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Canada and Denmark using Google as Battleground 341
TedRiot writes "Canada and Denmark are fighting over Hans Island using Google as battleground. A quick search of 'hans island' revealed a paid advertisement with the banner headline: 'Hans Island is Greenland. Greenland natives have used the island for centuries.' The ad was linked to the Danish government's foreign affairs web page with the letter condemning Graham's visit. Toronto resident Rick Broadhead placed a Google ad and said the Canadian government needs to get with the times." Reuters has coverage as well.
Some "battleground"... (Score:5, Insightful)
The first hit is an over-2-year-old Maritime Affairs (Canada) article [naval.ca]explaining why Hans Island is (or should be) Canadian Territory. (Actually an interesting read...)
The second hit is the Wikipedia article.
In fact, the supposed site(s) is nowhere in the first page of hits.
Or the second page.
The news hits refer to Google supposedly having these ads, but that reference is somewhat circular, since I can't find the paid advertisement, banner, or site in question anywhere on Google.
The sponsored (ad) links on the right sidebar include a Web Design ad, and the marginally entertaining:
Hans Island - Dispute
Why Worry about Hans Island When
What you need is an Ergonomic Chair
www.ergo4me.com
A search for "Hans Island is Greenland" returns nothing but...you guessed it, the news articles claiming there's a paid site on Google that says "Hans Island is Greenland." Likewise for "Hans Island is {Canadian|Canada}." Now, I'm not saying the articles are lying (and perhaps Google pulled the ads for some reason), but since this article is exclusively about how the battle for Hans Island is being taken to Google, and is entitled "Politics: Canada and Denmark using Google as Battleground", well, I'd love to see it.
Because I see nothing except someone pimping knockoff ergonomic chairs with eBay-style "searchsquatting".
And, amusingly, as I'm typing this article, I see more paid hits appearing. Google started with one. Then the ergonomic chair ad was added. Now, as I'm about to post, there is a "Hans Island is Canada" link...by vaginainstitute.com [vaginainstitute.com], a site apparently dedicated to, erm, researching vaginas.
Re:Some "battleground"... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Some "battleground"... (Score:2)
Re:Some "battleground"... (Score:2)
Google Ad (Score:5, Informative)
I wonder if the publicity (and slashdotting) forced the Google ad. over it's daily limit? (For those who don't know, when you buy a Google ad. you specify how much you want to pay for clicks per day -- go over that limit and your ad. doesn't appear.)
Hmmm...now to "research" the vaginainstute.com ad...
Re:Google Ad (Score:5, Informative)
For those interested here's the URL [rickbroadhead.com].
Re:Google Ad (Score:5, Funny)
Now THAT'S a Slashdotting.
Re:Some "battleground"... (Score:3, Funny)
I searched for "hans island" last week with google and saw the two text ads as described in the article. I found it quite funny, too bad they are gone now.
Re:Some "battleground"... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Some "battleground"... (Score:2, Troll)
Sort of like corsica for napolean. =)
Re:Some "battleground"... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Mod parent down (fundie troll) (Score:2)
Well, waste your mod points on your hate.
blame canada (Score:5, Funny)
with these two military powers squaring off somebody is bound to lose an eye
It has to be said: (Score:5, Funny)
Wow, two superpowers battle it out... (Score:5, Funny)
Canada being soft I understand, but Denmark? These people used to be Vikings, shessh!
I say the settle it with a friendly game of Risk and call it a day.
Re:Wow, two superpowers battle it out... (Score:2)
The Canadian article describes the island as "little larger than a football field". Clearly, the issue should be settled by a game of football.
Re:Wow, two superpowers battle it out... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Wow, two superpowers battle it out... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Wow, two superpowers battle it out... (Score:2)
Re:Wow, two superpowers battle it out... (Score:4, Funny)
The other should be called American Handoval or something equally silly.... It has nothing to do with football....
Re:Wow, two superpowers battle it out... (Score:2)
True, but we Yanks aren't the only ones with a game called "football" that involves oval-shaped objects thrown around by hand [www.cfl.ca]. Those two flavors do have some differences [football.com].
Re:Wow, two superpowers battle it out... (Score:5, Funny)
Yes, Canadian soldiers are elite and highly trained.
Both of them.
So there really isn't anything new under the sun? (Score:5, Insightful)
Except on a grander scale.
