Circumpolar Musings: Siberia

Reindeer capacity of pastures will be calculated in Yamal

Amanda Graham — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:27:10 GMT

(Sever-Press via Yamal.org, 6 March 2013) -- This year the Department of Agro-industrial Complex, Trade and Provision of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug plans to undertake scientific and research work "Elaboration of the methodology for calculation of reindeer capacity of pastures on the territory of the region". The director of the department, Vyacheslav Kucherenko, explained the project to the conference of Yamal Union of Reindeer Herders, and said the methodology is intended to yield information for substantiating and taking administrative decisions on planning economic and nature-protecting activities and also use for practical aims by economic subjects. By his words, intensive industrial development of Yamal brings to decrease in territories of pastures. At the same time, number of domestic reindeer in the territory of Yamalskiy and Tazovskiy districts stays on the high level, which brings to more intensive use of reindeer pastures. Thus, it is necessary to elaborate the methodology and to calculate reindeer capacity of pastures on the territory of the region.

Boy discovers well-preserved mammoth

Amanda Graham — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 19:42:41 GMT

(IOL SciTech, 5 October 2012) -- Moscow - A boy living in Russia's remote north has found the well-preserved remains of a 30,000-year-old adult mammoth, according to media reports on Thursday. The discovery was made near a weather station in the eastern Taimyr region, some 3,000 kilometres north-east of Moscow. News reports identified the boy as Yevgeny Salinder, son of a couple working at the Sopkarga polar weather station. Salinder reportedly discovered the animal during a walk. News reports said the remains were that of a male mammoth aged 15 or 16 years, and that its skin, meat, fat hump and organs were extremely well-preserved. According to the Pravda.ru news website, the last time mammoth remains of such quality were discovered in Russia was in 1901. Scientists used axes, picks and a steam-blaster to melt the permafrost in an extraction operation lasting a week, the report said. The mammoth probably died in the summer because it lacked an undercoat and had a large reserve of fat, the report quoted Aleksei Tikhonov, deputy director of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as saying.

14 apartment buildings for the settlers from the Yamal under construction in Tyumen district

Amanda Graham — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:17:06 GMT

(IA Regnum News, 31 December 2011) -- As of 31 December 2011, more than 48.5 thousand residents of the Yamal, more than half of them senior citizens, have expressed their desire to travel outside the autonomous regions, according to the press service of the governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. The rehousing program has been funded in part by the federal targeted program "Housing" and by the regional target program "Cooperation." However, the funds are clearly insufficient. The numbers of people wanting to move from the Far North is much greater. Therefore, beginning in 2012 funds will be sent to the county annually. Currently, work is underway in the Tuymen district on 14 blocks of flats to house more than 2.5 thousand "yamaltsev," who have decided to leave the Far North.

Khanty-Mansiysk adopts city 2020 development strategy

Amanda Graham — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:01:39 GMT

(IA Regnum, 31 December 2011) -- Duma of Khanty-Mansiysk approved "Strategy of socio-economic development of the Khanty-Mansiysk 2020." The strategy's 329 pages containing 9 main analytical chapters and 7 annexes, according to the press service of the Administration of Khanty-Mansiysk. Sections of the strategy include an assessment of the existing state of the city's economy, demographics, workforce, quality of life of the population of the Khanty-Mansiysk, financial and public sector, the market of consumer services, the city's infrastructure, manufacturing, state of the environment, public safety and give a forecast for each aspect. The strategy provides a comparative analysis of competitive advantages and disadvantages of the municipality in relation to other areas of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra, describes problems, and gives an assessment of existing capacity and competitiveness of the economy of the city. It also contains a section that provides an assessment of current measures of municipal authorities to improve the socio-economic status of the population of the city, as well as evaluation of the implementation on the territory of the federal, regional, municipal and industrial programs of social and economic development. The strategy contains a number of scenarios (options) for development: Inertia, Innovation, and Intermediate (moderately optimistic). The document also reflects the long-term priorities and goals for their implementation in the chosen scenario. The final section devoted to a detailed description of the mechanisms for implementing the strategy. The development strategy of the Khanty-Mansiysk is linked to a number of strategic policy documents of the regional and federal level: the concept of long-term socio-economic development of the Russian Federation to 2020, the concept of socio-economic development of regions of the Russian Federation, as well as of socio-economic development of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Region in 2020 and plan for development and distribution of productive forces Ugra for 2006-2015. and 2020. The main instruments for implementing the strategy at the municipal level will be operating in the program of socio-economic development of the Khanty-Mansiysk. Note the capital of Yugra in the city today there are 34 programs.

Gazprom extends Arctic railway

Amanda Graham — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 06:20:53 GMT

(Barents Observer, 4 November 2011) -- The world's northernmost railway line will be taken further. The line, which was built by Gazprom as supply line to the huge Bovanenkovo gas field, will be taken further north to Kharasevey, regional Governor Dmitry Kobylkin confirms to journalists. Regional authorities and Gazprom have already agreed about formalities with the project, Oilru.com reports. As previously reported, the Bovanenkovo railway was officially opened early 2011. The 572-km-long connection ends up in the station of Obskaya, where it joins ends with the national Russian railway grid. The gas-rich Yamal Peninsula is top priority for Gazprom, which is now investing big sums in regional field development. The 4.9 trillion cubic meter Bovanenkovo field is due to come into production in 2012, after which several more regional fields are in line. Among them is the Kharasaveyskoye, another huge field, located not far north of the Bovanenkovo. Unlike other Russian railway lines, the Obskaya-Bovanenkovo line is owned by Gazprom. As previously reported, the Russian Railways have been invited to take over the line, but has shown little interest. In addition to railway and field development in Yamal, Gazprom is also investing in the laying of the Bovanenkovo-Ukhta gas pipeline.

Reindeer herder finds baby mammoth in Russia Arctic

Amanda Graham — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:09:02 GMT

(Alissa de Carbonnel/Reuters, 19 August 2011) - A reindeer herder in Russia's Arctic has stumbled on the pre-historic remains of a baby woolly mammoth poking out of the permafrost, local officials said on Friday. The herder said the carcass was as perfectly preserved as the 40,000-year-old mammoth calf Lyuba discovered in the same remote region four years ago, authorities said, adding that an expedition had set off hoping to confirm the "sensational" find. "If it is true what is said about how it is preserved, this will be another sensation of global significance," expedition leader Natalia Fyodorova said in a statement on the Arctic Yamalo-Nenetsk region's official website. Scientists planned to fly the mammoth's remains to the regional capital Salekhard, where it would be stored in a cooler to prevent the remains from decomposing. Giant woolly mammoths have been extinct since the Earth's last Ice Age 1.8 million to around 11,500 years ago. Scientists worldwide were stunned by the discovery of Lyuba, named after the wife of the hunter who discovered her. Arctic ice kept the extinct specimen so immaculately preserved that although her shaggy coat was gone, her skin and internal organs were intact.

