World Park Arctic--the Danger of Melting Ice

It's a sad irony. In attempting to secure "rights" to Arctic fisheries, new transport routes, oil, gas and mineral resources, countries gain a vested interest in the continued melting of the Arctic. But the more oil and gas we burn, the faster the Arctic melts and the closer our planet comes to catastrophic climate change.

World Park Antarctica

In 1991, after a long Greenpeace campaign, the 39 Antarctic Treaty signatories agreed to a 50-year minimum prohibition of all mineral exploitation, in effect preserving the continent for peaceful, scientific purposes. This serves as an example of how Arctic territorial issues should be handled.

The Antarctic is a landmass surrounded by oceans, the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land, but the polar regions still have a lot in common. Both are incredibly fragile and susceptible to human activities. Both are part of the global commons and should be protected in perpetuity. Both are relatively untouched and should stay that way.

We say the Arctic should be designated a World Park, including a marine reserve.

Large-scale marine reserves are areas closed to all extractive practices, such as fishing and mining, as well as disposal activities. There is a growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating that the establishment of large-scale networks of marine reserves could be the key to preventing and reversing global fisheries collapse.

Naming the thing

Every protected area deserves a name. "Arctic" comes from the Greek word arktos, or bear, reflecting its position under the constellation Ursa Major, the "Great Bear".

The polar bear shares part of its scientific name Ursus maritimus with this constellation. (Ursus is Latin for "bear".) And the polar bear's survival is depends on Arctic ice and snow. Although polar bears are good swimmers, they need sea ice for hunting and travel. Pregnant polar bears build snow dens for the winter, which they give birth in.

Creating a world park in the Arctic would help protect the ecosystem of the world's largest land predator, and align with the naming of the stars. So, we propose the name: Great Bear World Park.

Don't let it melt away

As the political and military jockeying for control of the far north continues, the ice melts away. Researchers are now saying we could have ice-free summers in the Arctic by 2040.

The current round of military posturing and flag waving over control of the Arctic is an ominous sign for the future and should urgently be addressed by the Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon. The arctic should be protected by all 192 UN member state flags and not claimed by one. -Greenpeace