Greenland Votes for Greater Independence From Denmark

[arcos]

Source: Bloomberg

Nov. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Greenland, a home-governing Danish territory, decided in a referendum to increase independence from its former colonial master as it attempts to create an economy based on natural resources.

A total of 75.54 percent voted “yes” to the proposal, which was drafted jointly by Danish and Greenlandic politicians, Greenland’s Nuuk-based home rule office said on its Web site. The referendum, held yesterday, drew 28,268 voters for a turnout of 71.96 percent.

Under the proposal, the population of 56,000 will keep annual subsidies from Denmark that account for half of public spending, while receiving almost full control of natural resources, including oil, gold, zinc and lead. The vote, which also recognized Greenlandic Inuit natives as a people, will lead to a future referendum on complete independence from Denmark, Greenland Premier Hans Enoksen has said.

“Our forefathers are in my thoughts on this historic day,” he said in a statement today. “Their indomitable spirit has moved me so deeply that tears of joy are running down my cheeks.”

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=a06D_8AZhm1Y&refer=canada

[yurbud]

1. so in 225 years they'll get their Bush?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. They are just now recognizing the Inuit as people?

Isn't that a little slow, to say the least? Does this mean the Inuit only now have voting rights, etc?

[Jemmons]

3. Its actually quite fast in some sense

Facts:
Regional self government since 1979
Yearly financial support from mainland: 3.2 bn kr. = 0.5 bn $
Population: 56.648
By constitutional law Greenland has two members of the Danish Parliament (since 1956) which is a slight over-representation.


They will continue to receive financial support for a foreseeable future.

[WriteDown]

5. I think the previous poster was remarking at how

Denmark never recognized them as a people.

[dbmk]

7. Eeeehh.. purely a Greenlandic issue.

Don't quite know what this distinction entails precisely. But let me assure you it has nothing to do with voting rights.

In Denmark all you need to vote is to be a citizen. (and even that is not necessary in local elections).

No registering - apart from address needed. And that address can even be City Hall.

[WriteDown]

8. Then I would be curious if someone could explain it to me...

I tend to be sensitive about these issues.

[dbmk]

11. I have scoured the Danish newspapers

Nothing on that part of it. Will keep looking.

The general concensus of the Danish population is in favour of them doing what they want in terms of autonomy. But very few think its doable project with a 56k population. Unless they get lucky on the ressources front. Which they seem to put a lot of faith - or hope - in, I'd say.

[dbmk]

13. ok, I just read the actual law proposal

And as far as I can tell its an unfortunate translation.

What it does is recognize the Greenlandic inuits(the people from Greenland basically) as a people under international law with a right to selfgoverning - instead of being counted as Danes, I suppose.

There is nothing ethnic in it as such - it is more a territorial issue.

[BearSquirrel2]

18. We have Alaska ...

We have Alaska, Denmark has Greenland.

Yeah, the last thing Greenland wants is to be cut loose!!!

[PaulaFarrell]

4. As A people

i.e an ethnic entity

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. "international legal status as an independent people"

Tuesday's vote cleared the way for Greenland to take control over its own justice and police affairs starting next June. The population will also be granted international legal status as an independent people, and the local Inuit dialect will become the island's official language. As part of the new home-rule agreement, Copenhagen will also consult Nuuk when making foreign affairs and security decisions concerning the island.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,592880,00.html

[jpak]

6. Global warming => no sea ice => oil exploration => $$$$$

:tinfoilhat:

[Xithras]

9. Not just oil. They're planning to open mines all over the place.

Greenland is rich in everything from iron to gold, but has been an impossible place to mine because of the weather. Between global warming and improved mining techniques, they expect that to change.

[dbmk]

10. Maybe not quite - but close

They are 100% banking on finding some natural ressources capable of making their local economy run around without help from Denmark.

Which is also why they haven't voted for a referendum on full autonomy yet.

[freedomnorth]

17. With the gobal warming, it could become Green Land again. Literally. n/t.

[The Sushi Bandit]

14. Here is a Good Link on the Story

http://current.com/items/89565114/greenland_votes_for_independence_from_denmark.htm

[davidinalameda]

15. they have 56K people

how in the world could they ever declare independence?

my town has over 73K

[clixtox]

16. Is your town larger in area than Mexico?

Twice the size of Egypt?

Three times larger than Chile?

Four times larger than Sweden?

Five times the size of Iraq?

Greenland is over twenty times the size of South Korea, or Iceland!

They couldn't do any worse than an independent Iceland has managed, could they?

[davidinalameda]

19. what does size have to do with anything?

the majority of the people live on the southern coast

it's silly to think that a territory with only 56K people can self-govern

they get by with aid from Denmark now

[clixtox]

20. What does population have to do with anything?

Silly to think?

Says who?

A weak basis for the construction of an argument!

Greenland certainly has mare than enough people to be able to govern themselves, if they want to.

The political infrastructure and institutions are extant and working domestically.

Their huge territory has near unlimited potential as a source for numerous valuable and readily marketable commodities.

Kinda like Alaska...