33,000-year-old dog skull unearthed in Siberia

Amanda Graham — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:04:38 GMT

(Stone Pages ArchaeoNews, 4 August 2011) -- A very well-preserved 33,000 year old canine skull from a cave in the Siberian Altai mountains shows some of the earliest evidence of dog domestication ever found. But the specimen raises doubts about early man's loyalty to his new best friend as times got tough. The skull, from shortly before the peak of the last ice age, is unlike those of modern dogs or wolves. The archaeologists have detected that while its snout is similar in size to that of Greenland dogs found 1,000 years ago, it has teeth that would have resembled wild European wolves. This indicates a dog in the very early stages of domestication, says evolutionary biologist Dr Susan Crockford, one of the authors on the study. "The wolves were not deliberately domesticated, the process of making a wolf into a dog was a natural process," explained Dr Crockford of Pacific Identifications, Canada. But for this to happen required settled early human populations: "At this time, people were hunting animals in large numbers and leaving large piles of bones behind, and that was attracting the wolves," she said. The most curious, least fearful wolves tended to have more juvenile characteristics with shorter, wider snouts and smaller, more crowded teeth, features that, over generations, came to define the domesticated dog. These early dogs would have been useful to people in cleaning up scraps and fending off other predators, but over the last 10,000 years, they became key members of the team, believes Oxford University archaeologist Professor Thomas Higham, a co-author on the study. "Hunters with dogs are much better than sole hunters," he said. Intriguingly though, this much older early Siberian dog seems to have hit an evolutionary dead end. While people continued to occupy the Altai through the depths of the last ice age, they seem to have done so without their dogs, perhaps as food became more scarce. "What the ice age did was to cause people to move around more," said Dr Crockford, halting the process of domestication and setting wolves and people back into competition for perhaps 20,000 years. It also meant the competition for food between the wolves and humans continued.

"NOVATEK" and the government of Yamal agreed about construction of the port Sabetta

Amanda Graham — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 18:57:56 GMT

(Yamal News, 13 April 2011) -- The modern multifunctional port Sabetta will be built on Yamal peninsula. This information was given by the first deputy governor of Yamal Vladimir Vladimirov in the course of the working trip to the settlement Seyakha (Yamalskiy district). By the information given in the press-service of the governor of Yamal, Vladimir Vladimirov conducted the conference with the head of Yamalskiy district Andrey Nesterouk, the head of the settlement Seyakha Igor Okotetto and the deputy chairperson of the administration of "NOVATEK" Yevgeniy Kot. The sides discussed questions of assistance to building of the port Sabetta on Yamal peninsula. The necessity of this building is stipulated with a decision not to bring shipment of liquefied gas farther to the north of the peninsula but to tie it to extractive fields. For realization of this project "NOVATEK" and the government of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug are to conduct bottom dredging on the waterway of Ob Estuary. The port Sabetta can become the key link in the scheme of transportation of not only liquefied gas from Yamal, but also products of fish and venison processing. By the words of Vladimir Vladimirov, if it will be possible to come out to the world level, without doubts, cargoes from Seyakha and Sabetta will go both to Europe and Asia.

Tinned goods of Yamal venison are recognized as the best product of this year

Amanda Graham — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:39:29 GMT

(Sever-Press, 3 March 2011) -- By the results of the food exhibition "ProdExpo 2011", which took place in Moscow, tinned products of reindeer meat won golden medals in the category "The Best Product of 2011". This information was given to IA "Sever-Press" in the press service of the head of the region. "Yamal stewed venison" and "Yamal paté" were made by the order of Yamalgossnab (the procurement agency) at Troitsk tinned food factory (Chelyabinsk). In addition, the row of contracts to deliver products of reindeer herding and fishing manufactured by Yamal producers to other regions of Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg) and to the Czech Republic were concluded on the exhibition.

Arctic railway launched

Amanda Graham — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 05:18:26 GMT

(BarentsObserver, 3 March 2011) -- The new railway line connecting the Yamal Peninsula with the rest of the Russian railway grid is declared open to regular traffic. Regular operation of the 572-km long railroad to its terminal point – the Karskaya station – was launched in February 15. The line connects major regional installations like the Bovanenkovo gas field with national key infrastructure. The Obskaya-Bovanenkovo railway line will enable Gazprom to easily ship huge quantities of goods and construction materials to its field development sites in Yamal. "The opening of this railway will facilitate all-year-round, quick, cost efficient and not-weather-dependent transport of goods and personnel to the fields in Yamal under the harsh Arctic conditions," a press release from Gazprom reads. Unline other Russian railway lines, the Obskaya-Bovanenkovo line is owned by Gazprom. As previously reported, the Russian Railways have been invited to take over the line, but has shown little interest. In addition to railway and field development in Yamal, Gazprom is also investing in the laying of the Bovanenkovo-Ukhta gas pipeline.

Crew commander killed, 15 passengers injured in copter crash in Russian Arctic

Amanda Graham — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 09:32:12 GMT

(RIA Novosti, 19 December 2010) -- A Mil Mi-8 helicopter crashed on the Russian Arctic island of Yamal on Sunday, killing the crew commander and injuring 15 passengers, a spokesman for Russian Aviation Committee (Rosaviatsia) said. There were 15 passengers and three crewmembers aboard the helicopter. "The passengers received injuries of various degree of gravity while the crew commander was killed," the spokesman said, adding that the fate of the other two crewmembers was unknown. The Mi-8 helicopter owned by Yamal Airline was delivering geologists from the town of Labytnanga to the Bovanenkovo hydrocarbon field, which Russian energy giant Gazprom is developing, the spokesman said. The helicopter was landing in the conditions of polar night and was destroyed after hitting the ground. Another helicopter of Yamal Airline has flown to the site of the incident to evacuate people injured in the crash, the spokesman said.

Russia to export halal reindeer meat to Qatar

Amanda Graham — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:20:14 GMT

(Trude Pettersen/BarentsObserver, 21 December 2010) -- The Russian Arctic region of Yamalo-Nenets could become a new supplier of halal meat to Muslims in Qatar. When Governor Dmitry Kobylkin of Yamalo-Nenets, where most of Russia's gas is produced, was in Qatar for investment talks last month, he made an agreement with the Qatari leadership to start production of halal reindeer meat, Reuters reports. Upon return to Yamal, home to 700,000 reindeer and 500,000 people, Kobylkin had the state-owned Yamal Reindeer Company arrange for ritual Islamic slaughter and the trial production of 1,000 cans of halal reindeer meat. This week Qatari officials will get their first taste of reindeer at a Russia-Qatar investment forum in Doha where Kobylkin's deputy will present the Reindeer Company’s business plan to expand into halal meat production and product exports. Reindeer herding and meat production is Yamalo-Nenets’ No 3 industry after oil and gas. Yamal produces 85 percent of Russia's gas and 15 percent of its oil. The state-owned Yamal Reindeer Company received EU certification to export in 2006. Also among Russia’s Muslim community there is a large demand for halal products and the Yamal Reindeer Company hopes to be able to market halal canned reindeer within Russia.

