A New Land

Max · Post by **Max** » 2005-08-25 03:15pm

'What-if' time!

You wake up and turn on the t.v.. On the news, it's being reported all over the world, that a new landmass, roughly half the size of Australia (or Canada, if you prefer - whatever ) has spontaneously appeared in the middle of the Pacific Ocean (yeah, bye-bye Hawaii... sorry 'bout that). For some reason, no Governments were aware of this landmass's presence before it hit the media.

So, what happens to the landmass? Does a particular country (or countries) claim it as a colony? Does a new group of people travel that and form a new, independent country? Are there indigenous peoples?

The Guid · Post by **The Guid** » 2005-08-25 03:17pm

Well... one of the questions needs to be answered by you in the set up. Is there anyone already living there?

Max · Post by **Max** » 2005-08-25 03:25pm

Oh...sorry. Let's just go with the land being completely unoccupied.

The Guid · Post by **The Guid** » 2005-08-25 03:31pm

I guess its the quickest off the mark gets to declare it theirs. There would be no treaty such as the ones guarding the moon or the Antarctic to prevent a country from basically going: "Dibs"/"Shotgun."! As for whether that would be contested... well, rather depdns on who called first and what's on there. If there's oil, and indeed anything valuable I think we found the place where all the modern day US pilgrims will go to make their new Jerusalem.

Quadlok · Post by **Quadlok** » 2005-08-25 03:41pm

If it did actually displace or subsume Hawaii, then the US would certainly have the strongest claim to it, as it would be at least partially within its territorial waters.

gizmojumpjet · Post by **gizmojumpjet** » 2005-08-25 03:48pm

Quadlok wrote:If it did actually displace or subsume Hawaii, then the US would certainly have the strongest claim to it, as it would be at least partially within its territorial waters.

No, this would give us a legitimate claim, at least to that part of the new land that lay within HI's former borders.

It's our big-assed Navy that gives us the strongest claim.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2005-08-25 03:58pm

Yeah, if we wanted to grab it no one could really stop us.

Zor · Post by **Zor** » 2005-08-25 05:47pm

The Chinese and the Russians would most likely gain a part of it as well, though the US would definantly get the biggest Chuck.

Zor

wolveraptor · Post by **wolveraptor** » 2005-08-25 06:10pm

People would try to gain the largest foothold of their population there, and claim that they own it because of that.

Damn Chinese and their population of 1 billion. Of course, in terms of pure speed, whoever's closer to it might get to it first. If the US got there first, it wins. It won't have to smash people with its navy, as it'll have a legitimate claim to the place. If it ends up trying to start a competing colony, I could easily see war over it.

Guardsman Bass · Post by **Guardsman Bass** » 2005-08-25 06:35pm

Just about every major country on the planet would claim a piece on it, with many of them arguing that it should be UN-mandated like Antarctica, but with some countries (probably the US) establishing a military presence in the waters and shoreline of the new Continent until a solution is worked out.

On a sidenote, mplsjocc, in your sig, the "eight-year old" girl looks like she has breasts.

Dooey Jo · Post by **Dooey Jo** » 2005-08-25 07:02pm

I think a huge landmass appearing out of nowhere would be subject to some serious geological research. I hope it would be anyway. I certainly would like to know how a chunk of rock can suddenly appear, and if it can happen under my house...

Perhaps fundies will go there and see it as a promised land, or the second coming or something.

Trogdor · Post by **Trogdor** » 2005-08-25 08:27pm

Well, if there's oil on it, it'll be hottly contested, mostly between the US and China, I'd expect. I think we'd get it, though, given that one of our states used to be there, thus giving us a legitmate claim. It might lead to war if there's enough oil there to actually fight over.

If it's just, you know, a barren island, then...well, it would probably still be contested, but I seriously doubt people would actualy start shooting each other for it.

Guardsman Bass wrote:On a sidenote, mplsjocc, in your sig, the "eight-year old" girl looks like she has breasts.

