The Arctic is something that I am passionate about. It is a treasure that Canada has stewardship over and it is our duty to protect it environmentally and territorially from those who would destroy it or claim it for themselves. That is why I was shocked when it was announced that a facility that servers both purposes PEARL will be closed April 30 2012 and have its equipment and staff evacuated.
Located in Eureka, Nunavut, PEARL has been in operation since 2005 measuring ozone levels, climate change and air quality in one of Canada's most Northern facilities. PEARL's presence legitimizes Canada's place in the arctic by sheer virtue of it's presence and constructively contributing to the global community. PEARL's closure not only would be to the detriment of the scientific community but will call into question the legitimacy of Canada's arctic territorial claims. In a time when other rival countries are increasing their arctic presence, often at Canada's expense, now is not the time to withdraw.
PEARL was a win a win, a highly visible, productive scientific endeavor and a way for Canada to increase it's arctic presence non militarily. Predicatably the Conservative Party of Canada doesn't get it. Peter Kent, you're fired!
source - CBC
map source - google maps
No comments:
Post a Comment