Denmark Plans to Lay Claim to North Pole
- Posted on May 17, 2011 at 1:53pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark plans to lay claim to the North Pole and other areas in the Arctic, where melting ice is uncovering new shipping routes, fishing grounds and drilling opportunities for oil and gas, a leaked government document showed Tuesday.
The draft document titled “Strategy for the Arctic” said Denmark’s Science Ministry has started collecting data to formally submit a claim for those areas to the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf no later than 2014.
Russia, Norway, Canada and the U.S. have their own claims – sometimes competing – in a region believed to hold as much as 25 percent of the world’s undiscovered oil and gas.
The Danish government confirmed the authenticity of the document, which was first obtained by Danish Radio and published online by newspaper Information.
Denmark has for years explored potential claims to areas off Greenland, a semiautonomous territory, but this is the first time the government explicitly states it will make a claim for the North Pole, said Martin Breum, a Danish journalist who has written a book about Denmark’s interests in the Arctic.
Foreign Minister Lene Espersen said the strategy is still being reviewed and a final version is expected in June. However, she affirmed in a statement that Denmark expects to “be able to lay claim on an area which includes the seabed of the North Pole.”
The race to secure subsurface rights to the Arctic seabed heated up in 2007 when Russia sent two small submarines to plant a tiny national flag under the North Pole. Russia argued that an underwater ridge connected the country directly to the North Pole, a claim disputed by other Arctic nations.
The 34-page Danish document said Denmark wants “to lay claim to the continental shelf in five areas around the Faeroe Islands and Greenland, including the North Pole itself.” At least four of those areas are believed to hold oil or gas resources.
Exploiting such resources becomes easier as climate change shrinks Arctic sea ice coverage, which has reached record lows in the past decade.
The document also said Denmark’s military will strengthen its focus on the Arctic but stressed that the Scandinavian nation will work for peaceful cooperation between Arctic states.
Last week the eight members of the Arctic Council – Russia, United States, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland – agreed to coordinate Arctic search-and-rescue missions.
The United States has said it wants the cooperation pact to be a template for agreement on more pressing national security issues.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 681 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 532 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 434 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 373 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 330 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 285 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 292 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 177 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 301 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 285 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (70)
ares338
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 4:26pmLet’s bomb um and take it for ourselves! Send the seals in.
Report Post »Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 4:22pmDenmark can claim ANY part of the Earth it wants. The question is, can Denmark DEFEND it? Short answer: No. Nuff said?
Report Post »Mary M. Tebbe
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 4:17pmThe people of Denmark are of the tribe of Dan. We should know that, but we don’t, because history has been erased, distorted, and destroyed. They are our brother Israelites. Of course, the Assyrian/Goth lives among them as well. God wants people to know that now. They will be part of the group of Israelite nations that reunite and are restored to the Whole House of Israel here in the future. God is getting ready to awaken the entire world, and gather his people from the nations and the countries from which they were scattered and dispersed in.
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 18, 2011 at 5:53pmDAMMIT! Why did you have to let out that secret? Now the Moozies will lay claim to the North Pole claiming that it is one of their “Holy Sites.” (Is it just me, or is the definition of a Moozie holy site anywhere Mohammed took a dump? Just sayin.)
Report Post »NormanDeArmond
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 4:00pmHow bout we give unfounded claim no credence. Obviously the the nations bordering the arctic share it as there borders follow the compass degrees as to percentage a of which Denmark has no such border at all. That they claim Greenland is rediculous throwback to Viking Barbarism. It belongs to Greenland(only partially) that should be set free
Report Post »joan k
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:40pmSomethings rotten in Denmark!
Report Post »joan k
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:40pmSanta and his elves doth protest!
Report Post »Arshloch
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:38pmIf you lay claim to a pole you should first make sure where it is destined to be placed.
Report Post »Sky0bserv3r
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:36pmThe last I read, there was more ice up there, than the last ten years.
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:35pmUMMM you can have it
Report Post »Whirled Peas
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:29pmSnowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:10pm
I wonder if there will be a war over resources on the roof of the world soon; this constant searching for new resources will have a greater chance of conflict coming in the years ahead.
