UN Stops UK Oil Exploration in Island Territory - Clear Message by UN

In the Atlantic Ocean, a bit south of the Equator, the half-way point between Africa and South America, lies a remote island called Ascension.

Ascension is a British Territory, a stronghold of the UK, similar to Rockall for resources and politics, primarily.

The UK has held on to Ascension for the mineral and oil rights and has made a bid to the UN for extended oil exploration off the island's coast. The UK is entitled to 200 miles of mineral and oil rights off of its territories, but can extend it to 350 miles under certain circumstances. Indeed, the UK motioned for an extension of these rights off the coast of Ascension.

However, in an unpredictable blow, last week the UN shot down the UK's request for an extension of mineral and oil rights off the coast of Ascension. Though there was no neighboring country's objection to the extension -- such as Argentina's staunch objection in the Falklands -- The UN judged against extending water rights to the UK. In its 21 page judgment against the UK, the UN declared that the continental shelf did not legally extend past territorial waters, a legal requirement necessary to extend water rights. If the continental shelf extended beyond the 200 mile water territory, the UN could have granted the extension. However, the UN made its judgment based on a technicality, the extension of the continental shelf was too narrow.

Ascension is only 57 miles in length with only a bit over a thousand inhabitants. The UK was certain that extending territory rights would be easily obtained due to the remoteness and lack of sovereignty disputes.

The UK foreign office has remained mum on the judgment but did confirm the UN's ruling. The UK has also vowed to appeal.

Argentina appears to be satisfied with the UN's decision on Ascension as it strongly opposes UK's oil grab off the shores of the Falkland Islands, off Argentina's coast in South America. Former Argentina deputy foreign minister Andres Cisneros commented on the matter to the Buenos Aires Herald, "The fact that the United Nations has rejected the Ascension bid on technical grounds feeds the presumption that Britain isn't doing a good job and this could affect the seriousness of its claims in other territories in the world ..."

Indeed several political sources confirm that the UK is losing its moral authority in the world in recent years resulting from abuses in its Overseas Territories, such as drilling in Antarctica, using unnecessary government power in the Turks and Caicos as well colonial abuses in Africa.