page 8 Nicholas Pastura The Artic is warming, the ice and the snow are melting, and it’s warming faster than the rest of the planet. “We're now losing spring Arctic snow cover at a rate faster than the models predict,” says research scientist Chris Derksen. The temperatures in northern Greenland have gone up 4.5 degrees in the last 15 years. Some scientists predict that the temperature may be up 14 to 21 degrees higher by the end of the cen- tury. Ice packs that cover fjords are becoming too unstable for dog sled and snowmobile traffic. Winter fishing is es- sential to feeding the people in Greenland, but conditions necessary to do so are be- coming increasingly danger- ous or impossible. The larg- est employer in the town of Narsagq, a shrimp factor, closed when crustaceans starting heading for cooler water. Eight commercial fishing ships are now down to only one. Narsaq’s popula- tion has halved in the last decade. Greenland has one of the world’s highest suicide rates, and suicides are rising. Despite these difficult issues, great things could be on the horizon for Greenland. Maps of the massive min- eral deposits in Greenland have been drawn up by the Danish government for dec- ades, as Denmark is the par- ent state. Most past attempts to mine have failed due to impossible or expensive con- ditions, but with warmer temperatures arriving, this is set to change. Just outside of Narsagq sits one of the largest deposits of rare earth metals. “This is huge; we could be mining this for the next 100 years,” says geologist Eric Sondergaard. The possibilities that can be brought forth from these new prospects are important to both the people of Green- land, and their government. As labor union leader Vittus Qujaukitsoq puts it, “One of our goals is to obtain inde- pendence.” Denmark pays Greenland about a half bil- lion a year, money that Greenland is heavily reliant on. This annual money was frozen in 2009 at its current rate, and scheduled to de- crease in the future. With the vast revenues that could come from mining, Green- land could become self- sufficient. “I think this will be the future,” says Green- land’s housing and infra- structure minister, Jens B. Frederiksen, “but this is a difficult phase.” New employment is al- most a guarantee for resi- dents, and Greenland Miner- als and Energy, an Australian -owned company, has begun teaching young men in drill- ing and learning to speak English. It has plans to build new roads, a new port, and a processing plant. A local abandoned apartment block may be converted into a ho- tel, and Narsaq’s airport, threatened with closure, may not only be kept open, but expended. The future and this transi- tional period will be difficult for Greenland, but for now, they’re making the most of it. It’s a hard place to be put in, and while many fear the environmental damage that the mining industry can fur- ther bring, there are still fam- ilies, men, women, and chil- dren that need to be taken care of. The backbone of Greenland’s industry and livelihood, cannot be sus- tained as the climate chang- es. In our lifetimes, many other Arctic areas, and possi- bly non-artic areas, are going to face socioeconomic changes brought about by warming temperatures. Mont Alto PA 17237. ’ Co-Editor: Nick Pastura Staff Writers: Laura Syzmanski Miss Lion Dear Miss Lion, I am a commuter and I have a class that ends at two thirty, but my next class does not start until five. I do not want to go back home, but when I do not have homework to do I get really bored. What-do I do with all that time? Can you tell me some things that I can do to occupy my time? -Bored Out Of My Mind Dear Bored Out Of My Mind, There are many things to do between classes. One thing you could do is rent a movie from the library, you can even sign out your own private study room The Wiestling Student Center (WSC) offers a pool room and music oon You could head over to the Multipur- pose Activities Center .or MAC. to get some exercise The MAC of- fers a gym where you can play some basketball or volleyball, a weight room that offers dumb bells and neni equipment, and a cardio room with other types of exercise equipment. If you just want to surf the internet there are many computer labs available around campus including one in the Academic Support Center, one below the bookstore, and two computers in the WSC. If you are ull look- ing for another place to hang out there is Café Java, the commuter ing, and the adult lounge that is located on the second floor of the Science and Technology Building on the side facing Wiestling. I hope this helps and gives you some ideas of what you can do during the time that you have between classes. Love and Paws, Miss Lion
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