*****************
I don’t think there will be a war…. we‘ll just have to hammer out an agreement to install ’wind farms’ there AWAY from their drilling operations. The problem is the wiring from the wind farms back to a hookup spot in the states. Resistance being what it is, the electricity will most likely dissipate while traveling that distance through the cables unless there are coal fired plants along the way to act as ‘repeaters’ to the current. Don’t mention that to the marxists….. they won’t have the foresight to figure that out before wasting the 500 Trillion dollars needed to finance this gambit.
Report Post »netjet
Posted on May 18, 2011 at 11:57amDon’t try and explain physics to liberal tree hugging mother earth loving recycling vegans. Electricity can travel miles and miles on a copper thread to your house with no problems. Don’t worry about that EMR and shielding, transformers? who needs transformers-what the hell are coils? I have a liberal arts degree; I never took calculus or physics. So while we are reading by candle light on stretched skin papyrus inked in berry colored paints we can all remember the old days when man used oil, coal and had electricity. Lets all go watch the giant daisy wheels turn the wind.
Report Post »Bennie Franklin
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:24pmwill they have a danish stand there with coffee?
Report Post »Whirled Peas
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:41pmBennie Franklin
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:24pm
will they have a danish stand there with coffee?
**********************
Besides good looking women, the danish beer, butter and pastries (not consumed together) are to die for! I pulled temporary duty there a couple of times just outside of Dopenhagen….
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:09pmObama wants to “be their best customer” like Brasil!
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:59pmNever happen. Don‘t they know they’ll all fall down the hole to the inside of Our Hollow Earth (c)?
Report Post »krispy01
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:48pmThere goes the neighborhood…
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:27pmI thought this was going to be Russias new gig?
Report Post »Steel Awesome
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:21pmJust don’t hurt the polar bears. They’ve got enough to deal with.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:20pmthe heck with Santa, what about all of his reindeer, poor Rudolf will not be able to survive with all those chemicals around, i can see his red nose now, going deem. what a shame for all those littel kids,even the bad one { future left wing freeloaders,}
Report Post »mom4times
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:09pmReally……who cares…..All I can say is HANDS OFF OF SANTA’S WORKSHOP……that belongs to the kids!!!
Report Post »eleemosynary
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:09pmThe last thing we need is to lay claim to more oil reserves we will never touch…I think we may be the fools!
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 18, 2011 at 5:46pmChange you can believe in is coming, NEXT YEAR! After that, it’s drill baby drill! And I love the handle, BTW. One of my favorite words.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:03pmHahaha, oh, Denmark.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:00pmWhat would uncle Al think? The ice is melting, so lets go fish and drill baby!
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 18, 2011 at 5:45pmIt’s time to put the Arctic into a…LOCKBOX! LMAO (running outside to spray CFCs into the atmosphere)
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:00pmLOL. Generally when you “lay claim” to something there is an implied capability to defend your claim. I’m pretty sure that me and some buddies from my old unit could hump up there and take it from Denmark. Fools.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:17pmroflmao!
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:26pmThey’ll throw their wooden shoes at you!!
Report Post »Whirled Peas
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:36pmRothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:00pm
LOL. Generally when you “lay claim” to something there is an implied capability to defend your claim. I’m pretty sure that me and some buddies from my old unit could hump up there and take it from Denmark. Fools.
*********************
I’m sure my 7 jet deployment team could provide air cover for ya, too. Not that you would need it, just in case some outside interference were to take place….
BTW… I wouldn‘t suggest humpin’ the polar bears…. they don’t have a sense of humor…..
Report Post »Rob
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 1:57pmGlobal warming is opening up more areas? Good!
Report Post »Whirled Peas
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:32pmMaybe we can plant crops there until the flooded farms IN the Mississippi river dry out.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 1:57pmWhat about the North Polians?
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:05pmWhat about Santa Claus and his workshop?