Re:So there really isn't anything new under the su (Score:2)
Re:So there really isn't anything new under the su (Score:5, Interesting)
We are fighting with the Danish over this to enforce our sovereignty. Unfortunately, like private arena disputes over copyright, failure to exert sovereignty means you effectively cede control over an area. Lose it if you don't use it, more or less.
We actually have a First Nations military unit [forces.gc.ca] dedicated to looking after our interests in remote northern communities.
You can read an entertaining article about the Canadian Rangers here [thestar.com].
Re:So there really isn't anything new under the su (Score:4, Interesting)
Here's hoping no one finds oil off the coast up there.
Re:So there really isn't anything new under the su (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:So there really isn't anything new under the su (Score:5, Insightful)
For one there is a natural resources issue. There are billions of barrels of oil buried along the north slope of Alaska and Canada not too far from this island.
Second, and possibly more importantly, there is a key territory issue. The polar ice caps are melting and it is predicted that within the next 50 years they will have melted enough to allow circumpolar shipping routes to open through the arctic. The country who controls the waters this route passes through effectively controls the route and will therefore own what will likely be the worlds most important shipping lane. (Europe to west coast USA, and Europe to China/East Asia) The idea here is that this route will pass within the territorial boundary marker of Hans Island. Denmark has far more to lose in this regard, because without Hans Island their westernmost border is Greenland which is nowhere near the upcoming shipping lanes. Canada on the other hand will probably get a piece of the pie either way.
Re:So there really isn't anything new under the su (Score:2)
Re:So there really isn't anything new under the su (Score:4, Interesting)
For one there is a natural resources issue. There are billions of barrels of oil buried along the north slope of Alaska and Canada not too far from this island.
Look on a map? Here's one [google.com]. That white spec is Hans Island, in the sound between Greenland and Ellesmere Island. Now zoom out and check the distance to the Canadian-Alaskan border where the oil. It's pretty damn far. (Yes, the distance is distorted in this projection, but it's still about half the width of the USA.)
The idea here is that this route will pass within the territorial boundary marker of Hans Island. Denmark has far more to lose in this regard, because without Hans Island their westernmost border is Greenland which is nowhere near the upcoming shipping lanes.
This is complete nonsense. Again, Hans Island is in the sound between Ellesmere island and Greenland. Not Baffin Island. It is not anywhere near the North Western passage. (Heck, the island isn't even in-frame on Wikipedia's map) [wikipedia.org]
And Denmark hasn't made any claim to the Northwest Passage anyway. The USA has though. (Or rather, the USA does not recognize it as Canadian waters)
Re:So there really isn't anything new under the su (Score:2)
The natives in Canada say that sometimes too... but look what happened in the end.
Let's see what googlefight has to say! (Score:3, Funny)
5,200 results
Hans Island belongs to Canada
39,500 results
Re:Let's see what googlefight has to say! (Score:2)
20,600 results
Re:Let's see what googlefight has to say! (Score:5, Funny)
Hans island belongs to USA
40,300
Hans island belongs to Mexico
31,300
Hans island belongs to Britain
60,700
So much for that.
Re:Let's see what googlefight has to say! (Score:2)
62,200
I win!
Re:Let's see what googlefight has to say! (Score:2)
88,800
someone set us up the Hans island
190,000
You know what you Googling... (Score:2)
we soon find a peaceful solution to this conflict.
Take off every Hans Island 468,000
Move Hans Island 523,000
Re:Let's see what googlefight has to say! (Score:2)
= Mattis_f_HansIslandCount + 1
Re:Let's see what googlefight has to say! (Score:2)
Google confirms it.
Hans Island belong to you
65,500
Re:Let's see what googlefight has to say! (Score:2)
all your base are belong to us
2,590,000 results.
Searching for a battleground (Score:3, Funny)
As if... (Score:2)
It is not the island (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:As if... (Score:2)
Yes, that's a literature reference
Re:As if... (Score:2)
Re:As if... (Score:2, Insightful)
My favorite quote... (Score:2)
Re:My favorite quote... (Score:2)
Interesting. In that case they should do ownership rotation and simply build a football field there and nick name it "The most remote Danish/Canadian football field"
Re:My favorite quote... (Score:2)
larger (esp. width) although it depends on which
soccer field standard you apply. Then again, if you
allow for the 100yd Canadian football field...
Re:My favorite quote... (Score:2)
A solution... (Score:4, Funny)
It's 1.3 square km. in the Arctic. The only good use for that spot is another Starbucks.
