Posted on 06/22/2009 10:34:44 AM PDT by oldmomster
Greenland, the world’s biggest island, made an important step towards its independence on June 21. The island, which is presumably populated by the Eskimos, has been a part of Denmark for over 300 years. The Parliament of Denmark passed the law to expand Greenland’s autonomy at the end of May.
The law asserted the results of the referendum which took place in Greenland last year. About 75 percent of the island’s 63,000-strong population supported the idea to expand the self-administration on the island with 23 percent voting against it.
The new status, which the island will obtain, will give the Greenlanders a right to manage the natural resources of the island. The local authorities will also be able to solve the issues of the judicial and the law-enforcement systems and to partially control Greenland’s foreign politics. The authorities were previously in charge of the island’s healthcare, school education and the social servicing of the population. The majority of Greenlanders are presumably employed in the fish-processing industry.
However, it is too early to speak about Greenland’s independence. Oil is the corner stone of the issue: there are billions of barrels of oil near the island’s coast. Permafrost used to be the major obstacle for the development of the oil industry in Greenland. However, ice continues to melt in the region because of the global warming phenomenon, which opens new horizons for world’s oil giants.
The agreement about the expanded autonomy says that the first 14 million dollars of oil sales revenues will be transferred to the budget of the island. All other revenues will have to be shared 50-50 with Denmark. In addition, Denmark will continue investing in the local economy - $600 million a year (which makes 30 percent of Greenland’s GDP) – until Greenland is able to extract oil in the sum of $1.5 billion.
Many in Denmark believe that the Greenlanders are not ready for their independence. It’s not for the high level of social problems, alcoholism and suicide rate. The majority of Greenland’s qualified specialists come from Denmark. The gap between them and the culture of hunters and fishers is too large.
There is another relevant reason which puts Greenland’s independence into question. The island may quickly become the 51st state of the United State if it acquires sovereignty. The White House has been showing interest in the island since the 20s of the 19th century.
Good thing this didn’t happen on W’s watch; otherwise we’d have declared war on them. /libtard
Cool. We’ll take it. Can we give Vermont and Massachusetts back to England?
Pravda?
They haven’t gotten any predictions right yet.. I figure, if they predict it, bet on the opposite happening.
wow—will a new Hilton hotel be built? Can u imagine a thriving tourist industry?
I see Alberta becoming the 51st state before Greenland.
Social problems, alcohol and suicide...yep, they’re ready to become part of the USA.
Sound like future blue state voters.
Social problems, alcohol and suicide...yep, they’re ready to become part of the USA.
Sound like future blue state voters.
What’s going to become the 57th state?
58th...Don’t forget, Dopey-Changey has all that Ivy League edumacation...and very eloquent, according to the press, who ignore his obsession with telepromptors...
DeNile..........
With global warming we can count on it giving Florida some competition.
Six more and Obama is right.
Another state asserting States Rights.
0bama's socialist government would fight that.
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