Russia threatens to seize swathe of Arctic

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | 9-17-08 | Miriam Elder

[webschooner]

President Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia should unilaterally claim part of the Arctic, stepping up the race for the disputed energy-rich region.

"We must finalise and adopt a federal law on the southern border of Russia's Arctic zone," Mr Medvedev told a meeting of the Security Council, in remarks carried by Interfax news agency.

"This is our responsibility, and simply our direct duty, to our descendents," he said. "We must surely, and for the long-term future, secure Russia's interests in the Arctic."

Global warming has stepped up the fight for the disputed Arctic, believed to be laden with vast reserves of oil and gas. Russia has pitted itself against Canada, Denmark, Norway and the United States to fight for a greater part of the region, arguing that most of it is Russian territory since an underwater ridge links Siberia to the North Pole's seabed.

Last August, a Russian mini-submarine carrying politicians and scientists plunged to the depths of the Arctic and claimed to plant a Russian flag to mark Moscow's stake in the territory.

Footage of the alleged planting was widely broadcast on Russian television – but later turned out to be images taken from the Hollywood blockbuster Titanic.

Under international law, each of the five countries that lay claim to the Arctic own a 320-kilometre zone that extends north from their shores. That arrangement is up for UN review in May next year.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Ice Station Zebra ?

[PGalt]

Interesting. Thanks for posting.

[Zeddicus]

Ok, I have a really stupid question. Was there ever a time in earth's history where the artic circle had a climate that would have sustained lush prehistoric animal or plant growth? How did all these "fossil fuels" get up there in the first place?

[patrick10801]

Same Stalinist tactics. These filthy people will never change. How I wish we nuked the hell out of them after WWII and got rid of that collectivist virus for once and all.

[Slapshot68]

While Russia, China, Australia et all continue to extend their search for oil/gas reserves, our greenie morons in Congress still insist that the U.S. be beholden to foreign energy sources by not drilling here at home or offshore.

[webschooner]

The Russian Bear’s aggression continues ... Wonder how much in campaign funds the Russkies are secretly funneling to Obozo? — they obviously know that Bammy wouldn’t do anything about continuing Russian aggressive acts.

[patrick10801]

Nancy Pelosi is happy the commie bastards are claiming this territory. On her and Harry Reid’s next visit with their Stalinist comrades, she’ll get a wad-full of hush money.

[DogBarkTree]

C'mon now. Nothing to worry about. It's not like they're going that much further than the 200 mile limit.

RUSSIA'S ARCTIC CLAIM 1) North Pole: Russia leaves its flag on the seabed, 4,000m (13,100ft) beneath the surface, as part of its claims for oil and gas reserves 2) Lomonosov Ridge: Russia argues that this underwater feature is an extension of its continental territory and is looking for evidence 3) 200-nautical mile (370km) line: Shows how far countries' agreed economic area extends beyond their coastline. Often set from outlying islands 4) Russian-claimed territory: The bid to claim a vast area is being closely watched by other countries. Some could follow suit

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/americas/6938005.stm

[patrick10801]

I just hate commies so much. I am grinding my teeth here.

[snowrip]

Send three or four Los Angeles-class boats and create a permanent base. Take the giant American flag from any car dealership in the US, and you have an undisputed US footprint in the Arctic.

[Moonman62]

Ok, I have a really stupid question. Was there ever a time in earth's history where the artic circle had a climate that would have sustained lush prehistoric animal or plant growth?

Yes, but I believe oil comes from sea life, especially algae. Coal comes from land plants.

[dfwgator]

Yeah, but the good news is that it will all melt away soon due to global warming.

[agere_contra]

Any patch of land within the Arctic circle has been in far warmer climes closer to the equator (and also has been above or below sea-level) at various times during the lifetime of the planet.

Except Iceland, because that is all new land.

Hope this is helpful.

[Moonman62]

"This is our responsibility, and simply our direct duty, to our descendents," he said.

That's the problem. Russia isn't having enough descendants. The men are too busy drinking and invading other countries.

[patrick10801]

Let’s just initiate a Dr. Strangelove campaign against these dirtbags.

[webschooner]

Ok, I have a really stupid question. Was there ever a time in earth's history where the artic circle had a climate that would have sustained lush prehistoric animal or plant growth? How did all these "fossil fuels" get up there in the first place?

Actually, it's a really good question, which I don't know the answer to. However, Greenland is called that because it once was, a 'green land', so perhaps it's possible the Arctic wasn't a popsicle at some time in history.

But never fear, I suppose AlGore, who invented sliced bread, the printing press, the Internet, and all prolly (thinks he) knows.

[ETL]

Last August, a Russian mini-submarine carrying politicians and scientists plunged to the depths of the Arctic and claimed to plant a Russian flag to mark Moscow's stake in the territory. Footage of the alleged planting was widely broadcast on Russian television – but later turned out to be images taken from the Hollywood blockbuster Titanic.

Movie: "The Land That Time Forgot"

"Negotiating an underwater tunnel [beneath the ice] to gain the island's interior, those aboard [German sub] U-33 are amazed to discover a tropical prehistoric world kept warm by volcanic forces. Here dinosaurs that should be long extinct live and roam, as do a curious race of humanoid savages that appear to exhibit all the various phases of Man's evolutionary development. To survive long enough to repair and replenish the U-boat, wartime enemies must put aside their differences and cooperate with one another. But not everyone is playing from the Kumbaya songbook... The Land That Time Forgot is a thoroughly old fashioned sci-fi/fantasy adventure of the type they weren't really making anymore even in 1975. A lot of this has to do with the script sticking to Burroughs' Victorian style. (His Caprona tales were first published in 1918; as late as World War II he'd still be cranking out novels in the writing style of the 19th Century.) The film's a throwback to the likes of the original King Kong and potboilers such as Unknown Island (1948) and The Land Unknown (1957), only in color."
http://www.eccentric-cinema.com/cult_movies/land_time_forgot.htm

__________________________________________________________________

Volcanic eruptions reshape Arctic ocean floor: study
June 25, 2008 | AFP

Recent massive volcanoes have risen from the ocean floor deep under the Arctic ice cap, spewing plumes of fragmented magma into the sea, scientists who filmed the aftermath reported Wednesday.

The eruptions -- as big as the one that buried Pompei -- took place in 1999 along the Gakkel Ridge, an underwater mountain chain snaking 1,800 kilometres (1,100 miles) from the northern tip of Greenland to Siberia.

Scientists suspected even at the time that a simultaneous series of earthquakes were linked to these volcanic spasms.

But when a team led of scientists led by Robert Sohn of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts finally got a first-ever glimpse of the ocean floor 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) beneath the Arctic pack ice, they were astonished.

What they saw was unmistakable evidence of explosive eruptions rather than the gradual secretion of lava bubbling up from Earth's mantle onto the ocean floor.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gRI87Fyr-TpE6OBYfAcYxFKSXRJg

[Between the Lines]

[Robe]

Boy they are certainly inviting a Thermonuclear enema......