Norilsk Nickel plans $20 billion program to boost Arctic output

Amanda Graham — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 21:52:17 GMT

(Ilya Khrennikov/Bloomberg, 18 October 2010) -- OAO GMK Norilsk Nickel’s polar division, the mining company’s biggest earner in the past decade, will spend $20 billion by 2030 to stop production from falling, according to its head Evgeny Muravyov. The division must invest in new projects to counter dwindling output as the ore it mines yields less metal, Muravyov said in an interview in Norilsk, a town north of Siberia where the unit is based. The division must raise ore output by about 3 percent a year to keep nickel production flat, he said. The polar business has accounted for as much as 80 percent of Norilsk Nickel’s profit since the company’s sale by the state in 1997, and fueled its expansion abroad. Its metallurgical complex north of the Arctic Circle has mined more than $200 billion of nickel, copper, palladium and platinum -- based on current prices -- since 1935, when prisoners of Josef Stalin’s labor camps began production there. At stake is the productivity a company that supplies 22 percent of the world’s nickel, a silvery metal used in stainless steel and batteries, and 40 percent of the world’s palladium, used in jewelry and pollution-control equipment for vehicles. “We still have reserves sufficient for at least 80 years and can mine another $200 billion of metals and hopefully more, as the share of more expensive platinum-group metals in our production is set to increase in 20 years,” Muravyov said.

Siberian crane gets international support: UN

Amanda Graham — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:18:01 GMT

(RedOrbit, 24 February 2010) -- The United Nations reported on Wednesday that several countries, including Russia, Iran and China, are working together to bring back the Siberian Crane form the brink of extinction. The pure white, 55-inch tall crane is considered to be critically endangered with a population of less than 3,500 individuals left. But, with the help of the international community, “the future of the Siberian crane is looking brighter,” said Claire Mirande, director of the Siberian Crane Wetland Project. The large crane is migratory and flies 3,100 miles every year from its breeding habitat in northern Siberia to Iran and southern China. Many wetland regions along its migration route are being drained for farming. The project to save the bird is being supported by the Global Environment Facility and being implemented by the International Crane Foundation through the UN Environment Program. This is the first project of its kind to take on a ‘flyway’ approach to secure the future of the species. Flyways are flight paths that birds use for the annual migration from breeding grounds to wintering areas. Many times these flyways span oceans and continents.

Preparing for exploration off Yamal

Amanda Graham — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:03:11 GMT

(BarentsObserver, 19 February 2010) -- A Russian government service is to evaluate a report on the exploration of the shelf west of the Yamal Peninsula. The Russian Service on Ecological, Technological and Nuclear control is to conduct a state evaluation of materials on the mapping of the waters west of the Yamal Peninsula, the government body informs on its website. The waters outside Yamal are along with the Kara Sea believed to contain major amounts of hydrocarbons, and first of all natural gas. Gazprom is currently in the process of developing land-based fields in the Yamal Peninsula. Those fields, among them the huge Bovanenkovo field, could pave the way also for offshore developments. It is Gazprom which has the licenses to the fields in the area. The Ministry of Natural Resources will, in the course of February, publish a report on the development of the Russian shelf, RIA Novosti reports.

Oil pipe exploded in Yamal tundra

Amanda Graham — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:17:49 GMT

(BarentsObserver.com, 9 December 2009) -- Oil spill covered 100 square meters of land after an explosion in an oil-gathering line in the Yamalo-Nenets Okrug last week. According to the local Emergency Management Service, the accident was probably caused by metal fatigue, Uralinform.ru writes. A fire broke out, but was reported to have been put out quickly. No people were harmed in the accident and there was no danger of fire spreading. The pipe belongs to the company Rosneft-Purneftegaz.

Oil lifts Nenets economy

Amanda Graham — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:53:22 GMT

(Barents Observer, 16 November 2009) -- Industrial production in the far northern Nenets Autonomous Okrug increased 38.5 percent year-on-year in the first six months of 2009, the latest Barents Monitoring report confirms. That, however, is all thanks to Lukoil’s new Yuzhno-Khilchuyu oil field. The report, which is written by the Norwegian Barents Secretariat’s regional office in the Nenets AO, shows a positive dynamics in regional industrial production. However, other parts of the economy struggle with serious problems. The report shows that the oil-rich region with a population of only 42,300 in the first half of the year had an industrial production growth of 38.5 percent. A major increase in oil production was what made the positive trend. Oil production, including natural gas condensate, increased by more than 35 percent to a total of 9.08 million tons. Also electric power generation increased significantly in the region, with 28.5 percent year-on-year growth to a total of 475.2 million KWH. At the same time, the construction industry in the region showed a serious drop. The volume of work in the regional construction declined by as much as 52.9 percent compared to the same period in 2008. Housing construction dropped by 68.4 percent compared 2008. A total of 127 flats, or 6,300 square meters, was built in January-June 2009. Also investments dropped significantly in the region. According to the report, a total of 19.69 billion rubles were invested in the period, which is a 57.3 percent drop compared with the same period of 2008. The Nenets Autonomous Okrug still remains one regions with the highest salaries in Russia. The average accrued salary in the region was 42,566 rubles, which is up by 8.9% compared to the same period of 2008.

Yamal plans may overrun Arctic tribe

Amanda Graham — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:24:41 GMT

(UpstreamOnline, 6 October 2009)** -- The Nenets tribespeople of Russia's frozen Yamal peninsula have survived the age of the Tsars, the Bolshevik revolution and the chaotic 1990s, but now confront their biggest challenge—under their fur-bundled feet is enough gas to heat the world for five years. "For them it is fortune, for us terror," said 20-year-old herder Andrei Yezgini, dressed from head to toe in reindeer skin, referring to ambitious plans by state gas monopoly Gazprom to drill the region. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has described Yamal as "the world's storehouse" of gas and oil. Putin jetted into the sparsely populated region within the Arctic circle, 2000 kilometres (1250 miles) north-east of Moscow, in late September to woo foreign partners to develop a quarter of the world's known gas reserves. Experts and the Nenets say industry will damage and pollute the tundra, whose flat marshy terrain switches from marigold russets in summer to thick winter snow and is peppered with disc-like thermokarst lakes and crystal blue waterways. Nenets migrate north to south over 150 kilometres every year, spending only a few days in one place, living off reindeer and fish and lugging their "chums," or tents, kerosene lamps and wood-fired stoves on reindeer-pulled sleighs. "The fact they've found deposits here is catastrophic," said Slava Vanuito, 34.

Khanty-Mansiy AO delegation visits Orkneys

Amanda Graham — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:54:27 GMT

(Khanty-Mansi AO press service, 26 August 2009) -- The official delegation of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug returned from Scotland. It had been invited by the Board of the Orkney Islands. Governor of Ugra Alexander Filipenko tasked Chair of the Regional Duma Vasili Sondykov to be the head of the delegation. The other members of the delegation are Deputy Chairman of the Government for information policy Oleg Goncharov and First Vice-President of the Khanty-Mansiysk Bank Alexander Smirnov. The members of the delegation participated in the ceremony of unveiling the Memorial for Russian-British Arctic Convoy to be located on one of the Orkney Islands where the fleet of the anti-Hitler coalition states had been located. About 300 participants of the ceremony were welcomed by Vasili Sondykov, Lord-Lieutenant, Consul General of Russia Sergei Krutikov. In his welcoming speech Chair of the Regional Duma expressed gratitude to people of the Islands for courage and Arctic Convoy for help, rendered to the Soviet Union while World War II. While the visit the members of the Ugra delegation held several working meetings with the Chair of the Board of the Orkney Islands Steven Hagan, representative of the Scottish Parliament Richard Gibson, leaders of structures which are in charge of development of tourism, education, transport, power engineering. They discussed issues of organizing the cooperation in education, use of renewable sources of energy, supplies of high-quality food, seafood and etc. The topic of the development of “mutual tourism” between Ugra and the territory of Northern Scotland was of special interest. The interlocutors exchanged proposals which after the thorough study will possibly turn into documents to develop mutually beneficial cooperation of two northern regions.

