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The Arctic This Week August 15 - August 21, 2016
By Mieke Coppes, Doris Friedrich, and Ryan Uljua August 26, 2016

Welcome and thanks for joining us this week! We hope that you find TATW interesting and entertaining to read. If you’re not a subscriber yet, you can sign up here. As always, all editorial choices, opinions and any mistakes are the authors’ own. Anything that we missed? Please feel free to share material with us if you think it deserves inclusion in TATW.

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Photo: Kunuk Abelsen

IASS call for applications for PhD and PostDoc positions
The Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam is part of a new exciting project, which is currently having calls open for application for PhD and PostDoc positions. All details about the Geo.X project can be found here:
http://www.geo-x.net/research-school.html
The call asks for project proposals in the fields “Natural Hazards and Risks” and “Geo-Bio-Interactions”. Further, the applicants are asked to identify the preferred host institution of the Geo.X consortium, and we would of course be happy if many choose the IASS. For further information about our Arctic work, please see our Arctic Dossier.
For projects to be realized at IASS, I am more than happy to brainstorm any ideas with possible candidates.
Contact: Dr. Kathrin Keil, Project Scientist  (kathrin.keil@iass-potsdam.de)

TAI’s RECENT ACTIVITIES
As part of our collaboration with the Norwegian newspaper High North News, Mieke Coppes highlighted the introduction of the Tsá Tué UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve in Canada - the first one north of 60 degrees and Victoria Herrmann discussed the political power of art in the Arctic.

THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES
Sea ice melt continues
Mid-August, the Arctic sea ice extent reached 5.61 million square kilometers (2.17 million square miles), which is the
third lowest since satellite recordings began (NSIDC). July set the record for being the hottest month on a global level, continuing the trend of the last months (NOAA, Guardian). Dr. Walt Meier, a Nasa scientist, compared the role of the Arctic in global warming to leaving the refrigerator door open, resulting in "the Arctic's cooling mechanism becoming less and less efficient as we lose the sea ice” (Reuters).

Mapping projects underway in Canada and the Aleutians
In Canada, the last phase of a mapping project of the Arctic Ocean has started, which should provide the necessary data for the country’s territorial claims beyond the 200 nautical miles designated under the Convention on the Law of the Sea (CBC, Stopru).
In the Aleutians, geophysicists are mapping the Okmok volcano on Umnak Island to examine whether there are other magma chambers in addition to the shallow one that was discovered during previous studies. Better knowledge of the volcano’s structure could be crucial to our understanding of future eruptions (APM).

Crystal Serenity en route through the Northwest Passage
Last week, the cruise liner Crystal Serenity has begun its voyage awaited with suspense, starting in Anchorage and passing through the Northwest Passage (NG). The ship carrying more than 1000 passengers and already dubbed ‘Titanic’, arrived in Nome on Sunday, August 21, as the largest vessel to date (APM). While the Guardian writes about the fear of the local population to be overwhelmed by ‘extinction tourists’, Nome’s yearly Berry Festival was rescheduled to coincide with the vessel’s arrival in an effort to diversify the town’s economy (AD). Meanwhile, the Arctic Journal wishes the Crystal Serenity a good trip to the tunes of Stan Rogers’ song ‘Northwest Passage’. Nevertheless, the threat of an accident in remote Arctic waters, where help is hours if not days or weeks away, looms over the undertaking (APM, AD).

Alaska primary elections  
The Alaskan primaries for the House and Senate were last week, and the people sent a couple of incumbent state legislators packing (AJOC). The vote will have large repercussions on election night for state legislatures in November, although not many participated (AJOC). To get a sense of the play-by-play action of the night, check here (APM). In addition, there is the primary election for Anchorage’s Senate District L, which is the most expensive primary in the state, and involved strategies that dealt with signs, puppies, and cash (APM).

Alaska’s top military official is stepping down
Lieutenant General Russel J. Handy stepped down after 34 years in the U.S. Air Force. He spent the last three years overseeing the Alaskan Command, the 11th Air Force, and Alaska operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command. He will be replaced by Major General Kenneth Wilsbach (APM).

Sayisi Dene receive apology from Canadian Government  
The Sayisi Dene, who have waited for a long time for an apology from the government, have now finally received it. Sixty years ago, the Sayisi Dene were forced to relocate from their traditional hunting ground at Little Duck Lake to a barren tundra outside of Churchill due to government policy (CBC).

The Russian patriarch will be visiting the North  
Patriarch Kirill will visit Russia’s Kola Peninsula next week. In preparation, the local roads and buildings are getting a facelift (IBO). He was also in Pechenga, where he commented on the importance that the Arctic plays for Russia (IBO).


