greenland, page-2

so its an arm wrestle between those who will benefit from a potential major industry at their backdoor, and those who live in the same world as the few who have little direct economic in such a potential industry but are dead against it...... And it could bring full independence from former colonial master Denmark, which still provides a substantial annual subsidy for Greenland's budget.

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Greenland - at a glance
Map of Greenland
An autonomous Danish dependent territory with limited self-government
Fishing is a key economic activity
Danish grants make up the bulk of Greenland's revenues
There are fears that the ice sheet is melting at an increasing rate as the world warms
Social problems include high levels of unemployment and alcoholism
Greenland country profile

"It gives you some thought that you've been walking on billions of dollars all your life and not knowing about it," Kierkegaard says. "It's a significant time in Greenland."......"Many people are unemployed," he says. "Lots of families from Narsaq have moved out to other cities, so we have to do something."......."Our local government needs money," she says. "I wish they would open the mining."

Henning Sonderup reels off a list of the improvements that mining could bring: "New school, bigger hospital, better airport, new harbour, new roads, everything," he says. "Greenland will be on the map again.""Despite what people say I do have a social conscience, my heart is here," he declares. "I'm more worried about the mental pollution, in a place like this where you have more and more social issues.

mayor of South Greenland, Jorgen Waever Johansen, rejects the criticism.

"I know some groups around the world would like to have the Arctic as a prehistoric natural museum," he says. "But there are people here who want a good standard of living and want to be part of a global world."

Greenland is on its way to independence, he says proudly.

"Why should any people strive for independence if they don't believe in themselves?"
g back jobs and opportunities to the region. And you cannot make an omelette without cracking some eggs, because this will be an industrial revolution for this area."
............and he said it all here............