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  1. #1
    Ambiguous Member Byzantine Prince's Avatar
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    Default Canada, Denmark at odds over Arctic island

    CNN - link

    Canada, Denmark at odds over Arctic island

    Monday, July 25, 2005 Posted: 1236 GMT (2036 HKT)

    COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -- Denmark said Monday that it will send a letter of protest to Canada over a government minister's visit to a wind-swept Arctic island off northwestern Greenland that is claimed by both countries.

    Canadian Defense Minister Bill Graham set foot on the 1.3-square-kilometer (1/2-square-mile) Hans Island on Friday, saying his country has always regarded it as Canadian territory.

    Denmark also claims the island, roughly 1,100 kilometers (682 miles) south of the North Pole.

    "We will hand over a note to Canada in which we will express our viewpoint," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Peter Taksoe-Jensen. "Hans Island is our island."

    Officials at the Canadian Embassy in Copenhagen declined to comment.

    In 1973, Canada and Denmark drew a border down the inhospitable Nares Strait halfway between Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory, and Canada's Ellesmere Island.

    But the countries decided that sovereignty over Hans Island and others in the Arctic region would be determined later.

    Denmark and Canada maintain good relations despite occasional spats over the island, which can be reached only by boat during mild summers when the ice around it melts.

    In 1984, Tom Hoeyem, who was Denmark's minister for Greenland affairs, caused a stir when he raised a Danish flag on the island, buried a bottle of brandy at the base of the flag pole and left a note saying "Welcome to the Danish island."

    Danish navy ships visited in the island in 2002 and 2003.

    Canadian soldiers came to Hans Island before Graham's visit and raised a Canadian flag.
    So war it is then?

    PS. Is it ok with the publisher of the article if I reposted in quotations the article here?

    I don't know. I am hoping Ser Clegane can tell me.

  2. #2
    Member Member sharrukin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Canada, Denmark at odds over Arctic island

    It's time for Canada to mobilize!

    And let's not forget the Canadian Rangers either. Denmark has insulted our honour for the last time!

    Where is this place anyway?
    "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
    -- John Stewart Mills

    But from the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason.
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  3. #3

    Default Re: Canada, Denmark at odds over Arctic island

    Cat Fight!!

  4. #4
    The Orgs Prophet of RATM Member IrishMike's Avatar
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    Default Re: Canada, Denmark at odds over Arctic island

    Is a 1/2-square-mile island really that important that people would actually spend the energy getting angry about it? I mean what in gods name could actually be on this thing that people would even wanna claim. Seems like they would wanna get rid of the little thing.
    Last edited by IrishMike; 07-27-2005 at 06:07.
    When ignorance reigns life is lost.

    War is norm, Fight the War, Screw the norm!

  5. #5
    Member Member sharrukin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Canada, Denmark at odds over Arctic island

    Quote Originally Posted by ColdKnight
    Is a 1/2-square-mile island really that important that people would actually spend the energy getting angry about it?
    It's our 1/2-square-mile island and if it's not important they can just hand it over and stop burying brandy on it!
    "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
    -- John Stewart Mills

    But from the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason.
    LORD ACTON

  6. #6
    Ambiguous Member Byzantine Prince's Avatar
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    Default Re: Canada, Denmark at odds over Arctic island

    Well, considering their size as a country and our size as a military force, it's a kitten fight. Cute, but not so entertaining.

    And to answer your question ColdKnight, yes IT IS IMPORTANT. If we allow other countries to take our territory then that's a breach on our sovereignty, and a sign of weakness.

    BTW, this place is inbetween Ellesmere Island and Greenland.

  7. #7
    The Orgs Prophet of RATM Member IrishMike's Avatar
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    Default Re: Canada, Denmark at odds over Arctic island

    Oh, So its kinda like a naval port thing type important? Also about the image part, I really don't think anyone would view either country as weak over loosing this island. Now if canada lost newfoundland, or denmark lost greenland, that might be different. But who knows, their are some strange people out there.
    When ignorance reigns life is lost.

    War is norm, Fight the War, Screw the norm!

  8. #8
    Master of Few Words Senior Member KukriKhan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Canada, Denmark at odds over Arctic island

    Is it ok with the publisher of the article if I reposted in quotations the article here?

    I don't know. I am hoping Ser Clegane can tell me. -BP

    Here's the deal: there is this claiment at the bottom of the article:
    Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    Under 'fair use' policy, you may quote the material IF you also give attribution, for example, start your post with:

    "This is an AP article I found at CNN.com (link)"
    quote: blah, blah, blah, blah enquote.
    Be well. Do good. Keep in touch.

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