Circumpolar Newsings
Ottawa nixes relocation for flood-prone Kashechewan
(CBC News, 30 July 2007) -- Relocation is not in the cards for the flood-ravaged residents of the Kashechewan native reserve. Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice signed a $200-million deal Monday with Kashechewan Chief Jonathon Solomon that includes a commitment from the Conservative government to rebuild and redevelop the low-lying reserve. But the agreement stops short of promising the northern Ontario community a move to a new village on higher ground. "It is an agreement that respects the desire expressed by the Kashechewan residents to keep the community in its present location," Prentice said at a press conference in Ottawa. "The process will be a collaborative and holistic approach to the issues and challenges that have faced the Kashechewan community." The Conservative government's "multi-faceted, strategic" plan would provide funding to develop skills development, reserve housing, public safety, school and community services.
Posted 30 July 2007; 2:55:06 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Canada, Circumpolar News, Communities, Indigenous Issues, North America, Provinces / Canada
NATO to supervise Icelandic airspace
(Iceland Review News, 30 July 2007) -- NATO’s North Atlantic Council (NAC) decided on Thursday to begin regular supervision of Icelandic airspace, which would involve NATO air forces coming to Iceland at least every four months for supervision and exercises. Following Thursday’s agreement, NATO member nations will be approached to see whether they are interested in sending military jets to Iceland. According to Bladid, some member nations have already expressed their interest. The nations in question would probably cover the cost of such operations themselves, but Iceland would pay for technical assistance, required facilities and accommodation for the pilots at the Keflavík airport security zone. “I think this is happening in the wrong order. First we should have discussed these issues here in Iceland, created a policy and defined our needs instead of deciding in advance that it is in our benefit to have military exercises in this country,” leader of the Left Greens (Vinstri graenir) Steingrímur J. Sigfússon told Fréttabladid. “I haven’t seen any arguments saying it will change anything for Iceland to have military jets from other countries coming here four times a year to play around. I think this is pretension,” Sigfússon concluded. “With [the agreement with NATO] we’ll have acceptable air defense. But we still have to go through a general estimation of our needs for defense, not only in a military sense, but also regarding preparation for environmental disasters, infectious diseases and international crime,” said Foreign Minister Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir.
Posted 30 July 2007; 2:31:36 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Circumpolar Issues, Circumpolar News, Iceland, International, North Atlantic
Innu insulted over incident at Labrador hotel
(CBC News, 30 July 2007) -- The Innu Nation wants its members to boycott a hotel in central Labrador, over an incident that the hotel owner says was a misunderstanding. Joseph Mark and John Abraham, who live in Sheshatshiu, say they were shocked when a co-owner of the Hamilton Hotel in nearby Happy Valley-Goose Bay asked them to leave the premises earlier this month. Mark and Abraham were waiting outside the hotel for it open, so they could attend an SNC Lavalin training program about the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project. "I saw this car but I didn't know who the manager was. [She] got out of the car and walked towards us and [said], 'You're not supposed to be here in the outside of the hotel," Abraham said. The men told the manager they had come for a training program and she said that she would look into it. They were left waiting outside. Another man, Edmund Benuen, was also asked to leave when he entered the hotel and went looking for the training session. "When I was standing on the stairs … the lady came at the stairs [and] told me that you guys [are] not allowed to hang around here in the lobby,' " Benuen said. "It's not supposed to happen like that." Abraham said he was left shaken by the incident. "I feel terrible and talked to my friend about that, and we talked to each other, and I told him that [it] must be racism," he said. "That's what he thinks, too."
Posted 30 July 2007; 2:29:55 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Canada, Communities, Indigenous Issues, North America, Provinces / Canada, Social Issues
Russians to dive below North Pole August 1-2
(RIA Novosti, 30 July 2007) -- Russian researchers plan to dive 4,200 meters (14,000 feet) in two mini-submarines to explore the ocean floor below the North Pole August 1-2 and back the country's claim to Arctic, a research institute spokesman said Monday. "This is a serious, risky operation," Sergei Balyasnikov, press spokesman for the St. Petersburg-based Arctic Research Institute, said. "It is an extremely important act for Russia, which will demonstrate our capabilities in the Arctic. It is like hoisting a flag on the Moon." Russia claims a vast maritime territory stretching from its New Siberian Islands, between the Laptev and East Siberian Seas, up to the North Pole, which is believed to contain mineral resources. The claim has been challenged by other countries. But Balyashnikov said "a one-time dive would not naturally prove anything," and "continuous, regular work is needed" to substantiate the territorial claim. Researchers will also take soil and fauna samples on the ocean bed and will leave a Russian flag in a capsule. Russia has to prove the structure of the continental shelf is geologically similar to its territory. Moscow has said the underwater Lomonosov Ridge is an extension of its continental territory. The UN has yet to rule on the claim. The area around the Pole is currently an international territory administered by the International Seabed Authority. Russian Veteran explorer Artur Chilingarov will take part in the first ever dive below the North Pole. The Akademik Fyodorov research vessel, carrying Mir 1 and Mir 2 mini-submarines, is heading for the Nansen-Gakkel and the Lomonosov Ridges, where the dive will take place, following the trail of the icebreaker Rossiya. The ship left Murmansk, on the Barents Sea, July 24. ... As a second phase of the Akademik Fyodorov's expedition, a new floating polar station with equipment to monitor climate changes in the region will be set up and opened in mid-September.
