Okay, it's NOT enough that Japan has killed THOUSANDS of Majestic Whales supposedly for research! Now, they are vying for dibs at the Arctic Circle?!? Why do humans have to CONTROL every damn square inch on this planet? All this is going to lead to is MORE CONTAMINATION and DESTRUCTION! Leave the Arctic Circle ALONE!
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Daily Yomiuri Online
Associated Press
Monday Apr. 20, 2009
The government has applied to join the Arctic Council as an observer, hoping to keep abreast of growing global efforts to exploit the Arctic Circle for various purposes, it has been learned.
The Arctic Council, an international body comprising coastal countries in the region, recently has gained a higher international profile as a new shipping route that will be known as the Northwest Passage becomes more likely as the Arctic Ocean ice melts due to global warming. Future competition for natural resources in the region, including energy reserves, is an issue also on many minds.
The government has judged it necessary for Japan to participate in a positive manner in the international competition to utilize the Arctic Circle.
The government has submitted its membership bid to the chair of the Arctic Council, Norway, and is considering the dispatch of Foreign Ministry officials to the council's ministerial meeting to be held in Tromso, Norway, on April 29.
The council is an international organization with a major role in formulating international rules to utilize the Arctic Circle. Established in 1996 by eight Arctic coastal countries, including the United States, Russia, Canada and Norway, it discusses cooperative measures to develop the Arctic Circle and protect the region's environment, among other issues.
Many countries have become interested in the Arctic Circle as global warming has made it easier for ships to navigate the region.
The Northwest Passage, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans via the Arctic Ocean through the Bering Strait and northern Canada, is increasingly on the agenda of maritime nations.
If the Arctic Ocean ice decreases further, the shipping route is expected to be regularly utilized.
Compared to the current routes linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans via the Panama and Suez canals, the new route is expected to provide a Pacific-Atlantic link in 40 percent fewer days. It has the potential of becoming a commercial artery between Asia and Europe.
An increasing number of Arctic Circle coastal nations have begun to take a proactive attitude toward acquiring the natural resources on the region's seabed, which have become more accessible.
For example, Russia erected its national flag on the seabed beneath the North Pole in August 2007, demonstrating its drive for seabed resource exploitation.
Among Asian countries, China and South Korea already had applied for Arctic Council observer status prior to Japan.
"If Japan is admitted as an observer of the council, we'll have the advantage of being able to collect information on matters of concern to each country related to the utilization of the Arctic Circle," an official at the Foreign Ministry's Ocean Division said. "We aim to join the council [with observer status] at its ministerial meeting in two years' time."
The government has applied to join the Arctic Council as an observer, hoping to keep abreast of growing global efforts to exploit the Arctic Circle for various purposes, it has been learned.
The Arctic Council, an international body comprising coastal countries in the region, recently has gained a higher international profile as a new shipping route that will be known as the Northwest Passage becomes more likely as the Arctic Ocean ice melts due to global warming. Future competition for natural resources in the region, including energy reserves, is an issue also on many minds.
The government has judged it necessary for Japan to participate in a positive manner in the international competition to utilize the Arctic Circle.
The government has submitted its membership bid to the chair of the Arctic Council, Norway, and is considering the dispatch of Foreign Ministry officials to the council's ministerial meeting to be held in Tromso, Norway, on April 29.
The council is an international organization with a major role in formulating international rules to utilize the Arctic Circle. Established in 1996 by eight Arctic coastal countries, including the United States, Russia, Canada and Norway, it discusses cooperative measures to develop the Arctic Circle and protect the region's environment, among other issues.
Many countries have become interested in the Arctic Circle as global warming has made it easier for ships to navigate the region.
The Northwest Passage, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans via the Arctic Ocean through the Bering Strait and northern Canada, is increasingly on the agenda of maritime nations.
If the Arctic Ocean ice decreases further, the shipping route is expected to be regularly utilized.
Compared to the current routes linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans via the Panama and Suez canals, the new route is expected to provide a Pacific-Atlantic link in 40 percent fewer days. It has the potential of becoming a commercial artery between Asia and Europe.
An increasing number of Arctic Circle coastal nations have begun to take a proactive attitude toward acquiring the natural resources on the region's seabed, which have become more accessible.
For example, Russia erected its national flag on the seabed beneath the North Pole in August 2007, demonstrating its drive for seabed resource exploitation.
Among Asian countries, China and South Korea already had applied for Arctic Council observer status prior to Japan.
"If Japan is admitted as an observer of the council, we'll have the advantage of being able to collect information on matters of concern to each country related to the utilization of the Arctic Circle," an official at the Foreign Ministry's Ocean Division said. "We aim to join the council [with observer status] at its ministerial meeting in two years' time."
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