Summary
22 June 2009
Greenland has been marking a step towards independence from Denmark, its ruler for 300 years. Ceremonies have been taking place to mark the start of self-rule, approved by voters in a referendum last year.
Reporter:
Sean Fanning
Greenland map
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Queen Margarethe of Denmark and the prime minister made the long trip from Copenhagen to attend the ceremonies in the capital, Nuuk.
(Guns firing)
Cannons were fired out to sea after the raising of Greenland's simple red and white national flag.
Self-rule will mean Greenlanders earn more from the riches lying under their melting ice fields and surrounding ocean, including oil, gas, minerals and precious stones, but the large subsidies provided by Denmark are expected to be reduced.
(PM speaking in Danish)
The newly elected Prime Minister, Jakob Kuupik Kleist, said self-rule was an important achievement for a small community. Greenland, he said, was now accepted as a nation alongside others. The local government will take on responsibility for policing and justice and the Inuit Greenlandic becomes the official language, but Denmark keeps control over defence, foreign and monetary policy.
Sean Fanning, 大象传媒
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Vocabulary
- to attend
to be present at, to take part in
- cannons were fired
when canons or other guns are fired as a military display of honour for a dignitary or on a special occasion, it is called a salute
- self-rule
autonomy - in other words, the ability or right of the citizens of a territory to choose their own government rather than having it imposed from outside (synonym: self-government)
- riches
here, valuable natural resources
- subsidies provided
additional money given (here, by the government to help the territory to survive and function)
- accepted as
looked at and treated as, internationally recognised as, considered to be
- policing and justice
maintaining law and order, i.e. controlling the police and overseeing judges and courts
- keeps control over
still decides upon and regulates