Nenets shaman Ivan Yadne is a candidate for the title of the Supreme shaman of Russia

Amanda Graham — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:20:33 GMT

(Sever Press IA, 23 April 2009) -- The election of the Supreme shaman of the country will take place in Russia. There are 188 candidates entering the common register of active shamans of Russia in the preliminary list of candidates. By the information given to a correspondent of IA "Sever-Press" by specialists of the magazine "Shamanstvo" (Shamanism), which is one of the organizers of the contest, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug will be presented by the hereditary Nenets shaman, a narrator and a master of martial Nenets art Ivan Yadne. Ivan Yadne was born in 1955 in Nadym district. His grandfather and father were shamans, and senior brothers of his father are keepers of the sacral tradition. In 1990 he graduated from Leningrad state pedagogical institute, the faculty of physical culture and sports. From 1990 to 1994 he worked as a teacher of military training and a course of valeology in a boarding-school. At that time he wrote his first book "Essays of physical culture of Nenets people". Soon Ivan Yadne left the town for the settlement Nyda. He conducts exclusively healthy way of life, gives much time to sports trainings and shaman meditations. His shaman name is Sar Noom Tou, what means "White lightning". Ivan Yadne is a coach on boxing, judo, national wrestling of the North people, sambo (art of self-defense) and Nenets martial art "khokhorey min". He has got 4 children. He wrote but did not publish the books "Wisdom of grandfathers - fairytales of our childhood" and "Secrets of a Siberian shaman".

"The Northern civilization": national trades, crafts, culture and everyday life

Amanda Graham — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:13:54 GMT

(Sever Press IA, 23 April 2009) -- The fourth International specialized exhibition-fair "The Northern civilization - 2009" is opened in Moscow in the All-Russian exhibition center. The exhibition is orientated to demonstration of products of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East: hunting, fishing, deer herding, suggestions on development of ecological and ethnic tourism, on business contacts with potential partners. The chairperson of the Committee of the Federation Council on Affairs of the North, Gennadiy Oleynik, greeted the participants on behalf of the Federation Council. He reminded that in 2006 the committee had been among the first ones to support the initiative of the Association of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East of Russian Federation about conducting of the first exhibition-fair on grounds of the All-Russian exhibition center. By the words of the parliamentarian, today the exhibition became yearly. Especially it needs to mark increasing interest to the exhibition from the side of not only northern and far eastern regions but also of foreign participants. It vividly demonstrates that indigenous peoples preserve their original culture, native languages, traditional way of life, economy and trades in spite of extreme conditions of life, social problems, additional problems, which appeared in connection with the world financial crisis. By the words of Gennadiy Oleynik, for national enterprises and communities of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East the exhibition-fair gives the opportunity not only to present unique and ecologically pure products of traditional trades and crafts, but also to find potential investors and partners for further development of business and also to receive coming out to Russian and international sale markets.

Putin petitioned to kill plans for Siberian hydropower station

Amanda Graham — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:52:19 GMT

(ENS, 13 February 2009) -- MOSCOW, Russia - A petition against the construction of a giant hydroelectric power station in Siberia that critics say would threaten the indigenous population and an entire larch forest ecosystem was handed to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin this week. Signed by more than 8,000 people, the petition was organized and presented to Putin by WWF-Russia, Greenpeace-Russia, and the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North as well as other nongovernmental organizations. The construction project, in the Evenk municipal district, could drive as many as 2,000 Evenki out of their homes and reindeer pasture lands and, according to the evaluation data, one million hectares of unique larch forest would be flooded. To generate power, a dam would be constructed on the Lower Tunguska River. The environmental and indigenous groups warn that one of the three radioactive underground nuclear explosion areas in the Tunguska flood plain would be flooded as a result of the construction. Russian engineers say the Evenk hydroelectric power station would be the largest in Russia, and with the project capacity of 20,000 megawatts, one of the largest in the world. The construction is expected to take 18 years to complete. In 1988, the Soviet Union canceled plans to construct a dam at the same site after then Soviet head of state Mikhail Gorbachev questioned the policy of building giant hydro-power stations. "The building of the Turukhansk, now Evenk, hydropower station was rejected at the end of the '80s because of the results of serious environmental and economic examinations," said Mikhail Kreindlin of Greenpeace-Russia. "The revival of this project will mean a return to the most dreadful times in the ex-USSR administrative command system," he said. Hydro-OGK, the Russian hydroelectric power company behind the project, says the power station is needed for economic development in the region.

Yamal railway track speeds on through reindeer migration route

Amanda Graham — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:02:34 GMT

(BarentsObserver via Reindeer Blog, 21 January 2009) -- The construction of the Obskaya-Bovanenkovo railway line to the Bovanenkovo gas field in the Yamal Peninsula is proceeding rapidly. The railway will facilitate the construction of the field, the biggest in the Yamal peninsula, which is also the home of the worlds largest area of reindeer husbandry. The railway is to be completed and connected with the main Russian railway network by early 2010, is proceeding rapidly despite the complicated climatic and geological conditions, as reported by Rosbalt.ru reports with reference to Ruskompress.ru. A total of 4,7 km of bridges were constructed in 2008 and 24,5 meters of new bridges are now built every day, the news sites write. A total of 1300 workers are involved in the operations. For the past two summer migration season, EALAT Phd student Anna Degteva has been migrating with different brigades whose migration routes are crossed by this railway, the impacts of which will be part of her study. The Bovanenkovo gas field alone, the biggest of the fields in the area, has gas reserves estimated at 4.9 trillion cubic meters.

First Americans arrived as 2 separate migrations, according to new genetic evidence

Amanda Graham — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:01:43 GMT

(Cell Press press release via EurekAlert! 8 January 2009) -- The first people to arrive in America traveled as at least two separate groups to arrive in their new home at about the same time, according to new genetic evidence published online on January 8th in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication. After the Last Glacial Maximum some 15,000 to 17,000 years ago, one group entered North America from Beringia following the ice-free Pacific coastline, while another traversed an open land corridor between two ice sheets to arrive directly into the region east of the Rocky Mountains. (Beringia is the landmass that connected northeast Siberia to Alaska during the last ice age.) Those first Americans later gave rise to almost all modern Native American groups of North, Central, and South America, with the important exceptions of the Na-Dene and the Eskimos-Aleuts of northern North America, the researchers said. "Recent data based on archeological evidence and environmental records suggest that humans entered the Americas from Beringia as early as 15,000 years ago, and the dispersal occurred along the deglaciated Pacific coastline," said Antonio Torroni of Università di Pavia, Italy. "Our study now reveals a novel alternative scenario: Two almost concomitant paths of migration, both from Beringia about 15,000 to 17,000 years ago, led to the dispersal of Paleo-Indians—the first Americans." Such a dual origin for Paleo-Indians has major implications for all disciplines involved in Native American studies, he said. For instance, it implies that there is no compelling reason to presume that a single language family was carried along with the first migrants. When Columbus reached the Americas in 1492, Native American occupation stretched from the Bering Strait to Tierra del Fuego, Torroni explained. Those native populations encompassed extraordinary linguistic and cultural diversity, which has fueled extensive debate among experts over their interrelationships and origins. Recently, molecular genetics, together with archaeology and linguistics, has begun to provide some insights. In the new study, Ugo Perego and Alessandro Achilli of Torroni's team analyzed mitochondrial DNA from two rare haplogroups, meaning mitochondrial types that share a common maternal ancestor. Mitochondria are cellular components with their own DNA that allow scientists to trace ancestry and migration because they are passed on directly from mother to child over generations. Their results show that the haplogroup called D4h3 spread from Beringia into the Americas along the Pacific coastal route, rapidly reaching Tierra del Fuego. The other haplogroup, X2a, spread at about the same time through the ice-free corridor between the Laurentide and Cordilleran Ice Sheets and remained restricted to North America. " A dual origin for the first Americans is a striking novelty from the genetic point of view and makes plausible a scenario positing that within a rather short period of time, there may have been several entries into the Americas from a dynamically changing Beringian source," the researchers concluded.