THE POLITICAL SCENE
Alaskan village votes to relocate
Shishmaref, a small village in Alaska, has officially voted to relocated. The votes, 89 of which were in favour and 78 against, will have a follow-up next year to determine to which of a few pre-selected sites the community will relocate (APM).

Transnational
Trump as President Could Have Important Consequences for the Arctic (KNR, in Danish).
Great Potential in Finland (HNN, in Norwegian).
Cautious Towards Russian Invitation (IBO).
This is Norwegian-Russian Success Story (IBO).
North Atlantic Group Knocking on Arctic's Door (AJ).
The Annual West Nordic Council Meeting Begins (KNR, in Danish).
A Time For Action (AJ).

United States
Cold War Chill: US Congress Wants to Block Future Presidents Working with Russia (Sputnik).
Congress Receives Report on Arctic Issues (Global Trade).
Voters in One Village Were Allowed to Cast Ballots in Both Primaries (APM).
Kenai Assembly Hears Invocation From Satanic Temple (APM).
Pro-Fracking Insider Appointed by Clinton to Head Presidential Transition Team (RT).

Canada
Nunavut Employees Union and Territorial Government Reach Tentative Agreement (CBC).
Liberals Spent Almost $100,000 to Elect Now-Independent Hunter Tootoo (CTV News).
Indigenous Affairs minister Says Downie's Words Heartening but Daunting (CBC).
Will and Kate Announce Plans for B.C.,Yukon Visit (CBC).

Russia
Gay Activists Sue Murmansk, Will Take Case to Strasbourg (IBO)
Kirkenes Strengthens Tie With Murmansk (IBO).
Niinisto Bristles Over Russia Talks Criticism (EOTA).

Norway
The Supreme Court will decide ownership of Stjernøya (HNN, in Norwegian).

Greenland/Denmark
Danish North Pole Claims Presented in New York (HNN, in Norwegian).
Danish Minister: Greenland Should Not Be a Dumping Ground for the Rest of the World (KNR, in Danish).


ENERGY

The champion of Arctic oil (IBO).
Losing the Arctic energy race to Russia (Arctic Energy Center).

Norway
Protesting against power line construction (NRK, in Norwegian).
Europe's largest wind power development threatens reindeer herding on Fosenhalvøya (NRK, in Norwegian).
Requires halt in construction of wind farm (NRK, in Norwegian).

Russia

No more licenses on Russian shelf (IBO).
Two more wells drilled at Prirazlomnoye, production surges (IBO).
Arctic winds will power Amderma (IBO).
Rosneft looks closer at northernmost license areas (IBO).

United States
Interior gas project still lacks key deals to move forward (AJOC).
BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) director hears support for OCS (Outer Continental Shelf) drilling in Alaska (AJOC).
Foreign-flagged oil tankers calling on Valdez raise eyebrows, but no issues (AJOC).
Federal offshore oil-lease chief visits Arctic Ocean (AS).
AGDC (Alaska Gasline Development Corp.) president lays out schedule for state takeover of AK LNG Project (AJOC).
Denali bus employs hybrid technology (APM).
Fire Island Wind sees expansion on the horizon (APM).
Cleaner electricity for Peninsula village to arrive by way of Anchorage (APM).
At DNR, new leader tackles ‘maze’ of oil and gas development on federal land (APM).
Walker’s new oil and gas advisor wants to put some “grit” in the system (APM).
Performance versus prescription in new US Arctic rules: Fuel for Thought (Platts).
Aurora/Furie questions (PN).
Toward a transmission company; Railbelt grid decision this year? (PN).
Parnell joins Glacier board of directors (PN).
GVEA, CIRI (Golden Valley Electric Association, Cook Inlet Region Inc.) working wind farm expansion (PN).
AEA (Alaska Energy Authority) rolling out rural powerhouse (PN).
Spill volume at Drift River still unknown (PN).


SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Earth sciences, climate and weather
Time to listen to the ice scientists about the Arctic death spiral (Guardian).
Website launched to monitor ocean acidification off Alaska (AJOC).
Defrosting Arctic releasing powerful greenhouse gas (EOTA).
A city responds to a landslide: ‘It was a loss of innocence’ (Sitka) (APM).
El Nino is out. Will La Nina follow? (APM)
These Photos Show How Hard Climate Change Has Hit Greenland (Time).
Hydrographic ship Vizir sets sail on Arctic expedition (Arctic.ru).
As wildfires blaze, Southeast glaciers could be feeling the melt (Alaska) (APM).
Greenland melting does not threaten ocean circulation - yet (forskning, in Norwegian).

