International Agreements and the Arctic
Canada and the International Law of the Sea
- According to the law of the Sea, the area around the North Pole is in international waters.
- It is located beyond the 370 Km limit of Russia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the United States, the five countries with the Arctic claims.
- The law of the sea allows these countries to file claims to extend their territory into this international zone if they prove that the Arctic seabed is linked to their land mass.
- The Lomonosov Ridge is an undersea mountain range that runs 1500 kilometers past the North Pole. Russia is now collecting evidence to prove that this ridge is an extension of its continental shelf.
- Countries disagree with this claim.
- The Law of the Sea applies to the fishery on the Grand Banks, off Canada's East Coast.
- This area was the world's richest fishing grounds, but technological advances have led to overfishing, often by large European factory ships.
- Overfishing has greatly reduced fish stocks, this has caused widespread unemployment, especially in Newfoundland.
- To revive the fishing industry and allow fish stocks to recover, Canada believes that it must regulate fishing on the entire Grand Banks.
- Canada's case for extending its control of the Grand Banks is still being considered.
International Agreements and Antarctica
- Antarctica is unique, unlike other countries, it has no history of human habitation.
- The environment is so harsh that no communities have ever developed there, even today, only about a thousand people live there but just temporarily to maintain research stations.
- In 1959, seven countries that had claimed various parts of Antarctica agreed to place their claims on hold. They joined five other countries active in the region in signing a treaty making the Antarctic an international continent.
- Any UN members may join the Antarctic Treaty
- Over the years, this Treaty has been revised, by 2008 the 46 countries that had signed it had agreed to the following terms:
- Antarctic wildlife is protected .
- All people are free to travel anywhere on the continent.
- The region is reserved for peaceful purposes and scientific study.
- Mining, nuclear explosions, and disposal of radioactive waste are banned.
- Results of scientific research in the Antarctic must be shared.
Introduction of the International Law and Agreements
- The foreign policies of various countries can sometimes lead to a conflict. To help resolve the issues that arise when this happens, international law and agreements has been developed.
- These international laws stem from trade agreements between two or more countries, some are based in international treaties and United Nations resolutions or on widely accepted international practices.
(e.g., the Convention on the Law of the Sea)
- The UN’s International Court of Justice (World Court), interprets these laws and tries to settle disputes peacefully. Some countries such as the U.S refuse to recognize this court. These countries do not want to give up their right to make their own decisions based on their own national interest.
The 0.7% Solution
International Law of the Sea
- In 1969, former Canadian prime minister Lester B. Pearson wanted to find another way to build a peaceful world. So Pearson issued a challenge to the world's richest countries to spend 0.7% of their gross national income on foreign aid.
- GNI refers to the total value os the goods and services produced by a country in a year, both inside and outside a country's borders.
- At the time UN members commitment to this goal, and they reaffirmed this commitment in 2002.
- But in 2006, Canada gave only 0.33% of its GNI as foreign aid ( about half the targeted amount).
- Not everyone agrees that Canada should spend more. Many foreign policy experts believe that efforts should focus on delivering aid more effectively.
- Josee Verner, Canada's minister of international co-operation agrees with this view.
- The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea sets out rules for the high seas (the parts of oceans that lie beyond the territorial waters of any country).
- All waters within 22 kilometers of a country's coastline are part of that country's territory.
- Countries also have the sole right to control fishing, mining, and the environment in an area up to 370 km from their coast.
International Law and Agreements