Greenland

Greenland. A weird place: part of Denmark but semi-autonomous; a gigantic landmass mostly covered in ice (85%); a population of 57,000, mostly Inuit; huge untapped oil fields off the west coast; the eastern part of the island mired in poverty and pervasive social ills like domestic violence, alcoholism, underage pregnancy, sexual abuse, and a shockingly high rate of suicide (Twenty percent of girls 15 to 17 years of age have already attempted suicide once).

This article in the Spiegel Online takes a look at Greenland and an upcoming referendum, the approval of which will set in motion Greenland's path to independence. Tapping into the vast oil reserves could bring desperately-needed economic vitality to this strange place. Take a look.