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Af Af redaktionen 30-07 2008 - 06:53

The president of the International Circumpolar Council in Greenland believes mining companies should not be permitted to remove uranium from Greenland's underground, under any circumstances.

'Why should be spoil our nature and our people's health,' Aqqaluk Lynge told CBS News.

The Greenlandic and Danish parliaments banned uranium mining over two decades ago, but the question has arisen after some mining companies requested permission to extract uranium obtained during the mining of other types of metals.

Lynge said that with the intensifying hunt for natural resources in the Arctic meant the country needed to be careful not to get caught up by dreams of quick riches.

'We're in the same situation Arctic peoples in Alaska and Canada have already been through. We need to be careful with our environment, especially since climate change could change much of it.'

He agreed that Greenland should earn money off its natural resources, but not at any price.

'If we destroy our environment in the name of independence, then the price is too high. I feel we should stop to take stock of the situation and see what the effects of climate change are.'