Jan 02 2009
Cold Reality
The frozen lands of the Arctic are drifting away piece by piece. Earth’s last frontier is quietly disappearing while we, down below, are caught up in arguing over whose fault it is. By the time we agree on global warming we’ll be standing on our tiptoes as the rising waters creep up around us. Scientists say between 1.5 trillion and 2 trillion tons of ice have melted since 2003. Sea levels are rising and ocean currents are constantly changing, potential for more Katrina’s and holocaust level tsunamis. By the end of the century global sea levels could rise as much as 18-36 centimeters.
Meanwhile the polar bears are drowning, being forced to swim sixty miles and more to find food. Their carcasses are turning up throughout the Arctic region, as many can’t sustain such a long swim, especially if they run into tougher waters. Their present population of 22,000 is steadily declining.
And the oil companies, well, they’re rubbing their hands together, ready to venture into the pure icy Arctic. They want to tap into 20% of the world’s oil and gas reserves. Supposedly there are 90 billion barrels of oil, 44 billion barrels of natural gas liquids, and 1670 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Arctic. As the ice melts, the oil and gas reserves become more accessible. Scientists are predicting that soon there will be no ice anywhere in the Arctic for the warmest months. This is good news for the oil companies who before had to face the prospect of sifting through tons of ice with expensive icebreakers. Of course no one knows exactly who owns the Arctic, because, well, nobody owns it. Russia, the US, Canada, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland are all scrambling to lay their claim. In 2007, Russia even went so far as to plant an underwater flag 14,000 feet below the North Pole. Or maybe they’re still sore about the moon.
Whoever wins the race, just like whoever wins the argument, in the end it doesn’t really matter. Either way the Arctic is falling apart, the animal and plant life in the region are doomed, and one generation or the next will deal with the repercussions.
2009-01-02
