A Legacy of Waste
Greenland - a land of ice, silence, and stark beauty - has long captured the interests of foreign powers. But when the Americans came, they didn’t just bring their flags and promises - they brought steel, oil, and waste. Today, across our fragile Arctic landscape, their legacy lies rusting in plain sight: thousands of barrels, corroding vehicles, broken infrastructure - reminders not of partnership, but of abandonment.
Strategic Bases - Permanent Scars
During and after World War II, the United States established military installations across Greenland, such as Thule Air Base and secretive operations like Camp Century. These were pitched as strategic necessities during the Cold War, but no one asked Greenlanders what would be left behind. Now we know - twisted metal, chemical spills, and forgotten scrap. Tons of it.
The Cost of Cleanup - Too High for Them
Old fuel drums are scattered like dead relics along Greenland’s coastlines. In many areas, cleanup never came. Why? Because it's too expensive, too far away, or not seen as "urgent" by U.S. decision-makers. Their attention shifts fast - to new wars, new interests, new profits. Meanwhile, the Arctic rusts quietly under the weight of their indifference.
Not Just Greenland
But this is not just Greenland’s story. Look at the Bahamas, once courted by American development projects. When the money dried up, so did the responsibility. Broken roads, half-built resorts, and toxic trash were left for locals to deal with. Afghanistan. Iraq. Vietnam. Everywhere the U.S. goes, a pattern emerges - when they leave, the trash stays.
The Same Pattern in Our Own Mines
Even Greenland's own mining sites - like the old coal mines in Qullissat - show us what’s at risk when powerful outsiders "invest" without long-term care. Though not all were American-run, the mindset of taking what you need and walking away is all too familiar.
Modern Promises, Ancient Warnings
Today, when American interests claim they want to build in Greenland - whether it's mining, space observation, or "defense" partnerships - we must ask: who will clean up this time?
Profit Over People - Again
History has taught us that U.S. development often comes with a silent clause: profit first, people and nature last. When it’s over, they leave - and the burden is ours. Our soil. Our water. Our children.
We Remember
Greenland is not a dumping ground. It is not a stage for military games or economic experiments. It is a homeland - ancient, sacred, and enduring.
So the next time an American delegation arrives with smiles, blueprints, and promises of jobs, remember the rusting barrels. Remember the abandoned machinery. Remember who paid the price the last time.
And ask the question that still echoes in the wind: Who will clean up the mess they leave behind?