Oh how cute... (Score:2)
Re:Oh how cute... (Score:2)
This could legitimize adwords and similar programs for many governments and advocacy organizations- and spell more profits for Google. Hopefully, this will also raise the level of discourse!
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Oh how cute... (Score:2)
i think your talking about anywhere BUT canada?
Poor innocent people who took out the ads. (Score:2, Informative)
What I feel bad about is the fact that these ads were placed by citizens of their respective countries. Now that slashdot will be battering the click-through into oblivion... at $.05 a click...
might get mighty expensive...
Not anymore... (Score:2)
Very professional and affordable".
Re:Not anymore... (Score:2, Insightful)
I don't get it (Score:4, Insightful)
What do they want from it exactly?
Re:I don't get it (Score:2)
Re:I don't get it (Score:5, Insightful)
Canada is arguing with the US about the Northwest Passage. The US claims it's international waters, and Canada claims it's within it's boundries, and thus internal waters.
Make a slip in international law once, and it may haunt you for all times. The maritime border between the Yukon and Alaska is under dispute, as is Canada's claim to the continental shelf in the Artic. Canada can't concede here, or it may have to concede elsewhere, when it's more important.
Of course, Canada has no ability to patrol it's northern border. The Canadian Coast Guard is a fine institution stuck with aging ships, few of which have ice-strengthened hulls.
A good description is here [naval.ca]
In the spirit of french-fries becoming freedom fries, I ask all fellow Canadians to stop using the word danish for that flakey, overly sweet pastry, and instead use the term freedom-pastry.
Re:I don't get it (Score:3, Informative)
The small straight between Vancouver Island, and the mainland coast of Canada is under dispute as well. The US likes to use it as a torpedo proving ground. Which of course upsets all the whale watchers. Since the torpedos use sonar, which the enviromentalists claim distracts the whales. Of course the US Navy claims it doesn't, its a royal mess.
The Northwest Passage is also one of the
Re:I don't get it (Score:2)
Re:I don't get it (Score:2)
Fishing rights (Score:2)
Re:I don't get it (Score:2)
Underpants!
Re:I don't get it (Score:2)
What do they want from it exactly?
Why do all your suburbanite neighbors spend time and money growing masses of grass, which are no good to them, since they never leave their air-conditioned house?
It's all about penis length.
The Future of War (Score:5, Funny)
Han's Island is name of Enter The Dragon Sequel (Score:2)
http://groups-beta.google.com/groups?q=han's+islan d [google.com]
Turns up this gem:
"Return to Han's Island" ETD2
(bouncing off an original suggested title "Han's Island",
besides, "Blood and Steel" was taken)
Bolo [Yang Tze] is alive and now controls the island,
which is now a training ground. The island is a shadow of
its former self. Everything has been dismantled by the
authorities. No radios, electricity, no drugs or servants.
It's a primitive island. Bolo is much older now and needs
glasses becaus
Re:Han's Island is name of Enter The Dragon Sequel (Score:2)
A diplomatic overture... (Score:2)
It seems that there is hope that this senseless war can be avoided. I don't like the thought of so many brave Canadian and Danish soldiers being tragically lost in the frozen wasteland of the Arctic. And the last thing that ANYONE wants to deal with is the Hansian insurgency.
Hey you Danes ... (Score:5, Funny)
Ode to Hans (Score:5, Funny)
Canucks and Danes, both ready to say,
"This isle is ours, so piss off you jerks,
Or we'll Google and Slashdot the entire works!"
Well, Canada blustered, and Denmark stomped,
And some nerdie netizens submitted the lot,
To Google fine, that online star,
To win an island that could fit in a jar.
When it came to blows, aye those blows did ring,
As North Atlantic seals all gathered to see,
These crazy goddamn bastards fight for Hans,
The most ludicrous, uninhabitable chunk of land.
Familiar sounding (Score:5, Funny)
Northwest Passage Skirmish (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Northwest Passage Skirmish -MOD PARENT UP (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Northwest Passage Skirmish (Score:2)
Re:Northwest Passage Skirmish (Score:2)
So IMO, Denmark can just F.R.O. They bring nothing to the party, but want to take it all away.
Re:Northwest Passage Skirmish (Score:2)
Re:Northwest Passage Skirmish (Score:2)
Re:Northwest Passage Skirmish (Score:2)
Re:Northwest Passage Skirmish (Score:2)
Google Map (Score:5, Informative)
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=80.827952,-66.6471
-molo
Re:Google Map (Score:2)
It's totally closer to Canada!
