Anthropocentric Position in the Arctic Sovereignty Debate

Anthropocentric Position in the diametrical reign DebateAndrew LawrenceIntroductionMotivated by the search for upstart administer routes and imperial accolades and glory, the condom has long been associated with famous explorers such as Franklin, beat and Amundsen. As these explorers attempted to plant their nations flags in this tremendous region, so continues today the practice of territorial claims in the icy. Ever changing climate conditions in the gum elastic rich person reopened a race for new trade routes with the melting of ice in the North West Passage, as well as opened the opportunity of access to a capacious expanse of natural resources. This renewed Arctic interest can be examined under the auspices of the human geography concept of environmental ethics, and much specifically the opinions of ecocentrism and anthropocentrism. As volition be explored here, despite all of the bear witness towards global warming and its drastic consequences on the Arctic, a insurance of anthropocentrism regarding Arctic sovereignty is still practiced by Canada and other nations.Summary of ArticleAccording to the December 9, 2013 CBC article and interview, Canada has submitted an Atlantic and Arctic seabed claim to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of Continental Ice. The Atlantic seabed claim has been submitted in full while the Arctic seabed claim is provided a preliminary claim that requires set ahead scientific work. The Minister of Foreign Affairs requested officials and scientists complete special scientific and cartographic work so the submission also holds a claim to the entire continental shelf along with the North Pole. preceding findings outline Canadas claim to the Arctic seabed beyond the cc nautical millilitre Exclusive Economic Zone. An wing of this zone would include any natural resources beyond the current limit. Other nations including Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States have staked interests in the Arctic r egion. In the press conference announcing these claims, the ministers referred to them as issues pertaining to internal sovereignty and the securing of Canadas last frontier.Ecocentric and Anthropocentric Views and Their Relevance to Arctic reignThe discipline of environmental ethics seeks to examine the questions and concerns of human interaction inwardly the environment, and also seeks to provide a means to conduct this relationship mingled with humans and the environment in an ethical manner (Norton, 2013, p. 125). In the ordinal century, the positions of anthropocentrism and ecocentrism were added to this discipline (Norton, 2013, p. 125). In an ecocentric position, intrinsic value is lay on all parts of the environment equally rather than placing humans at the centre (Norton, 2013, p. 127 ). Contrarily, in an anthropocentric position humans are placed as the central fact in the world where their detrimental effect on the environment is often stressed (Norton, 2013, p 128. )The concept of anthropocentricism is particularly evident in the examined article and the current issue of Arctic sovereignty, done the policy of staking claims in order to gain access to natural resources such as oil. These claims would benefit from the negative impacts that climate spay, as a will of fossil fuels, have already played in this area.Interpretation of genuine IssueOnce referred to as the global environments sneak thief in a coal mine, the Arctics rapidly changing conditions provide a broader spot and advanced warning clay on the real impact of climate change (Kofod, 2012). To the surp forward motion of many an(prenominal) scientists, the Arctic has been the first region in the world to march certify that global climate change theories are in fact accredited (Kofod, 2012). According to scientific study the mean annual temperature increase in the Arctic, 3.7 C, is significantly larger than the global mean temperature increase of 1.9 C (Kofod, 2012). This r ise in temperature can be directly linked to the worlds consumption of fossil fuels. Despite this outstanding evidence, the continuation of an anthropocentric perspective in the Arctic for the benefit of humans continues. The examined article discusses how any extension of Canadas and the other nations 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone finished the continental shelf will include any natural resources they contain. Often thought to be the tearaway(a) factor in Arctic sovereignty, nations involved have made no secret of their intentions to extract from the vast number of stock natural resources in the region. However, a policy that centres on the extraction of natural resources for human lend oneself and which has already been directly connected to global climate change seems unreasonable to the already fragile ecosystem of the Arctic. This detrimental effect of Arctic sovereignty position is within the auspices of the anthropocentric perspective.The subject of nationalism is another anthropocentric perspective deeply embedded in the policy of Arctic sovereignty. patriotism is especially evident throughout the examined article and interview as both government Ministers refer to the policy of Arctic sovereignty as mechanical drawing the last lines of Canada and Canadas last frontier. This anthropocentric view forgets the inhering peoples living in the Arctic regions, who often live an ecocentric lifestyle, and have been oblige to adapt, often more readily, to the southern problem of climate change. Often these innate people are used as political pawns in staking a case for nationalism and territorial rights within the Arctic sovereignty make out (Saunders et al., 2014).ConclusionMy understanding of the issue of Arctic sovereignty has been enhanced through the finish of geographical concepts that further explore the issue in greater detail. The flag waving, patriotism and need for military assets are often the only aspects of Arctic sovereignty r eported by the government and media. Through the application of environmental ethics and the position of anthropocentricism to this issue it can be seen that Arctic sovereignty is a far greater issue than simply redrawing the boundaries of a countrys borders. Although on the surface it may seem Canada as a whole would benefit from Arctic sovereignty the examination of policies show that the Arctic and its people have already been negatively impacted by anthropocentric policy and a need exists to address this policy from an environmental ethics and put in place ecocentric policies.BibliographyNorton, W. (2013). Human Geography (8th ed.), CH 4 (116-157). Don Mills, ON OxfordUniversity Press Canada.Kofod, J. (2013). Arctic Economic Opportunities, Environmental Obligations and earnestStakes. NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Sub-Committee On Transatlantic EconomicRelations. Retrieved from www.tbmm.gov.tr/ul_kom/natopa/docs/raporlar_2012/e1.pdfParis, M. (2009). Canadas Claim to Arctic Riches Includes the North Pole. CBC News.Retrieved from http//www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-s-claim-to-arctic-riches-includes-the-north-pole-1.2456773Saunders, D., Huebert, R., Shelagh, G., Byers, M., Simon, M., English, J., Davis, W. (2014). Isclimate change a northern catastrophe or an Arctic opening?. Arctic Circle Panel, Globeand Mail. Retrieved from http//www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-north/is-climate-change-a-northern-catastrophe-or-an-arctic-opening/article16480890/