there too?


8 posted on 09/02/2009 2:50:21 PM PDT by Some hope remaining.
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To: Rodebrecht

oh, man. Paging Kevin Spacey as Dr. Evil!


9 posted on 09/02/2009 2:52:46 PM PDT by LuciaMia
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To: kingattax

I wonder how much this fiasco is costing us?


10 posted on 09/02/2009 2:58:18 PM PDT by taillightchaser (When a democrat says "The American people" you know the next words out of his mouth will be lies.)
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To: kingattax
Europeans have way too much time on their hands.
11 posted on 09/02/2009 3:10:44 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: kingattax

Why would a warmer bury seeds in permafrost? If it warms, it’s going to be a sea of mud.


12 posted on 09/02/2009 3:11:55 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault
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To: kingattax

I was just in Svalbard in July (lovely day, lots of sun). The town of Longyearbyen is nearest to the depository, and I have to say, it has great deals on liquor. I don’t think they charge any tax, so it’s better than Costco or any airport duty free. Probably because it is basically a coal mining town, and you gotta have something to do during that long winter night (way) above the Arctic Circle.


13 posted on 09/02/2009 3:40:54 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (Socialism: The sin of envy, masquerading as a political movement.)
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To: taraytarah

da bears PING


14 posted on 09/02/2009 9:23:10 PM PDT by kingattax (99 % of liberals give the rest a bad name)
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To: kingattax

lol - what bears?


15 posted on 09/02/2009 9:26:00 PM PDT by taraytarah
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To: taraytarah

arctic....polar bears.....ar ar ar


16 posted on 09/02/2009 9:37:51 PM PDT by kingattax (99 % of liberals give the rest a bad name)
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