Geopolitics of oceans;Conflicts

Examine a geopolitical conflict in relation to an oceanic resource, other than fishing.

Philippines and Arctic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YujsRuN3PK8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GMO4S0eIy0

http://www.philstar.com/disputed-seas

• What’s going on here???

• Who owns the disputed sea in your opinion?

Read your text

• ‘Scramble for the Arctic’

• What’s the story?

Where is the Arctic?

The Arctic region lies within the Arctic Circle (66.5˚ line of latitude). It consists of the ice sheet surrounding the North Pole, as well as the northern parts of eight countries (Canada, Greenland, Russia, USA, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland).

Use the Atlas to find where the Arctic Region is…

What countries does it include?

10 minutes

What is the Arctic like?The Arctic region has a unique environment of sea ice, permafrost and tundra.

Habitat – The environment of plants and animals, in which they live, feed and reproduce.

Permafrost – Permanently frozen ground

Tundra – Ecosystem within the Arctic circle

Global Warming in the Arctic

The Arctic is probably the first location in the world to record a full range of clear global warming signals.

In the past few decades, average Arctic temperatures have risen at twice the rate of the rest of the world (3-4˚C in the last 50 years). This is already leading to melting of the Greenland ice sheet, glaciers and sea ice.

Ice and snow reflect solar energy, so when they melt more energy is absorbed and warming increases (positive ice-albedo feedback).

5 minutes

Global Warming Impacts in the Arctic

Conflicts in The Arctic•What countries have an interest in the Arctic region?

•What are the effects of global warming in the Arctic region?

•How might these effects lead to conflicts in the region?

Undiscovered Oil and Gas Reserves

5 minutes

Why does the world / countries need more oil and gas?

• The Law of the Sea Convention allows states an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles, which can sometimes be expanded.

• To extend the zone, a state has to prove that the structure of the continental shelf is similar to the geological structure within its territory.

• At the moment, nobody's shelf extends up to the North Pole, so there is an international area around the Pole administered by the International Seabed Authority.

• Read the BBC article “conflict fear over arctic borders” and highlight key points

Arctic Conflict?

TASK HW

Arctic Conflict?BBC News Russian Claim to the Arctic (2 mins)

Costs vs. Benefits

Tasks:1. Read pages 28-29 of A2 Geography for Edexcel (Oxford). And your text…

2. Complete the table to assess the costs and benefits of drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic.

ExtensionFor the two written sources. What do they say, who wrote them and why?

20 minutes

Drilling for Oil and Gas in the Arctic

TASK HW Costs Benefits

Social

Economic

Environmental

‘At a time when energy demand and insecurity is increasing, the Arctic Region should

definitely be used for oil and gas extraction’.

TASK HW

In small groups prepare a short speech to outline your opinion on the above statement. Use examples to support your argument. Like your conclusion in 10 marker..

Debate