Posted 30 July 2007; 2:26:42 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Arctic Ocean, Circumpolar News, Expeditions, exploration, and field trips, International, Russia
(Iceland News via Iceland Review, 30 July 2007) -- Iceland’s Minister of Transport Kristján Möller announced over the weekend that the government had decided not to construct a tunnel connecting the Westman Islands, off Iceland’s southern coast, with the mainland. Möller told reporters the government would focus on other ways to improve transport to the islands instead, as Bladid reports. The minister said an agreement had been reached with sea transportation company Eimskip on Friday, which operates the Westman Island ferry Herjólfur, on 15 additional trips every year until the agreement with Eimskip expires in 2010. The engineering service Sigurdur Thoroddsen hf. (VTS) submitted a cost estimate of a tunnel to the Westman Islands last week. According to the estimate, the tunnel construction would be risky and cost between ISK 50 and 80 billion (USD 833 million and 1.3 billion, EUR 605 million and 969 million), which the government concluded would be too expensive.
Posted 30 July 2007; 2:02:27 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Circumpolar News, Communities, Economic and Commerce Issues, Iceland, North Atlantic
Cleanup starts on N.W.T.'s Port Radium
(CBC News, 30 July 2007) -- A major cleanup effort at Port Radium, one of the North's most notorious mines, is underway on the shores of Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories. The federal government is paying close to $7 million for a second cleanup of the defunct uranium mine, raising the site to modern standards. People in Déline, the nearest community, have lobbied Ottawa to do a better job at the mine since 1982, when it was cleaned up according to the standards of the day. Residents pointed to 12 hectares of uranium and silver tailings from the mine, as well as broken-down fences and open mine shafts. "So we're going back in and addressing the fences," Julie Ward, a project manager with the federal government, told CBC News. "And then some of the few remaining buildings that were left on site, we will demolish those, closing all the openings to the underground." Port Radium produced uranium, pitchblende and silver between 1930 and 1982. It is located about 440 kilometres north of Yellowknife and 265 kilometres east of Déline.
Posted 30 July 2007; 1:54:44 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Canada, Circumpolar News, Conservation and Wildlife, Contaminants and Pollution, Expeditions, exploration, and field trips, NWT / Canada, Transportation, Infrastructure and Construction
The Hill Times: Call for articles for August issue, Policy Briefing on Canada's North
(Polar Access, 30 July 2007) -- The Hill Times is publishing a policy briefing on Canada's North on August 20, and they are interested in having researchers submit an article on topics like sovereignty, natural resources, defence, climate change or economic issues. The deadline is August 17. The notice received at CCI was sent via SSHRCC, who advise "We are involved simply to promote visibility of social sciences and humanities research and expertise. We would have no involvement in the content, of course, but would appreciate credit to SSHRC-funded research if applicable. (This could be simply at the end of the article in italics, e.g. Dr. XX is the director of XX. His/her research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.)' The word limit is 750-850 words, and the article could be submitted via Eva at SSHRCC (see address below) or directly to bvongdou@hilltimes.com For more information: Eva Schacherl, téléphone/telephone: (613) 992-7302; télécopieur/fax: (613) 992-2803 eva.schacherl@sshrc.ca or eva.schacherl@crsh.ca. For background, see the link to Hill Times policy briefings: http://www.hilltimes.com/policy_briefings/index.php Once on the page, you must select the year you are looking for. [Under 2006, you will find an issue on Canada's North (published in October)].
Posted 30 July 2007; 1:52:49 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Canada, Circumpolar News, Research / Reports
(Euroarctic.org, 30 July 2007) -- There is a lack of wooden materials in the region of Norrbotten. This has to do with the fact that many people take time to do carpentry work at home. During the summer people in Sweden find time to do some carpentry work at home. It can be something they need to repair or something new they want to build. Because of this there is a lack of wooden materials in the region of Norrbotten. Angsagen, a company in Luleå, has had their best summer sale on wooden materials since 1970. They think it has to do with the weather which has been a good weather for carpentry work. One of the reasons for the big sale can be the TV shows that let people know more about the building procedure and give ideas on what a Swede can do during their holiday. Most of the Swedes take four weeks vacation during the summer period.
