Danes Call Graham's Hans Visit 'occupation'

The news comes one day after the Danes sent a protest to Canada over Mr. Graham's decision to land on Hans Island last week. Experts say that if Canadian or Danish officials want to make the strongest case possible that the island is part of their country, the best way to do it would be to inhabit the area or, at the very least, promote some research. "Certainly if you don't occupy a region, that can weaken your case," said Ron Macnab, a retired marine geophysicist. "And a good way to occupy a region is to get up there and do some work or to have people live there." Hans Island, of course, is so far north and so tiny that most experts don't believe it's worth much right now. But there could be mineral resources under the adjacent sea bed and, should global warming make the area more hospitable, it could prove to be economically important. Another expert said, should the issue go to an international tribunal, the first question normally asked will be whether the claimant occupied the land. Full article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050727.wxhans27/BNStory/National/

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