Doomsday Seed Vault

Yup. Norway has set up a "Doomsday Seed Vault".

According to CBC News:

Norway's ark: underground vault to house world's seeds
"An underground vault buried deep in a mountain on a barren Arctic island halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole may seem like an unlikely place to store samples of the world's plant life.

But for scientists trying to shield the world's seeds from climate change, earthquakes, war and other disasters, the "doomsday vault" on the island of Svalbard is an ideal location." -more

According to National Geographic:

"The Norwegian island of Spitsbergen was chosen as the location for the seed vault because it is a remote region with low tectonic activity and a cold Arctic environment that is ideal for preservation.

Although there will be no staff members on site, the facility will be monitored around the clock.

In addition, 'the presence of polar bears, which prowl the area, may be seen by some as providing an added layer of security,' the Global Crop Diversity Trust writes on its Web site." -more

Polar Bears?!

The Russian Game (1980)

This cartoon is a Golden Oldie from back in 1980. Recent developments on the international scene (the North Pole, Naval bases in Syria) seem to indicate that the expansionist Russia is back... and this time its anti-Western moves are not hidden behind idealistic communist slogans.

So the question today is... has Putin successfully halted the democratization of the former USSR? ...is he the first of a new succession of Ruskie dictators? ... are we back to where we were when I did this cartoon, 27 years ago?

. . . or am I just being alarmist?
What do you think?
Nu?

Global Warning

First the Russian moves at the North Pole and now, as reported by EuroNews:

Russia weighs relocation of Black Sea Fleet to Syria
"The head of the Russian Navy has raised the prospect of the Black Sea Fleet relocating to a Syrian naval base. Chief Admiral Vladimir Masorin emphasised the strategic importance of the Mediterranean to Russia during a visit to sailors in the Ukrainian port of Sebastapol. The Soviet Union withdrew warships from the Syrian port of Tartus in the 1990s, at the end of the Cold War"-more

Folks don't seem to be very concerned about the developing climate change brought about by the latest Russian moves around the globe... that's why I chose to title this cartoon Global Warning instead of Global Warming... (one of those subtle touches that I figure nobody notices).

Today's Global Warning cartoon is a follow-up to a Dry Bones cartoon I did two Friday's ago. I titled that one Pole Dance... (another overly cutesy touch).

Pole Dance

The Russians have planted a flag on an undersea mountaintop at the North Pole?! Here's the story as first reported by the Russians (TASS)...and here's the story as updated in English by Al Jazeera (complete with video).

Today's Hindustan Times in India reports on U.S. counter moves.

* * * We're all familiar with the standard maps of the world or of the Middle East. Could it be that the little-seen Polar Projection map is going to push its way onto our front pages?.

A new planetary hot spot?

What's your guess?