Madder Than a Warm Eskimo

The folks at the top of the world are afraid their days may shift from icy to balmy, and they want the European Union to do something about it. But is that really the issue?

Indigenous leaders from Arctic regions around the world called on the European Union on Tuesday to do more to fight global warming and to consider giving aid to their peoples.

In their first visit to EU headquarters, three leaders representing the eight-nation Arctic Council met with officials at the European Commission and several EU lawmakers to push their campaign, warning their way of life was at risk.

Chief Gary Harrison, who represents the Athabaskan peoples in Alaska and Canada said urgent action was needed from the 25-nation EU, the United States and Russia.

"Maybe we can put pressure on and maybe they can turn the corner" and help, Harrison said.

The Arctic region is home to about 4 million people, including more than 30 different indigenous groups.

Larisa Abrutina, vice president of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, which represents 40 different indigenous peoples, said her people should be able to share from the wealth in oil drilling and similar projects in the north.

"We don't get a share in the wealth in the exploitation of resources," she said.

As you can see, the real issue here is not that the ambient temperature might rise from -30 degrees to -26 degrees, but oil money. They know there's black gold up there and they want their piece of the pie.

I've got an idea - let them build casinos! Hey, it's made millionaires out of Indian tribes in California with 10 or 15 tribal members. I'm sure a "Bellagio Bering Sea" could do the same for them.

Can you make a stretch dogsled limo?