Looks to me like she's got her hands folded in front of her chest. Even if she did have boobs, you couldn't see 'em.

tharkûn · Post by **tharkûn** » 2005-08-25 10:41pm

Unless there are indigenious peoples the US owns it. Currently the US owns the seafloor under Hawii and that wouldn't change. New land created that extends from pre-existing territory or shelves becomes the land of of the old owner (this does happen in Iceland, Hawi'i, and a few other volcanic hotspots). The USN is more than sufficient to keep out all other settlers, explorers, etc. until a US landclaim is upheld in court. The potential economic windfall in mineral wealth means that the US won't play nice.

Haruko · Post by **Haruko** » 2005-08-25 10:56pm

The U.S. sends its big ass navy there and starts digging in. End of story.

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2005-08-25 11:11pm

Hell, first 24 hours it's there, no need for the Navy-- Eighty-Second Airborne forms up and launches. A few hours later and some in-air refuelings, and the sticks are drifting down to ground. Cue some extreme digging. Then they can sit back and cool their heels while the Marines sail in...

Haruko · Post by **Haruko** » 2005-08-25 11:54pm

Elheru Aran wrote:Hell, first 24 hours it's there, no need for the Navy-- Eighty-Second Airborne forms up and launches. A few hours later and some in-air refuelings, and the sticks are drifting down to ground. Cue some extreme digging. Then they can sit back and cool their heels while the Marines sail in...

That'd do, but there's nothing that would scare the other potential invaders more than a huge navy consisting of more quality aircraft carriers than the whole world over.

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2005-08-26 12:01am

In a situation like this, it's not so much the intimidation, as it is getting there first. Once you've got your citizen's ass planted firmly on that territory, then you can back it up-- but just showing up with the carriers, after gettin' them over there in a few days, won't do much if whoever got there first has enough balls... and we really couldn't just daisy-cutter them, could we?

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2005-08-26 02:45am

China has no sealift capability. They can't invade Taiwan, let alone the central pacific. Russia doesn't have the resources or the inclination, they're too busy colonizing Siberia.

USA all the way. We've got carriers in the West Pacific we can send east, screening asia in the process.

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2005-08-26 02:51am

Where was it where someone talked about the New Land, America, as a place people came to change from the old ways but in the end, it was only a new place to fight over again?

TimothyC · Post by **TimothyC** » 2005-08-26 04:18am

How long would it take to have say 5m resolutioin maps of the new land? I'm asking because that might effect how long it takes for the US to establish a 100% soldi presence on the land mass.

Oh and everyone will need to buy a new atlases, so that might help the economy.

Heck would could this do to global climate as it might mess up the flow of water in the Pacific?

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2005-08-26 05:42am

American gets their first due to having ships/subs/planes in the area. We secure we say glory be to our new landmass. Behold West America! And its proud states of Regan, New New York. Washington PC and New Regan.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2005-08-26 06:28pm

MariusRoi wrote:How long would it take to have say 5m resolutioin maps of the new land? I'm asking because that might effect how long it takes for the US to establish a 100% soldi presence on the land mass.

Oh and everyone will need to buy a new atlases, so that might help the economy.

Heck would could this do to global climate as it might mess up the flow of water in the Pacific?

Redirect satellites, detailed maps in under a week. Global climate wouldn't do a lot, though if its far enough south it could potentially prevent the El Nino water migration from happening alltogether.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-08-26 06:45pm

I think I'd be asking the question of why a whole new landmass just spontaneously appeared out of nowhere like that more than "Who wants dibs on the oil and iron?". If it wasn't a freak change in geology as we know it (how about Washington D.C. suddenly falling into the sea?) then it could be an alien trick.

Maybe someone wants the US to go and stick their flag in it, and not for nice reasons.

It'd be kooky if said chunk of land subsided just as quickly.

Zed Snardbody · Post by **Zed Snardbody** » 2005-08-26 07:14pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:I think I'd be asking the question of why a whole new landmass just spontaneously appeared out of nowhere like that more than "Who wants dibs on the oil and iron?". If it wasn't a freak change in geology as we know it (how about Washington D.C. suddenly falling into the sea?) then it could be an alien trick.

Maybe someone wants the US to go and stick their flag in it, and not for nice reasons.

It'd be kooky if said chunk of land subsided just as quickly.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

You and your paranoia.......

Zero · Post by **Zero** » 2005-08-26 07:18pm

Whether this land had resources such as oil or not, I think it would be fought over, if only because in the future, countries will need a place for their excess citizens to go. The population problem, after all, is getting worse.