Wildlife and ecology
Arctic fish populations changing as ice dwindles, report says (EOTA).
Russian and U.S. Scientists Collaborate to Map Migration Paths of Arctic Breeding Birds (AJ).
Grad student's cruise director job launches her research on Arctic wildlife (Clark University).
The lake that always turns pink in August (Altai) (ST).
Hunting collection to assess the prevalence of CWD (chronic wasting disease) in Norway (NRK, in Norwegian).
Watershed Coalition tracks salmon stream temp trends (APM).
Seismic Testing For Arctic Oil Will Deafen Whales (Real News).
Anthrax Strikes Wildlife in Rapidly Thawing Arctic (truthdig).

Environmental management
Sailing to the Arctic with the people who call it home (Clyde River, Nunavut) (Greenpeace).
Canada develops new polar bear tracking system to fight smugglers (CBC).
Petition sent to Walker asking for predator control reform (APM).

Research and university news
Meet the geologist and explorer the Brooks Range is named after (AD).
Shared Voices Magazine 2016 published (UArctic).

Archaeology and history
Peter Freuchen’s beard (AJ).
New species of ancient Arctic river-dwelling dolphin discovered in halls of Smithsonian (AD).


MILITARY / SEARCH & RESCUE
United States
Proposed Naval Training Causes Concern (APM).
Alaska Aerospace Corporation Launches into New Period on Island (APM).
Eielson Air Force Base has New Construction Plan for Incoming F-35 Fighters (APM)

Norway
Norway Should Reopen Naval Base Outside Tromso (forskning, in Norwegian).

Greenland/ Denmark
Greenlanders to Help the Armed Forces in the Arctic (KNR, in Danish).

Canada
Operation NANOOK 2016 Now Underway (Ottawa Citizen).

Russia
Russian Defense Ministry to Complete Arctic Military Infrastructure by 2020 (Arctic.ru).
Russian Army to Get Pantsir-SA Systems for Arctic in Late 2016 (TASS).
Following Modernization, Russian Aircraft Carrier Might Head Towards Syria in October (IBO).
Nuclear Sb Crossing Arctic, Going Home (IBO).


MINING
Canada
How to Regain Canada's Leadership in Mining and Exploration (CMJ).
Making Nunavut Work, When Mining Slows Down (NN).
Vancouver-based Mining Company Received Go-Ahead to Expand Near Alaska Eagle Preserve (CBC).
TMAC Keeps Hope Bay on Time and On Budget (CMJ).
Osisko Mining OPtions James Bay Properties from Osisko Gold Royalties (CMJ).
Prospecting Turns Up Another Gold Vein at 3 Acres (Yukon) (PN).
Independent Review Like Design of Western Copper's Casino Tails Facility (CMJ).
Goldstrike Cuts VG in First 2016 Hole at Plateau (Yukon) (PN).
ATAC Begins Phase 2 Drilling at Rackla Project (CMJ)
Economic Development and the Future of Mining in the North of Canada (News Deeply).

United States
Alaska Miners Association to Protest BLM Plan for Eastern Interior (APM).
With 39 meters of 1.66 oz/t Gold, Tetlin Drilling Continues to Impress (PN).

Norway
Fearing Illegal Sale of Norwegian Crystals: We Have No Authority to do Anything (NRK, in Norwegian)
Alta Municipality Stops Excavation at Seiland (NRK, in Norwegian).
Mineral Enthusiast: Completely Normal to Illegally Sell Norwegian Minerals (NRK, in Norwegian).


FISHERIES, SHIPPING AND OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
Fisheries
A Russian trawler was arrested by Norwegian authorities in the Fisheries Protection Zone around Svalbard on the suspicion of dumping fish overboard and fined $28,000 (TASS, TASS, TASS).

Odd colouring in Nunavut's Arctic char leaves fishermen stumped (CBC).
Ninilchik tribe finishes Kenai subsistence season (AJOC).
Alaskan restrictions help Yukon kings meet Canadian goals (AJOC).
Managers statewide mystified by poor production of pink salmon (AJOC).
Barents cod town Kjøllefjord has more on the menu (IBO).
Finnish fishermen checked - everything ok (NRK, in Norwegian).
Seiners turn in early after weak pink harvest (APM).
Two people help preserve the history of Alaska’s canned seafood (APM).

