Food for thought

 Ice on the Arctic Ocean shrank last year to its lowest levels since satellite Observations began in the 1970s and many experts expect that by mid century the ice will vanish in the summers due to climate change. As the ice thaws, ships are using a short cut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and competition is intensifying for arctic oil and gas. US defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, said, " US military will evolve its infrastructure and capabilities and will keep defending US sovereignty in and around Alaska." The US has around 27,000 troops there with ski-equipped C-130 aircraft and nuclear submarines. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has described the arctic as crucial to Russia's economic future and said that Russia will re-open a Soviet-era military base. This is part of a drive to make its northern coast a global shipping route and secure the region's vast natural resources. Here we have a conflict in the making and a clear cut example that wars are caused by the competition for resources by the capitalist classes of various countries. A cooperative world would share the resources for all mankind while safeguarding the environment. John Ayers.