I say we trade it for that Legoland place.

How about an inukshuk-building match? The country with the prettiest one, gets the island...

...or lets be positive and instill some friendly butter-making competition. I went to undergrad with a Dane (with an identical name to another guy I went to undergrad with who was not a Dane) who was a fan of the Morton (or at least knew what the heck it was) due to some 1950s signings of Danish keepers. He was pretty good guy. Maybe he would know what to do. <p>I also think we need to keep our alliance with all the descendants of the Vikings on the upside as a general rule.

The Viking era aside, the Danes are a reasonable bunch. But, they have a lot of moxy these days. We Canucks better get off our arses if we want that island. At the very least, its high time we negotiated with them. I agree with Al's general rule: we need to maintain alliances with all Viking descendants. Its nice to know the Hans Island is named after some other Hans.

...and another thing: Canada in relation to the rest of the World is a little like PEI in relation to the rest of Canada in that no one else really cares what we think we are entitled to. If we are entitled to Hans Island, we damn well better make our case or lay our claim because the Danes aren't going to hang around. They will negotiate, but they won't wait while Canadians dither and whine.

You are going to get kicked off PEI soooooo fast one of these days, Mister.

I carpool with a Dane - it's almost come to blows over this island - damn Vikings.

If only the island was named something other than Hans - I'd have such an easier time in our arguments.

OK - so it's Count Hans Gustav Tewilligerock Island from now on.

Hans Gustav Tewilligerock Island

Shouldn't it be something more uh... Canadian? Like Hockey Island??

Sh.

This whole dispute is extremely childish, and I think it's a real embarrassment for both Denmark and Canada that these two otherwise peaceful and mature (or so I thought!) nations lower themselves into these repeated ridiculous "putting up flag" events. (I must say Denmark started the flag competition, so maybe their government is even a little more childish than Canada's).

I have lived in both Denmark and Canada for several years each, and can say that both countries and their peoples are fabulous. We really don't need this BS (except maybe to fill the summer news whenever there's no tsunamis, bombs or the like).

Look at a map: there isn't really a good reason why either side could claim the damn rock all for themselves - it's exactly in the middle of the strait, right on the dividing line both countries agreed on in the 70s! So the only solution that makes any sense is: do as if the island didn't exist - divide it in two halves right at the continuation of the existing dividing line. We could have a little international border between CA and DK on solid land - quite unique: "Europe meets Americas on solid gound" - might even become a tourist attraction! And it will ensure that the control of the stait remains shared between both nations, just as if the offensive little rock wasn't there in the first place.

I don't know about the rest of you guys...but I want my isolated rock puffin-poop depository for myself.

I heard an even better suggestion this weekend: Blow the damn thing up!

Just to let you know that we linked to this story in our round up of Canadian and Danish bloggers in CRISIS in the ARCTIC!

http://independentsources.com/2005/07/31/hans-island-spat-roundup/

To Arthur
Sorry. We cant' trade yuo Legoland Park. To late. Lego's sold to Blackstone Capital Partners IV.
http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=pressdetail&contentid=15584&countrycode=2057

Blow the damn thing up!

Ship it to The Netherlands!

To Arthur. We cant' trade yuo Legoland Park.

Can't we move it to Hans Island then?

It seems like this is escalating, with other countries - even including Norway - being dragged into the mess. This is from the London Daily Telegraph:
http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/22/wcan22.xml

Canadian warships were sailing towards the Arctic yesterday in the latest act of gunboat diplomacy over control of the frozen wastes there.
Ottawa has launched a series of Arctic sovereignty patrols to assert its territorial claims and fend off rivals, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States.

Why don't you declare war with China as well, while you're at it? I suppose the queen is an obstacle to attacking Britain?

Knut Albert

*sigh*. read the article more closely. Canada is sending warships into undisputed Canadian territory.

Undisputed? The article reads:
Amid diplomatic arguments over territorial rights, Canada's defence minister recently clambered on to a frozen rock, tiny Hans Island, triggering protests from Denmark.

The Canadian programme hit high gear yesterday as the frigate Fredricton sailed towards the contested Davis Strait separating Greenland and north-east Canada.

I find it ridiculous that NATO allies squander their resources like this - there are international bodies able to settle disputes like this.

(But, not being a Canadian tax payer, I must admit it has entertainmanet value!)

Guys! Guys! Don't sigh, David. Knut is my man in Norway! You think people who photograph their glass of beer are easy to find! We need the Scandenavian perspective...and think about Hans. A Dane transported pre-conception to Canada. Imagine how he must feel about all this.

I think many of the writers -- and governments -- have missed the point. Hans Island is a thriving Northern community. It obviously matters a great deal to those 'from away' -- recently the American evangalist Pat Robertson threatened to assassinate our President, Stephan Simpson. There's a lead article on the local radio station's website, which can be reached at www.radiofreehansisland.com -- please check it out.

I thought Simp Stephanson was still president!