Greenland's Background

The economy of Greenland critically dependent on exports of fish and substantial support from the Danish goverment, which supplies about half of goverment revenues. the public sector, including publicly-owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy. Several interesting hydrocarbon and mineral exploration activites are ongoing

Fishing (shrimp, salmon, and cod) is the main industry, and dozens of processing plants have been constructed in the south and southwest. Some of the world's largest shrimp beds are in Disko Bay. In the north and east seals, foxes, and polR bears are hunted. Seabirds are hunted for the flesh, eggs, and down. Reindeer are herded and there is extensive sheep breeding in the southern area.

Gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron, and diamonds are mined. Deposits of cryolite, zinc and lead which were important to greenlands mining industry, have been largely worked out. Copper, coal, oil and molybdenum deposits also exist but are difficult to extract. The country is gradually shifting is electricity production from fossil fuel to hydropower.

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with parliamentary demoncractic rule in which citizens periodically choose their representives in free and fair multiparty elections.

The goverment generally respected the human rights of its citizens, and the law and judiciary provided effective means of dealing with individual istances of abuse. Trafflicking in women for prostitution remained a problem, but the goverment took steps to address it.

The villages in Greenland are the smallest dwelling places within municipalities. The population is less than in the towns. Which is usually from under 100 and up to over 600 inhabitants in the towns.