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:15pmThey will have to get in line behind the Mexicans and the Middle-Eastern Muslims for the next immigration “lottery”…..however, the UN has set up refugee camps for the elves and reindeer in Gaza and parts of the West Bank……what would we do without the UN stepping in to save the day?!?
Report Post »Dry_Drunk_GA
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:21pmHope he can come to california because there will be less toy taxes – BUT he is a saint so they need to be private (for holyness) and might go to live at catholic Popes village of castles in italy
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 18, 2011 at 5:42pmJust don’t build a church or synagogue there, or the Moozies will claim that it’s one of their myriad “Holy Sites.”
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 1:56pmThey don’t have the EPA ????????
Report Post »Mannax
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:03pmMost of them don’t have someone trying to stop them. Sad isn’t it?
Report Post »Dry_Drunk_GA
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:03pmWhat about Saint Nick? he have to go to live at the Pope in Italy now? Or live in North Pole california in USA?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:04pmNuh-uh. Santa was there first. He has first rights.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:06pmThe US had better get on the ball if they want a piece of the Arctic.
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:12pmBomb Denmark!!!!!
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:14pmSo sorry Denmark (and every other country) , you’re a day late & dollar short. Santa was there first and he’s definitely proved up on his homestead. The North Pole is off limits.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:15pmNot to mention, he has some bad a$$ elves and air support reindeer.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:19pmA new meaning to COLD OIL…( coal oil ) ;)
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:20pmIncoherent babble followed by some CAPITAL LETTERS that is followed by more incoherent babble.
More incoherent babble… a couple more CAPS and then a well thought out quote that I cut and pasted from a web site I found.
Oh my God. – Ghandi
Followed by a link. http://www.link.com
Report Post »Dry_Drunk_GA
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:23pmThey took over the chocolates after world war 2 and control millions of it
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:31pmOkay, but I claim everything above the North Pole – to infinity and beyond.
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 2:40pmYou are moving in to play with the big kids. You can claim it, can you hold it?? We might not dispute you but the Russians have never been know to play well with others.
Report Post »six6six
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:02pmMaybe we should invade Denmark?
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:05pmOh goody, goody. Now we can go to war over the North Pole instead of theology!!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:10pmI wonder if there will be a war over resources on the roof of the world soon; this constant searching for new resources will have a greater chance of conflict coming in the years ahead.
Report Post »Toro
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 3:31pmI’m surprised Nobody has locked up the north and south pole territories already.
Report Post »Dry_Drunk_GA
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 7:53pmThe nice thing I like on this page is there is no encemincom
Report Post »revel222
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 9:37pmGod Bless Them!!! If they don’t, someone else will. It’s Gods land but they can watch over it.
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 10:06pmThe NORTH POLE BELONGS TO ME!!!!
***Howard Dean Yell***
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 18, 2011 at 5:35pm@ SNOWLEOPARD
You’re so right. I mean, C’MON guys! We shouldn’t go searching for more resources, cuz that might upset someone. Moozies, maybe? MAYbe! LMAO What a simple-minded fool you are.
And can you imagine the apoplexy on the Left if GWB had made such a claim? Sheesh
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 18, 2011 at 5:38pm@ SNOWLEOPARD
Oh, and the “Roof of the World” is Tibet, not the Arctic. Altitude, not latitude, my simpleminded friend.
Report Post »Timbotim
Posted on May 18, 2011 at 5:41pm@ TORO
South Pole (all of the continent of Antarctica, actually) is owned by no one, per international treaty. Unlike the South Pole, however, there is no continent at the North Pole, only ice, so let the party begin!
And note that the real evil here is….(wait for it)…global warming, without which these new oil fields would remain inaccessible. WOO-HOOO! (running out and spraying CFCs into the atmosphere).
Report Post »theteaishot
Posted on May 18, 2011 at 10:24pmThe North Pole is under international waters that happen to be frozen. The Danish Navy will have a difficult time defending their claim. They are after the oil and gas that is there. Obama my give Denmark the OK but the American people will not ever recognize that claim and will enforce the Freedom of the Seas doctrine as the door closes on the Obama lawless regime.
Report Post »