Posted 30 July 2007; 1:43:24 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Circumpolar News, Communities, Economic and Commerce Issues, Nordic Region, Resource Issues, Sweden
LU geologist part of 5-member expedition to the Arctic
(The Indian Express via Yahoo! News India, 31 July 2007) -- Dr Dhruv Sen Singh of the Lucknow University has been selected for the first Arctic Expedition team. The team consists of four other scientists—two from Goa and one each from Pune and Hyderabad. The expedition will leave for the Arctic region on August 4 from Mumbai and is expected to return on September 8. "It is a matter of great pleasure for me as it's an almost historic moment of achievement. It's really an honour to get selected for the Arctic Expedition," said Dr Singh, who is a reader with the LU's Geology department. Dr Singh is also thrilled because he will be celebrating Independence Day at the highest latitude on Earth. "The Tiranga will be hoisted at the highest latitude in the Arctic region. I am very excited," said Dr Singh. An Indian delegation of 12 scientists has already been to Antarctica in 1981. Dr Singh said the Arctic region bears extensive glaciers, which not only produce a wide range of landforms, but also contribute to global sea-level fluctuations. "The Greenland ice sheet is the largest ice mass in the Arctic and if it all melts, it would raise the sea level globally by six or seven mt," he added. Dr Singh and the other scientists will be staying on Svalbard, an archipelago located about midway between Norway and the North Pole in the Arctic region. "It comprises all islands between 74°-81° N latitude and 10°-35° E longitude as well as the sea inside a territorial boundary that stretches for four nautical miles from land," said Dr Singh. "Svalbard consists of Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet, Barentsøya, Edgeøya, Kong Karls Land, Prins Karls Forland and the Bjornøya Island (Bear Island). Glaciers cover about 60 per cent of Svalbard, with many outlet glaciers terminating into the sea. A significant number of glaciers in Svalbard are 'surging-type glaciers'," added Dr Singh.
Posted 30 July 2007; 1:31:47 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Barents Euro-Arctic Region, Circumpolar News, Greenland / Denmark, International, Nordic Region, Norway, Research / Reports
Feature: Chicken bones change history 
(Cato Guhnfeldt/Aftenposten and Julie Ryland/Norway Post translator via Norway Post, 29 July 2007) -- Christopher Columbus came to America in 1492, long after the first chickens came to Chile according to the new evidence. The chicken bones that were found are the remains from chickens living between 1304 and 1424, which suggests that there must have been a maritime route from Polynesia to Chile, as Heyerdahl stated after his journey with the Kon Tiki raft in 1947. The trade route may have made it possible for the Polynesians to sail to America in canoes, or for the Americans to sail to Polynesia. Somehow the chickens made their way across and settled on American land. A team of researchers from Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Australia and Samoa found the bones by El Arenal on Arauco, just south of central Chile. The remains were found together with pieces of ceramic dated earlier than the 1300s, which indicates that the chickens might have been introduced in America even earlier. Sweet potatoes are also part of the evidence. Heyerdahl claimed to have found sweet potatoes on the Easter Island prior to when any European had ever seen the popular American vegetable. So did Alice Storey, an anthropologist from New Zealand. The finds imply that it must have been possible to transport both potatoes and chickens by boat between America and Polynesia, and that they communicated with each other. The discovery not only requires historians to rewrite a small part of world history, it also shows that Heyerdal and probably was right. "It’s very exciting," says Maja Bugge, manager at the Kon Tiki museum in Oslo to Aftenposten. She says it supports Thor Heyerdahl’s theory of navigation and oceanic trade routes between South America and Polynesia. "There are serious researchers behind this discovery." According to Bugge they will soon be invited to Oslo to present their findings.
Posted 30 July 2007; 1:14:21 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Circumpolar News, International, Research / Reports
Global warming threatens Pacific Northwest coast
(National Wildlife Federation press release via ScienceDaily, 30 July 2007) -- Puget Sound, home to already-imperiled salmon, orcas and shorebirds, could be further jeopardized by rising sea-levels brought on by global warming, according to a new report from the National Wildlife Federation. "Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Habitats in the Pacific Northwest" takes an unprecedented look at global warming's profound impact on the coastal habitats of Washington and Oregon. ... Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Habitats in the Pacific Northwest is available at: http://www.nwf.org/sealevelrise
Posted 30 July 2007; 1:10:12 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Alaska / US, Canada, Circumpolar News, International, Provinces / Canada
Ancient Sami village unearthed in Norway
(Rolleiv Solholm/NRK via The Norway Post, 28 July 2007) -- Archaeologists have uncovered what they believe to be the remnants of a large 2000-year old Sami town near Tana on the border between Finland and Norway. So far, more than 50 foundations, mostly of turf huts, have been located on the site, which is located on both sides of Highway E-6. Archaeologist Jørn Henriksen of the University in Tromsø says the find is unique, and believes more discoveries are waiting to be uncovered. More than 300 cultural artifacts have been found, and the oldest is a stone axe, which dates back to around 3000 BC. In addition to the foundations, they have also found traces of deep ditches used to trap wild reindeer. They have earlier found the remnants of a hollowed-out river boat. The settlement was ideally placed, near the river full of fish, and close to the highland plateau where the reindeer roamed.
Posted 30 July 2007; 1:07:40 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Circumpolar History, Circumpolar News, Cultural Matters, Expeditions, exploration, and field trips, Finland, Nordic Region, Norway, Research / Reports
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