Russian Navy aircraft test new equipment over the Arctic

Amanda Graham — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:45:33 GMT

(RIA Novosti, 4 September 2008) -- MURMANSK - Tu-142MK aircraft from Russia's Northern Fleet conducted on September 2-3 reconnaissance flights over the Barents and Laptev seas and successfully tested new electronic on-board equipment, the fleet's press service said Thursday. Tu-142 Bear-F is the maritime reconnaissance/strike version of the Tu-95 Bear strategic bomber, designed mainly for anti-submarine warfare. "The tests of new on-board electronic equipment and weapons-control systems showed their high effectiveness," the press service said in a statement. The flights have been conducted strictly in accordance with international agreements and the norms of international law, the statement said. Russia has recently stepped up regular patrols over the Arctic and said it may soon shift the focus of its military strategy toward the northern latitudes in order to protect its national interests in the Arctic, especially on its continental shelf, which may contain large deposits of oil and natural gas.

The cossacks of the Arctic

Amanda Graham — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:26:11 GMT

(Rossiiskaya Gazeta via BarentsObserver, 13 August 2008) -- A group of Russians on the Taimyr Peninsula have formed the first ever Cossack stanitsa (village) north of the Arctic Circle. "Our zone of responsibilities stretch all the way to the North Pole," the local Cossack leader says. Mr. Vyacheslav Krivonogog, leader (ataman) of the stanitsa says to Rossiiskaya Gazeta that the Cossack movement in the region is getting ever stronger. The members of the movement, all of them descendants of Cossacks from other parts of Russia, have now joint forces in the creation of the northernmost ever Cossack village. The village is located in the Taimyrski municipal rayon, a part of the Krasnoyarsk Kray. "Now, our main task is to bring up our young people in a patriotic spirit," ataman Andrey Voronin says. He also confirms that his fellow Cossacks assist regional law enforcement authorities in patrolling the coast of the Taimyr Peninsula, as well as islands along the coast of the Arctic Ocean.

Acid rain traces support meteor theory for 1908 Tunguska blast

Amanda Graham — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:06:13 GMT

(RIA Novosti, 30 June 2008) -- MOSCOW - International researchers investigating the Tunguska Event, an explosion exactly 100 years ago in central Siberia, say acid rain traces in the region back up the theory that the blast was caused by a meteorite. On June 30, 1908, an explosion equivalent to between 5 and 30 megatons of TNT occurred approximately 7-10 km (3-6 miles) above the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in a remote Siberian region. "Extremely high temperatures occurred as the meteorite entered the atmosphere, during which the oxygen in the atmosphere reacted with nitrogen causing a build up of nitrogen oxides," one of the authors of the joint research, Natalia Kolesnikova, told RIA Novosti. Kolesnikova said a similar impact 66 million years ago wiped out a significant portion of life on Earth, including the dinosaurs. The Tunguska blast flattened 80 million trees, destroying an area of around 2,150 sq km (830 sq miles). However, despite the shockwaves being detected as far away as the United Kingdom, the Tunguska Event went largely unnoticed, eclipsed by global events leading up to WWI, the Russian Revolution and subsequent civil war. It took almost 20 years, until 1927, before a research expedition led by Leonid Kulik, a leading meteorite expert at the Academy of Sciences, first managed to visit the remote Siberian region and see the awesome destruction caused by the blast, and to take witness statements from locals living in the area. It was assumed that a huge meteorite had hit the area, although Kulik failed, during his research in Siberia, to find an obvious crater. In 1930, a British astronomer suggested the blast could have been caused by a small comet, composed of ice and dust, which would have been vaporized on impact with the Earth's atmosphere. The research carried out by the Moscow State Lomonosov University, Italy's Bologna University and Germany's Center for Environmental Research in Leipzig backs up the most likely theory of a meteor explosion.

Yamal craftsmen will come to the International festival

Amanda Graham — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:33:03 GMT

(Sever Press IA, 25 June 2008) -- The fifth International festival of crafts of Finno-Ugric peoples is starting in Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug (Yugra) on the 26th of June. Exhibitions, fairs, seminars, round tables and conferences, directed to support of folk art, will take place during ten days in the frames of the festival. In Surgut participants and guests of the festival will settle on the big motor-ship, on which they will go to the town Khanty-Mansiysk (the capital of the region). The town ground, on which the participants of the festival will present their regions and will conduct their master-classes, will be organized in the capital of Yugra. Yamal will present the exhibition of items from funds of the Regional House of crafts. This information was given to a correspondent of IA “Sever-Press” in the office of methodology of applied art of the Regional House of crafts. The delegation from Yamal includes the master on sewing of fur from the settlement Aksarka Alla Taishina (Priuralskiy district) and the master of wood and bone carving from the village Vosyakhovo Mikhail Anufriyev (Shuryshkarskiy district), he is well-known in Yamal. The capital of Yamal the town Salekhard will be presented by the original master of wood carving of traditional national articles Herman Nakov, Valentina Taibery, who is occupied with making souvenirs with northern themes with usage of fur and beading and Yelena Taragupta, who is occupied with beading. Different cultural-enlightening measures will take place in the frames of the festival. The participants of the festival will be able to visit the museum in the open air. The exhibition of works of wood-carvers will take place in the capital of Yugra. The jury will call the names of the most talented masters of folk art. [Archived copy of page]

Arctic without ice a better-than-even chance this year

Amanda Graham — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:19:58 GMT

(The Australian, 28 June 2008) -- THE Arctic ice cap, damaged by a record melt last year, is at good odds to disappear altogether this northern summer, polar scientists have warned. The ice edge shrank to within about 1100km of the North Pole last year. The scientists say the chances of an ice-free North Pole this summer are greater than 50-50 because of last year's melt and the fact that thick ice has been blown way in recent years. What has replaced it is what the scientists call first-year ice—recent, thin and susceptible to melting. And when the ice breaks up, what is left is dark ocean—which absorbs more heat than reflective ice does, speeding up the melting at the ice edges. The satellite data of recent weeks is already showing the new ice is melting more quickly than last year's. "From the viewpoint of science, the North Pole is just another point on the globe, but symbolically it is hugely important. There is supposed to be ice at the North Pole, not open water," scientist Mark Serreze, of the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre in Colorado, was quoted as saying in British newspaper The Independent. "The issue is that, for the first time that I'm aware of, the North Pole is covered with extensive first-year ice—ice that formed last autumn and winter," Dr Serreze said. "I'd say it's even-odds whether the North Pole melts out."

