We all know the earth is warming up and polar ice caps are melting but how can we make money off of this? Seems like a legit question but one that I don't think would be the first to come to my mind. Read the article and think:
1) Is this a good thing? Should people be able to benefit from the environment?
2) What are your thoughts on the Northwest Passage? Do some research why is this a big deal?
3) How could we make some money here in Barrie off of this?
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/02/24/windfall_find_out_whos_getting_rich_off_global_warming.html#
This is my weekly post:
ReplyDeleteWith all of the information being presented on the negative effects of global warming, the world can definitely seem to be in a downward slump, however the article shows how even despite the worst situations(war, plagues, global warming) someone always can make more money.
The article talks about the “Northwest Passage” as a new found resource from global warming’s effects. The Northwest Passage is basically a water route that has been established for cargo ships passing through many of Canada’s artic islands (see link below for a map). The Passage is being compared to many other major shipping water ways such as the Panama Canal, and can take up to 4 days off a shipping route, measuring to be almost $200 000.
The passage will improve as the arctic ice continues to melt with global warming, and reveal more hidden gas, and oil reserves creating a valuable international shipping passageway to Asia, Europe and North America.
One of the biggest debates with the idea is whether or not Canada should be allowed to maintain the ownership of the water system. The law states that any land in a given region belongs to the country, but that the water is more difficult to name, as it gets deeper, and wider. Many countries are fighting for the international title, but Canada wishes to keep “Our true north wild and free”.
In my opinion, I think that Canada should have the right to keep the water as their territory. It separates many northern islands, it’s used by the Inuit’s for ice fishing when it frozen over, and if it does expose oil sources we should have the rights to decide how to use it. If it becomes international waters any other country could send in machinery to harvest these sources, and pollute the airs nearby. I do however see the other side when I say that I think that as the route becomes more popular we should have to implicate/change laws to support the traffic flow; we would need to add coastguard to provide emergency help, and create laws to allow foreign ships to sail through smoothly.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/battle-for-the-arctic-heats-up-1.796010
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/09/27/northwest-passage-crossed-by-first-cargo-ship-the-nordic-orion-heralding-new-era-of-arctic-commercial-activity/
great post Ruth, i agree on what you said about Canada having the right to keep its water. One thing i have always wondered is why is it that global warming is always shown in the media, but it is said over the last couple of years the effects are becoming less and less and that the hole in the ozone layer is shrinking. maybe its just me but i haven't seen many news reports on the progress we are making to try and fix global warming.
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