FIGHT AGAINST THE INVAISON (Score:3, Funny)
THE DANISH GOVERNMENT HAS ATTEMPTED (without success) TO INVADE CANADA A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES IN THE PAST 15 YEARS. It is bad enough that true and proud Canadian culture is being ENCROACHED UPON by less than tasteful americanism, but to be invaded by WARSHIPS is UNACCEPTABLE.
Here are somethings that we can do to protest the Danish government and it's hostile actions:
- Rename danishes to Artic Freedom Delights and boycott resturants like Tim Hortons if they do not abide.
- Burn Hans Christian Anderson books
- If you haven't already, boycott Metallica, which you should be doing anyways because of their unwaivering support of the RIAA.
- Fight against danish lies. It was an ITALIAN who discovered electromagnetism. But Danish propaganda fooled most of the world.
- Declare PHP a Canadian invention. The Danish Government doesn't want you to know this, but Mr. Lerdorf WAS A CANADIAN CITIZEN.
These are all peaceful political protests, but we Canadians should be ready to face the reality of the situation. After all, the danes did try to invade Canada at least three times. We still have to explore all diplomatic possibilities, but if you are a proud Canadian, when the time comes, you will take up arms to defend the Great North from the invaders. This is the Cold War of the 21st Century. CANADIAN INTERESTS AND SOVEREIGNTY MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS.
OH CANADA, I STAND ON GAURD FOR THEE
Re:FIGHT AGAINST THE INVAISON (Score:2)
Where else would it be? (Score:5, Funny)
The Danes say the countries' history of friendly relations should not be subjected to periodic squabbles over a frigid rock barely larger than a football field just south of the North Pole.
At least it's accurate; they could have said something really stupid like "just west of the North Pole".
Falklands all over again (Score:2)
A Canadian's perspective (Score:2)
How about letting the Inuit (not sure if they are the same in Greenland) have the island as an autonomous region? In a way it would be shared by Canada, Greenland and the indeginous people of the area.
The US may actually have to intervene...no kidding (Score:4, Interesting)
Allowing a European nation (denmark) to effectively claim new territory in waters of North America violates the Monroe Doctrine. While Canada is not a very good claimant its the only claimant that is compatible with US interests. If Greenland were independent it wouldnt be an issue, but I dont like the idea of Canada being forced to cede territory in North America to the EU(denmark).
Re:The US may actually have to intervene...no kidd (Score:2)
There's no way the US can come claim it harbors terrorists or evil dictators. So why can't we just leave the US out of this? The countries involved are Canada and Denmark...
Reminds me of Toys (1992) ! (Score:2)
War between Canada and Denmark (Score:2)
Here's my solution (Score:2)
Little known fact, the Alaskan panhandle is American simply because the Brits felt giving it to the U.S. would help encourage them to join a war against the Kaiser. Course they balked on the deal and didn't show up until 3 years into it. America should give it back.
Sovereignty? Bah! (Score:2)
(At least we geeks only argue about important things like the superiority of emacs over vi.)
Possession is 9/10 of the law! (Score:3, Interesting)
The solution to this territorial dispute is really quite simple.
Canada should build a permanent settlement on the island - a humble cabin equipped with a satellite dish, diesel fuel tanks, a generator, and a large store of rations.
Some lucky private from the Canadian armed forces would be dispatched to guard the island in 3-month shifts, equipped with lots of pornography and a 50 calibre machine gun to scare off any encroaching Danish helicopters.
Bleargh! (Score:3, Funny)
This whole thing reminds me of the Terry Pratchett novel Jingo.
Overnight, an island basically pops up out of the sea, right smack-bang equidistant between Klatch and the city-state of Ankh-Morpork, and suddenly everyone's arguing about going to war to "knock johnny foreigner" off of their bit of land.
Damn shame there's no roundworld equivalent of Sir Samuel Vimes who's going to go and arrest everyone forcing the argument over this for "disturbing the peace", "loitering with intent to cause an affray" (occupying the island with troops), and basically throw the dickheads claiming it as their own into prison for 30 days.
It would be nice if Hans Island just sunk into the ocean and disappeared. Wouldn't the people claiming the place as their own have egg on their faces then?
`Haha, you silly bastards lost an island!'
2006: Bush calls Junkbuster "Terrorist Tool"... (Score:2)
I can just see the senate debate in 2007 or 2008 over the use of popup-blockers and ad-killing proxies.
Re:Let's Sink It (Score:2)