The opening Arctic and the race for its resources

Guests: Mark Serreze, Heather Conley, Whitney Lackenbauer

Shrinking sea ice in the Arctic has set off a race among nations for control of its resources. Oil, gas, minerals and fisheries are becoming accessible and the eight Arctic nations are fighting over who has rights to them.  Disputes are arising over boundaries, shipping lanes and air space.  And there are also security concerns — Russia recently beefed up its military presence there.  This hour, the opening Arctic — what it means for nations and the fragile Arctic ecosystem.  We’ll start by getting an update on the sea ice from MARK SERREZE, the Director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder.  Then, who has rights to the Arctic’s resources and how will it be decided?  Marty talks with HEATHER CONLEY, Director of the European Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and WHITNEY LACKENBAUER, Associate Professor of History and Legal Studies at St. Jerome’s University in Ontario.