An argument about global warming aside, there is now an ice passage opening in the Arctic. This have never before been the case. The opening will allow for shipping throughout the year, making it a profitable passage. This will likely have a world wide affect, with nations like Russian, Canada and Norway and the United States seeking claim.
Here is how this article applies to this class. If we start with massive shipping routes through the area, there will be a massive affect on the environment in the Arctic. The loss of permafrost, air pollution, land erosion, loss of boreal forests and the possibility of oil spillage, would all drastically change our world forever.
Is it ok to have these huge losses in order to allow for the possibilty of cheaper goods or gas?