Photogallery: Siberia's assets frozen by photographs

Amanda Graham — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:30:17 GMT

(Mike Sturk/Rob Galbraith DPI, 23 June 2008) -- National Geographic's Gerd Ludwig shows how Russia's vast northern region has been changed by oil wealth in an interesting photo gallery called Siberia's Frozen Assets. Awash in oil wealth, Siberia goes upscale.

Krasnoyarsk governor to visit Taimyr

Amanda Graham — Sun, 25 May 2008 20:56:45 GMT

(Newslab.ru, 23 May 2008) -- Krasnoyarsk Governor Alexander Khloponin will visit Taimyr. Mr Khloponin is expected to visit Norilsk, Khatanga, and Dixon, as Igor Astapov, the governor's press secretary, told KNews. In each of the territories the governor will hold meetings on social and economic development and visit a lot of social facilities. In particular, Alexander Khloponin will visit a recently built Ice Palace named after Rusanov in Kayerkan, a new kindergarten and Norilsk Traffic Safety Affairs Inspectorate. The governor will be shown a street surveillance system used to monitor the traffic situation in the city. In Dixon Mr Khloponin will see a district hospital, a comprehensive school and Dixon Marine Port, and KrasAvia office in Khatanga. The official visit of the head of the region around the northern territories will take three days.

Early presidential voting begins in Yamal

Amanda Graham — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:08:28 GMT

(Regnum.ru, 14 February 2008) -- From present day, on 15 February, in the territory of Yamal begins the early voting of the separate groups of voters in the most inaccessible and distant localities at the Presidential elections of the RF. According to the data of neighborhood election commission, early voting will go on in nine municipalities, including Guba, Muravlenko, Salekhard and New Urengoya. Early voting will be achieved by 54 district election commissions. Early voting will be conducted by ground-based and air transport. Possibility to vote will given to both the Indigenous peoples of the north and to voters from other groups, who work by watch method, whom in the territory of region are counted more than 30,000 people, reported IA "SEVER-PRESS". The early voting will be completed by 1 March. [Translation achieved by Babelfish; title link is to the original Russian article.]

Motorcade sent to Norilsk through snow storm

Amanda Graham — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:40:12 GMT

(Newslab.Ru, 30 January 2008) -- Several meetings on an emergency situation in the district due to the complicated weather conditions since January 2008 took place in Taymyr administration. Mean snowfall from January 12 to 30 has exceeded the average monthly norm nearly four times. The part of the federal highway from Dudinka to Alykel Airport and from Dudinka to Norilsk has been closed for all vehicles virtually for 18 days, Taymyr Duma reported. Clearing the roads from snow by Ekolog Ltd gives a short-term effect. Delivery of fresh food stuff to the city and passengers to the airport is missing. Some of the shops have run out of the stock of perishable goods. However, provision with food of schools and hospitals on Taymyr gives no reason for concern, as there is usually a two months' stock of food in all the educational and medical organizations. The food stock in Dudinka schools, kindergartens and hospitals is not as big as in the villages due to less active transport communication with Norilsk. Extra measures were taken at the emergency meeting. First of all, Taymyr authorities provided interaction between Ekolog Ltd, Dudinka marine port, Dudinka Government-Owned Bus Company, Passazhiravtotrans government-owned unitary enterprise, KrasAir and Siberia air companies. The marine port delivered special machinery to cover more than 36 km of the road covered with snow. At present a bus column is following snow removers to Norilsk to deliver food to health and educational organizations to Dudinka. Air passengers are delivered to Alykel Airport by all-terrain vehicles. Under an agreement, KrasAir and Siberia delay their flights in expectation of Taymyr citizens, as far as it is possible by weather conditions. They also take passengers who are late for other flights of these companies. All the passengers and machinery are accompanied by rescuers along Dudinka-Alykel Highway.

"The Northern family" will be chosen for the first time in Shuryshkarskiy district

Amanda Graham — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 19:46:38 GMT

(IA Sever-Press, 31 January 2008) -- Shuryshkarskiy district is preparing to the Day of the Reindeer herder. This year the holiday will take place in the end of February. By the information given to a correspondent of IA "Sever-Press" in the Board of agriculture and affairs of peoples of the North of the district administration, 2008 was announced as the Year of Family, that is why the contest "The Northern Family" will take place for the first time during the Day of the Deer herder celebration. There will be several categories: "Friendly family", "Northern cuisine", the contest of needlework among women, folklore skills, and also nominations for men and children. Besides, traditional race of reindeer teams and competitions on national [traditional] sports will take place in the frames of the holiday. Also ski competitions between women and between men will take place. Useful prizes are waiting for the winners: boat motors, chainsaws and portable electric generators. [Link is to an archived copy of the page.]

Reindeer herders meet oil industry

Amanda Graham — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:23:43 GMT

(RussiaToday via Barents Observer, 18 January 2008) -- The Nenets people is benefiting from the expanding oil industry in their home areas. At the same time, the oil fever could eventually deprive the indigenous people of their traditional lifestyle. Get a glimpse of the Nenets people in a film clip from Russia Today. Nenets nomadic traditions have survived for centuries on the far northern Russian tundra. Now, however, the Nenets lifestyle is taking a modern twist, Russia Today reports. According to the Russian TV-channel, a growing number of Nenets people are exchanging their traditional nomadic lifestyle with a more modern lifestyle, skipping reindeer herding in favour of jobs in the oil industry. The oil companies in the resources-rich region are also constructing houses for the former reindeer herders. And the reindeer slaughter industry are being modernized with traditional methods losing ground. Florian Stammler from the University of Rovaniemi, Finland, admits that the expanding oil industry does in many cases result in higher life standards for the Nenets people. At the same time he says that the Nenets traditions are under serious threat by the new trends.

“Russian North deserves better”

Amanda Graham — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:00:27 GMT

SeverPress via BarentsObserver, 18 January 2008) -- As much as 29 percent of all investments in Russia was in 2007 placed in the Russian North. In addition, the North contributed with 35 percent of all tax incomes in the country. Now, its time for Russia to treat the people of the North better, member of parliament, Gennadii Oleynik says. According to Mr. Oleynik, deputy in the Federation Council from the oil-rich Khanti-Mansiisk region, the Russian North in 2007 attracted 19,4 percent of all foreign investments placed in the country. In addition, 25 percent of all company profits generated in the country come from companies operating in the North. Mr. Oleynik chairs the Federation Councilâ€™s Committee of the North and Small Peoples. Lately, the situation in the Russian North has improved with both economic growth and reduced unemployment. However, the situation remains problematic. Since year 1990, the population in the Russian North has dropped from 12,8 million people to 10,6 million. In addition, the north has seen a significant aging of the population with the number of pensioners increasing from 20 percent to 26,5 percent of the regional population. Also life standards still lag behind the Russian average, and unemployment, despite the positive current tendences, remain far higher than in Russia major. Mr. Oleynik now calls on Russian decision-makers to facilitate conditions for continued growth in the North. He believes it must become more attractive for qualified specialists to work in the region, and that life conditions must be improved. For this to be achieved, social guarantees and compensations must be arranged for, he maintains. The Russia North, a huge and resource-rich area covering major parts of the country, remains the economic engine of Russia. However, the area, remains first of all a raw material producer and the profits to a growing extend ends up in Moscow.

