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rfmcdonaldTwo years ago, there was a proposal to amend Canada's national motto.
Part of this is because of nationalism, part of this nationalism in turn motivated on part by the poitential for economic bonanzas when global warming hits. Canada, the United States, Russia, Norway, and Denmark (through Greenland) all have Arctic frontage, and large continental shelfs which, in turn, can be used to define sovereign frontiers within which newly exploitable oil and natural resources or shipping routes can be contained when global warming hits. Canadian (and other countries') activity in the Arctic these past few years has concentrated on defining the geological and oceanographic features of the Arctic Ocean, the eager research of these specialists from Canada (and other countries, doubtless) hopefully telling their countries good news.
Like others, The Times's Lewis Smith has reported on the preliminary results of these studies, produced by the International Boundaries Research Unit's Maritime jurisdiction and boundaries in the Arctic region project.
The issue is Slashdotted here
Canada's current motto is "From sea to sea," referring to how its land mass touches both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
But if northern members of Parliament and territorial leaders get their way, the motto would become "From sea to sea to sea," adding a reference to the Arctic Ocean.
"I really do think this is something Canadians can rally around," said Dennis Bevington, the newly elected NDP member of Parliament for the federal riding of Western Arctic.
He intends to introduce a private member's bill proposing the change.
The leaders of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon are backing the change.
Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie said an expanded motto would be more inclusive.
"It is much more reflective of this federation, of this great country of ours, Canada, to ensure that all Canadians and the global community recognize that Canada is made up of a country from sea to sea to sea," said Fentie.
[. . .]
Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper may be receptive to the change, given that he stressed Canada's claim over the Arctic during his first major news conference after being elected on Jan. 23.
Harper has promised to spend $5.3 billion over five years to defend northern waters against possible sovereignty claims by Americans, Russians and Danes.
"A Mari usque ad Mare" or "From sea to sea," has been Canada's official motto since 1921. It is taken from the Old Testament of the Bible, Psalm 72, Verse 8: "He shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth."
Part of this is because of nationalism, part of this nationalism in turn motivated on part by the poitential for economic bonanzas when global warming hits. Canada, the United States, Russia, Norway, and Denmark (through Greenland) all have Arctic frontage, and large continental shelfs which, in turn, can be used to define sovereign frontiers within which newly exploitable oil and natural resources or shipping routes can be contained when global warming hits. Canadian (and other countries') activity in the Arctic these past few years has concentrated on defining the geological and oceanographic features of the Arctic Ocean, the eager research of these specialists from Canada (and other countries, doubtless) hopefully telling their countries good news.
Like others, The Times's Lewis Smith has reported on the preliminary results of these studies, produced by the International Boundaries Research Unit's Maritime jurisdiction and boundaries in the Arctic region project.
Martin Pratt, director of research at Durham’s International Boundaries Research Unit (IBRU), was prompted to try to define the Arctic rights boundaries for the first time after Russia’s controvertial seabed flag-planting stunt last year.
Russia was the first country to make an official play for the Arctic seabed when it lodged its claim to a huge tract that included the Lomonosov Ridge in 2001. The Russians were told by the United Nations that they needed more convincing data on the geology of the sea floor before the claim could be accepted.
In 2007 the Russian Government ordered one of its submarines — thought to have been carrying out detailed mapping of the seafloor — to plant a flag on the seabed to stake its claim to the area, in what was regarded by many observers as a provocative action.
Russia is likely to find some of its claims contested by the United States, Canada and, through its control of Greenland, Denmark. It is already in dispute with Norway over parts of the Barents Sea. Iceland is the sixth country within the Arctic circle.
Mr Pratt said that the carving up of the Arctic’s natural resources was likely to be less of a free-for-all than many people expected because sufficient international rules were already in place to help to determine who had a right to which area.
“It’s not going to be so much a dash as a fairly well-defined march,” he said. “There are clearly set out regulations by the United Nations as to what they are entitled to. It’s not quite the free-for-all that has been suggested.”
The issue is Slashdotted here
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