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UK Government, on Arctic Drilling: "... not our place ..."

Posted on 27th July 2013

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I read this BBC News story this morning. I was incensed when I read it; I still am now!

The UK government's official position is, it seems, that since the UK is not an Arctic state, it is not its place to tell Arctic states which resources they could extract.

How about a little analogy to make it clearer? Your neighbour is damaging your environment by constantly burning things upwind of your washing line and the patio where your family likes to sit on warm evenings. Now the neighbour has applied for planning permission to store hundreds of gallons of used engine oil on his property, and you are concerned about leaks impacting your property and health. Would you believe that you have some rights to limit your neighbour's behaviour, to protect your health, lifestyle, and the value of your property, and that of your family?

Actually no, strike that; this is not an analogy at all, it is exactly the same situation (except the scale of the impact, and the type of law at issue). So, the UK government believes that in such a situation, by extension, you have no rights to protect your health, lifestyle, and property.

The USA has frequently used the description of places being "in our own back yard" to justify military action; although this phrase has been often abused, in this case it is valid: the Arctic is our back yard. Europe lies next door to the Arctic; it controls our climate, provides much of our fisheries, and is vital to the lifestyle and health of Europe's population. The UK government, however, says that it believes it has no right to take action; Arctic states can do what they want, no matter what the impact on Britain and the rest of Europe.

Well, Mr. Cameron, if that is really your postilion, it is clearly time to give up Britain's armed forces and foreign policy. You have chosen to abdicate responsibility. So, hand over complete control of Britain's armed forces to NATO, and delegate all foreign policy to the EU, as you and your government are clearly not competent and willing to exercise that control yourselves.

If you are not willing to participate in saving the planet, and standing up for your own constituents, the least that you can do is to stand aside while someone else does those jobs for you.