About 350 million rubles will be allocated in 2008 to develop northern deer herding

Amanda Graham — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:34:50 GMT

(SeverPress IA, 10 January 2008) -- In Yamal northern deer herding will receive considerable support in the frames of realization of the priority national project "Development of agro-industrial complex". Thus, it is planned to allocate 346.4 million rubles for these aims in 2008, 360.6 million in 2009 and 375 million in 2010. As employees of the regional department on development of agro-industrial complex mark, increase of subsidies for support of northern deer herding will allow attracting not only large commodity producers to sale market, but also national communities, private deer herding enterprises by stimulating of private deer herders for one kilogram of delivered meat. This is especially important because private deer livestock in the region almost two times exceeds public one. Allocation of subsidies for maintenance of pedigree dam livestock of reindeer is foreseen for the first time from the regional budget with the aim of recovery of pedigree qualities in deer herding. It is planned to allocate federal means higher than the level of 2006--on 34 million rubles on conditions of co-financing for support of northern deer herding and pedigree dam livestock of reindeer in the amount 80 million rubles. [Link is to an archived copy.]

Two Russians want to go to the North Pole in the middle of the night

Amanda Graham — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:51:23 GMT

(Arctic Council News, 20 December 2007) -- Two Russian adventurers plan to go the North Pole in the middle of the Arctic winter. This past summer Russia visited the sea bottom beneath the North Pole, and event that garnered a lot of media attention. Now the question is whether the next Russian visit to the North Pole will get the same attention. Last week two Russian adventurers, Matvei Shparo and Boris Smolin, announced that they were planning an unprecedented journey to the North Pole during the Arctic winter, reports RIA Novosti. The two Russians plan to begin their ski journey in days from the Arctic Cape, the northernmost point of the Russian Severnaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, and will spend at least two months on the ice. The journey, if successful, will be the first expedition of its kind. [Indeed, as far as I know, the attempt is the first of its kind.] Each of the two adventurers will pull two sledges with food and equipment weighing a total of 140 kilograms (308 pounds). During the polar night the temperature will not rise above -50° C (-58° F). One thing is sure—they won't run any risk of snow-blindness!

Truck sinks under ice on Angara River

Amanda Graham — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:46:56 GMT

(Newslab.ru, 17 December 2007) -- A KAMAZ truck sank under the ice while trying to cross the Angara over the ice, 100 meters away from the river bank on Saturday. The accident happened in Boguchansky District of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the chief department for internal affairs reported. Two men, 41 and 21, are supposed to have been inside the truck at the moment of the accident. They were identified as citizens of Boguchansky District. Police are working at the accident site. The Krasnoyarsk Territory chief department for internal affairs asks directors of enterprises and drivers to follow safety rules at the ice river crossings. Police also remind that it is prohibited to cross the Angara over the ice at present.

Krasnoyarsk to exhibit Surikov's paintings in ice frames at New Year fir-tree

Amanda Graham — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:30:44 GMT

(Newslab.ru, 17 December 2007) -- Paintings by famous Krasnoyarsk artist Vasily Surikov will be exhibited in ice frames at the main fir-tree of Zheleznodorozhny district. The following famous canvasses will be exhibited in the ice frames 2x4 meters: "The Boyarynia Morozova", "Capture of the Snow Town", "Morning of the Strelets' Execution", and "Yermak Conquers Siberia", the mayor's office reported. Ice sculptors will make a real ice town with its trade side streets of the 19th century and an Orthodox church in Gagarin's Park. The 19th century was chosen on purpose: in 2008 Vasily Surikov would have celebrated his 160th birthday. The epoch when the great artist lived and worked will be reflected in the work of the ice town sculptors. A big New Year tree will also be installed in Gagarin's Park. It will consist of 100 small fir-trees. Snow hills will be constructed for adults and children, and a skating-rink will open. Guests of New Year Tree opening will be able to enjoy a great theater show with participation of the best district musical and dance groups, take part in a lot of contests with gifts and prizes on December 26.

First congress of Indigenous peoples held in Krasnoyarsk

Amanda Graham — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 05:55:31 GMT

(Regnum.ru, 14 December 2007) -- The first congress of the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North of the Krasnoyarsk region took place on 13 December. Twenty-eight delegates took part from Evenki and Taymyr municipal areas, Turukhansk, Severoyeniseysk and Tyrkhtetsk regions. During the congress, delegates approved the structure of the association, its executive, its charter and considered plans for development. Congress delegates also accepted a draft agreement of cooperation between the administration of the Krasnoyarsk region and the association. The congress concluded with the adoption of a congress resolution. The delegates urged the governor and territory to develop and adopt a state policy on the protection of the traditional way of life of northern people. The congress hopes to see a special state law on this. [Link is to the original Russian story.]

Nenets deputies remove program of support of small people from session agenda

Amanda Graham — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 05:46:08 GMT

(Regnum.ru, 14 December 2007) -- The "Support of small people of the North for 2008-2010" program failed to pass the session coordination stage of preparation for the December session of the Assembly of deputies of Nenets autonomous region. Members of the assembly felt the program was too narrow in its approach. "The document addresses support of only one category of the Nenets population, the reindeer breeders and, as a consequence, does not provide for developmoent and preservation of the national culture," said the vice-presidentof the NAO assembly of deputies Ivan Ledkov. "There are 7,500 Nenets and support was going to go only to those who continue a nomadic way of life. This is only a small number, something like one and a half thousand people. What about the others? We, in fact, also have a Nenets intelligentsia, youth, elders, and other categories of citizens. Creative collectives, fishing communities, craftsmasters have all been dropped from the program." ... The program is intended to improve the quality of life of the nomadic population. More than have the budget was to be spent on purchase or construction of housing for herders. Other grants, for communities and farms were also included. ... [Title link is to the more complete story in Russian.]

Nenets AO legalizes the Den Olenya holiday

Amanda Graham — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 05:26:55 GMT

(Regnum.ru, 14 December 2007) -- The main traditional holiday of reindeer breeders, which was held for the first time in the Nenets district in 1932, has been formally established. The NAO administration press service announced that the law "On the traditional holiday - Day of the Reindeer in Nenets Autonomous Region" was signed on 14 December 2007 by Valery Potapenko, head of the Nenets district. The holiday will be celebrated annually on 2 August. The law contains provisions for carrying out a professional holiday of reindeer breeders and for supporting festivities from the district budget. The date of the holiday was chosen to mark the end of the most difficult period in the annual round when the reindeer are in summer pastures and the beginning of the herds' movement to winter pastures. [Title link is to the original Russian story.]

