America Is The First Again, But At What Cost?
America is pushing its limits yet again, having sent a Coast Guard icebreaker ship into the frozen north. You might wonder why this is so spectacular. It is just a ship sent to the North Pole, right? It is not as simple as that. Officials have confirmed it: this is the first ever American surface ship that managed to ascend to the North Pole. It is one of our greatest achievements as a nation.
The ship’s name is HEALY and she is the U.S.’s newest pride when it comes to polar icebreakers. But HEALY is not only new, she is the number one technologically advanced icebreaker on the planet right now and her ascension to the top proves her worth.
HEALY had a long and difficult trip, having started all the way from Seattle. She managed to reach the North Pole on the 5th of September, on a cold Saturday. The Coast Guard announced HEALY’s victory and assured everyone that the crew behind the wheel is safe and sound.
Ever since the ice started melting on top of the world, nations have started an unofficial race to claim the resources deposited in the cold north. Russia, Canada and Norway are some of the countries that are willing to invest in the region and they are trying to develop everything they need in order to hold the north with a tight grip.
What resources are the countries after, you might wonder? We are talking about mineral deposits, oil and gas, all crucial to economy and sustaining life on the planet. But that is not everything. With the ice melting so fast, shipping routes are becoming more accessible and countries are interested in trading via these routes. The Northwest Passage is only one of the many routes countries are interested in.
The Coast Guard has confirmed that the Arctic region’s “melting condition” makes it easier for the region to be industrialized. While this can be good news for economy, it is bad news for the planet. Industrializing the North Pole would considerably heat up the region, leading to more melting and rising sea levels. This could also lead to major weather fluctuations.
Yet, at the same time, what can we do to stop this trend? The world’s population is rising, people need gas and oil in order to survive and work. The demand is high and it is only going to be higher. We should carefully consider what we are going to do next. America is the first again, but at what cost?
Photo Credits wikimedia.org
