Chapter 31 Chapter Twenty Nine
Thomas Winterbottom rested in his hotel room, contemplating the prospect of closing the deal.He is satisfied that the current situation is likely to be contained.Of course, it's better to solve it.
Involuntarily, he turned on the TV and tuned to CNN, then poured himself a glass of stout brandy.The news from the Governor's Palace was mixed, and then Devere's phone call came. "I'm on the plane, see you in a few hours."
"Have you talked to our Norwegian friend?"
"Talked, they're here. But they're going to the climate change conference," Basil said. "We'll meet with them later."
"Very well." Winterbottom relaxed.He had already met the Norwegians at a conference on the future of the Arctic.The topic of oil extraction was, and still is, top of mind. "You don't need me to remind you, you should remember that this time the matter is extremely risky, and if I mess it up, I will be ruined."
"We're all at risk. The bigger picture, we get everything..."
"Or lose everything," Winterbottom put in.
He and other members of an international consortium including Deverge have invested heavily in Arctic Circle projects and recently won the right to exploit polar oil and gas resources off Norway's Lofoten archipelago, despite criticism from local fishermen and serious protests from environmentalists.
As the world's fifth largest oil exporter, Norway has been coveting the Arctic Circle, intending to discover new oil resources there.It is estimated that the reserves contained in the Norwegian coastal area represent 20% of the undiscovered reserves on the Norwegian continental shelf.
Although all oil companies know this, they have been prohibited from developing this area - until now.
The international consortium faces some troublesome protesters, especially those in the fishing industry.They worry that oil extraction will endanger the Barents Sea cod, the largest and most profitable species of cod in the Arctic Ocean, found only off the coast of the Lofoten Islands.Fishermen believe this would be a disastrous development that would put both the fishery and nature at risk.
The tourism industry is also against it, as the Lofoten Islands are one of the best tourist attractions in Norway, with tourists flocking to admire its flora and fauna.
There are also environmentalists who worry that the oil spill will have irreparable consequences.
Big business, however, sees oil and gas as more jobs and a prosperous economy for Lofoten's 23,500 inhabitants.And, Winterbottom and his colleagues found, money was more persuasive.
So yes, it can cost a lot if everything goes wrong.
"We may have to make some concessions," admitted Winterbottom.
"For example?"
"I'm still thinking about it."
"There are ten licenses in total, and we need to get them all." De Fuch said firmly.
"I know very well!" interrupted Winterbottom. "When will Schneider and Bedford arrive?"
"tomorrow."
It's a big day for the Venice Convention and Exhibition Center.When the most influential leader in the world walked in, all the delegates stood up.Among the leaders were the prime ministers of Britain, the presidents of the United States, France, Pakistan and India, and the heads of state of Norway, Sweden and Iceland. A few minutes later, the Secretary-General of the United Nations stood up and delivered a speech, urging all countries to work hard to find a long-term stable and feasible solution to climate change, economical and practical must coexist, and action is no small matter. At the same time, he emphasized that developed countries should set up hundreds of millions of dollars in funds to support poorer countries to fight global warming together, and even decided on the venue for the next United Nations Climate Change Conference. Susan and Will sat in the auditorium, looking at the academic report in front of them together with other members of the environmental lobby. "It's just a nice word, it's useless at all." Will mumbled, keeping his eyes on the Secretary-General of the United Nations. He and others have already lobbied commissioners to support them and plan to do so again during the lunch break.Progress is difficult and not optimistic. "It's amazing that Karda can find time," Susan murmured. "Pakistan is so turbulent that he can find time to come out. It's so inspiring." He saw the leader of Pakistan, Kardha, sitting next to the leader of the Maldives, far away from the fifteenth president of India. "They're just trying to keep up," Will grumbled, "I've been to a lot of these so-called 'make or break' conventions, and none of them agree on what should be done—it always does .” "So," Susan smiled and patted Will's left knee lightly, "we must continue to work hard to change."
It's a big day for the Venice Convention and Exhibition Center.When the most influential leader in the world walked in, all the delegates stood up.Among the leaders were the prime ministers of Britain, the presidents of the United States, France, Pakistan and India, and the heads of state of Norway, Sweden and Iceland. A few minutes later, the Secretary-General of the United Nations stood up and delivered a speech, urging all countries to work hard to find a long-term stable and feasible solution to climate change, economical and practical must coexist, and action is no small matter. At the same time, he emphasized that developed countries should set up hundreds of millions of dollars in funds to support poorer countries to fight global warming together, and even decided on the venue for the next United Nations Climate Change Conference. Susan and Will sat in the auditorium, looking at the academic report in front of them together with other members of the environmental lobby. "It's just a nice word, it's useless at all." Will mumbled, keeping his eyes on the Secretary-General of the United Nations. He and others have already lobbied commissioners to support them and plan to do so again during the lunch break.Progress is difficult and not optimistic. "It's amazing that Karda can find time," Susan murmured. "Pakistan is so turbulent that he can find time to come out. It's so inspiring." He saw the leader of Pakistan, Kardha, sitting next to the leader of the Maldives, far away from the fifteenth president of India. "They're just trying to keep up," Will grumbled, "I've been to a lot of these so-called 'make or break' conventions, and none of them agree on what should be done—it always does .” "So," Susan smiled and patted Will's left knee lightly, "we must continue to work hard to change."