Northerners celebrating Taymyr Day today

Amanda Graham — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:05:40 GMT

(Newslab.ru, 10 December 2007) -- Citizens of the Krasnoyarsk Territory celebrate Taymyr Day today. The holiday was initially devoted to the establishment of Taymyr Autonomous District—December 10, 1935. In honor of the holiday Dudinka will hold a gala concert, which will begin with the festival award of winners and merited citizens of Taymyr. Moreover, several women of the municipal district will be awarded with "Woman's Glory" medal. The northerners will be congratulated by local and regional officials, the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnoyarsk Territory reported. Simultaneously, the concert will be festival closure "Believing in Russia, Loving Taymyr", the first cultural municipal project in the district.

Shell ready to invest "hundreds of billions" in Yamal

Amanda Graham — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 23:28:40 GMT

(The Times via BarentsObserver, 22 November 2007) -- Royal Dutch Shell and its partners have told the Russian Government that developing vast gasfields in the Siberian Arctic would take half a century and cost "hundreds of billions" of dollars, the Times reports. Jeroen van der Veer, Shell's chief executive, this month met with President Putin to discuss the proposed project in the Yamal Peninsula and Kara Sea. He was accompanied by a high-level Dutch business delegation. They estimated that the region could hold more than 30 trillion cubic metres of gas, more than the combined proved reserves of Gazprom, the state-controlled Russian gas monopoly, the Times writes. According to the newspaper, a slide presentation from GasTerra, one of the Dutch groups at the meeting, said: "Preliminary estimates of total investments for developing the gas and oilfields and supporting infrastructure are of the order of several hundred billion dollars."

Comment: The Dutch want to produce gas on Yamal

Amanda Graham — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:57:47 GMT

(Oleg Mityaev/Russian Information Agency Novosti, 9 November 2007)** -- Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende proposed that Russian and Dutch companies headed by Royal Dutch Shell should jointly develop the richest gas fields on the Yamal Peninsula located above the Arctic Circle. Although the Yamal Peninsula is in the sphere of strategic interests of Russian state-controlled natural gas monopoly Gazprom, the Dutch initiative may appeal to the Russian authorities. On November 7, top managers of the Dutch companies met with Russia's Minister of Fuel and Energy Viktor Khristenko. Inspired by Gazprom's consent to Gasunie's participation in the construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, they expressed the desire to become partners in the development of gas fields on the Yamal Peninsula and the Kara Sea shelf. A group of companies headed by British-Dutch group Royal Dutch Shell, which also included Gasunie, GasTerra, Essent and Van Oord, offered its unique technologies for hydrocarbons production and processing, pipeline construction and the creation of man-made islands for oil and gas producing and processing facilities.

Krasnoyarsk ships carried 139,600 passengers for summer navigation

Amanda Graham — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 07:54:07 GMT

(Newslab.ru, 24 October 2007) -- Krasnoyarsk river passenger ships earned $3.72 million for summer navigation period this year. 139,600 passengers were carried for the season, as Denis Pashkov, deputy-head of the department of economic planning and industrial policy of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, announced during the visit of Krasnoyarsk shipyard today. The Krasnoyarsk Territory state-owned River Passenger Transportation (Passazhirrechtrans) was carrying passengers in eight directions between April 28 and October 15 in 2007: from Krasnoyarsk to Dudinka; from Krasnoyarsk to Bor; from Krasnoyarsk to Yartsevo; from Krasnoyarsk to Divnogorsk; from Yeniseisk to Bor; from Yeniseisk to Yartsevo; from the Trade Center to Ust-Mana; and from Shiroky Log to Motygino. Four passenger ships were involved in the transportation: the Valery Chkalov, the Alexander Matrosov, the Professor Bliznyak, the Mikhail Lermontov; and seven hydrofoils: the Voskhod-43, the Voskhod-56, the Voskhod-60, the Raketa-265, the Zarya-277, the Zarya-343, the Nordvik, and 22 landing-stages and platforms. The majority of passengers were carried from the Trade Center to Ust-Mana—48,400 passengers. Direction from Krasnoyarsk to Divnogorsk is the second in the number of passengers—30,700. Excursion routes were taken by 12,200 people. Up to 70 per cent of the total number of tickets were sold to the Valery Chkalov and the Alexander Matrosov ships.

Taimyr reindeer herders to get 50 radio stations

Amanda Graham — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 05:46:54 GMT

(Newslab.ru, 8 October 2007) -- Until the end of November Taimyr reindeer herders will get 50 "ICOMâ€“78" wireless stations. One of the stations has already been delivered to the village of Khantaiskoe Ozero, 23 have been sent to the villages of Nosok, and 17 â€“ to Tukhard, Taimyr Telegraph news agency reported. Khatanga and Potapovo reindeer herders are in turn. A basic radio station will be working in Dudinka. Taimyr has not obtained a license for using radio stations so far. The reindeer herders will be able to use the devices in cases of emergency only. It is worth mentioning that the purchase of the radio stations by the district authorities is a part of "Taimyr peoples" program. The local authorities spent about $60,000 on the program.

Siberia feels the heat - and that's bad news

Amanda Graham — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:38:23 GMT

(Russia Today, 25 September 2007) -- While the melting of the Arctic ice cap may create opportunities to exploit its oil, gas and mineral deposits, the consequences for nearby Siberia could be disastrous. In the Siberian Republic of Yakutia, melting ice means solid land is turning to mud. And this softer ground is causing trees to topple and roads to sink. "This is a catastrophe for Northern Siberia," says Sergei Zimov, who's been studying Siberian frost for more than 25 years. He says this changing landscape will have disastrous effects: "All the towns and roads will be destroyed here. It will also lead to further warming of the globe which will be impossible to stop." But the biggest problem may lie below the surface. The thawing of frozen soil, known as permafrost, could trigger the release of billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane. Researchers say this could have a serious effect on the climate and increase the rate of global warming. Some of the effects are already plain to see. In just ten years a main road in a remote Siberian town has collapsed to become a bumpy canyon, seven metres deep in places. Many houses have been demolished or abandoned after the ancient ice under their foundations melted. Locals are also complaining that the thaw is disturbing their food supply due to swelling rivers. And these sorts of problems aren't unique to Siberia. If temperatures continue to rise, it will have implications for the whole planet.

Polar hero says Russia will 'demand' Arctic in 2009

Amanda Graham — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:31 GMT

(PM/RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 11, No. 180, Part I, 27 September 2007) -- The head of the recent Russian Arctic-2007 expedition to the North Pole, Artur Chilingarov, who is a polar explorer, Hero of the Soviet Union, and deputy speaker of the State Duma, said on September 25 that Russia will file the necessary papers with the UN to have the Lomonosov and Mendeleyev ridges in the Arctic verified as being extensions of the Russian continental shelf and hence Russian territory, kommersant.com reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," August 8 and September 21, 2007). He added that Russia will carry out "boring" on the seabed below the North Pole in 2008 in order to verify the results of recent tests of small soil samples brought back by minisubmarines in August. On September 20, the Ministry of Natural Resources said in a statement that the samples provide scientific proof that the area is Russian. It said Russia will present the evidence to the UN under the terms of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. A UN commission rejected previous Russian claims to the area as lacking proof. Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the United States also have claims there. Those countries criticized as anachronistic the latest Russian mission, which also planted a titanium Russian flag on the seabed. The area is believed to be rich in mineral, oil, and gas deposits. Kommersant.com reported on September 25 that "hydrocarbon reserves are estimated at about 10 billion tons."