Greenland 2021 General Election; 6 April

[Velasco]

Actually this Greenlandic election is a referendum on the rare earth and uranium mining project in a site known as Kuannersuit or Kvanefjeld. Greenland Minerals, which is an Australian company invested by the Chinese giant Shenghe Resources, owns an exploration licence since 2010. The company says that Kusnnersuit has the potential to become in the largest producer of rare earth minerals in the Western World. Rare earth elements are of great geostrategic importance, as they are neccessary for the production of high-tech devices such as cell phones, computer hard drives,  hybrid or electric cars and flat screens, as well as wind turbines. The supporters of the mining project argue that it would help boosting local economy, creating new job opportunities and reducing the need of subsidies from Denmark. Currently the economy of Greenland relies on fishing exports and Denmark grants an annual subsidy amounting more than 500 million euros, which represrnts 1/3 of Greenland's budget. The mine would give a tax revenue of some 240 million euros. Dreams of full independence from Denmark pass through economic self-sufficiency, which could be achieved developing the vast mineral resources of the giant island, which is covered by a massive ice sheet and facing the effects of global heating. Greenland has devolved competences on mining resources since 2009. Opponents of the project fear the devastating effects of rare earth and uranium mininig in Greenland's pristine environment. They also argue this mine alone is not going to he enough to achieve self-sufficiency and the risks are too high. Kuannersuit is located near the township of Narsaq in SW Greenland, not far from the old Norse settlement of Dyrnes in one of the few areas in the island suited for pastures and sheep grazing. Narsaq is essentially an inuit fishing village.

[Velasco]

politicus still ocassionally posts on AAD
* in case she's lurking here: please don't send hitmen after me

Glad to see she is still hanging around. She has first hand knowledge of those remote lands, I believe