Shipping
Chronicles: Hurtigruten wants new deal (HNN, in Norwegian).
Eyeing 2017 shipping season, N.W.T. gov't plans for life after NTCL (Northern Transportation Company Limited) (CBC).
Hurtigruten CEO calls for size limit on Arctic cruise vessels (IBO).
Transportation, Not Tourism, in Arctic Iceland (News Deeply).
Parker to Supply Three Arctic Vessels (Marine Link).
China and the Northern Sea Route - Placing their bets (AJ).
ABB’s marine academy introduces arctic course for ice-going vessel sector (ship-technology).

Aviation
Norwegian Airlines to start flights from London to Arctic Finland (EOTA).

Tourism
Decade-old efforts to modify West Glacier Trail enters final phase (APM).
In Murmansk port, Sergey makes ready for visa-free passengers (IBO).

Beset by summer crowds, Talkeetna looks for a solution to tourist congestion (AD).
Inuk and sunk - Quick action prevented serious tour-boat accident (AJ).

General business and economic news
United States

Federal Reserve Western District president says (interest) rates will rise, but not when (AJOC).
Haines Chamber of Commerce grapples with role of nonprofits (APM).
Beverage distributor plans $40 million facility in Anchorage (APM).
Valley veggies highlight plan to boost health among low income Alaskans (APM).

Russia
Migrants banned: Siberian region bars foreign workers from many key jobs (ST).

Nordics

Money for Jam: Finland Tries Occupying Idle Asylum-Seekers with Berry-Picking (Sputnik).
Whistleblowers in practice (ABN, in Danish).


HEALTH, YOUTH, SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Health
Girls are the only ones getting free HPV vaccines, and this is a concern for men.  The HPV infection, which causes cancer in men, has risen sharply in the last thirty years, and many are questioning why only women are getting free vaccines (NRK, in Norwegian).
N.W.T. Orders Review of Hugh Papik Case After Niece Says Stroke Victim was Treated as Drunk (CBC).
'Helping Dene to be Dene Again': Hay River First Nation Nears Healing Centre Proposal (CBC).
Elders Concerned About the Treatment of the Sick and Elderly in the Community (NRK, in Norwegian).
Department of Defense Strives to Provide Better, Smarter Military Healthcare (APM).
Municipalities are Not Prepared for Welfare Technology (forskning, in Norwegian).
Quihagak Responds to a Series of Apparent Heroin Overdoses (APM).
NASA Flight Surgeons and Arctic Medics En Route to Scotland (STV News).
Zombie Virus Fears as Age-Old Disease Emerges From Shallow Graves (DailyStar).

Youth and Education
Nunavut Arctic College will be able to offer a degree-granting program through the University of Saskatchewan.  The four year law program will be set to begin in September of 2017 and ideally help create more lawyers from Nunavut (CBC).
Celebrations for Children and Parents in Roros (NRK, in Norwegian).
There Is Such a Great Day That I Can Not Find Words (NRK, in Norwegian).
It is Counter-Intuitive to Isolate Them (NRK, in Norwegian).
The Consequences of New Math Requirements: No Sami Teacher Training in Autumn (NRK, in Norwegian).
Refusing to Send Children to School (NRK, in Norwegian).
Since 2008, Number of UAS Students Using Disability Services Quintuple (APM).
Pilot Leadership Program Lets Students Trade Communities (FN).

Society
24 people have been killed in the Anchorage municipality this year and this is leading people to question the cause.  2016 is the fourth deadliest year in the last two decades already (APM).
Iqaluit's $300M Airport Makeover Prepares for Decades to Come (CBC).
Ina Koe Gets 2 Years Less A Day for Defrauding Fort McPherson of $400K (CBC).
Denecho King Exploited 'Pre-Existing' Gap to Escape From Yellowknife Jail (CBC).
Deacon's Music a Bell-Towering Achievement in Sitka (APM).
High Waves Damage Shoreline, Road and Community Freezer in Grise Fiord (CBC).
After 40 Days and 5000 KM to the Beach at the North Cape (NRK, in Norwegian).
49 Voices: Omega Smith of Anchorage (APM).
AK: Knowing the Unknown (APM).
Eagle River Couple Plans Vast Adventure in Wooden Plane (APM).
This Canadian Just Swam by Riverboard Nearly 2,000 Miles Down the Yukon River (EOTA).
Impressions of Inuvialuit (World Policy Blog).
LGBTQ History Bus Tour Highlights Changing Acceptance in Anchorage (APM).
Norwegians Detained for 'Cross-Border Stone Throwing' at Russia (EOTA).

Culture
For the seventh consecutive year, the Shaman festival was held in Lavangen. This festival, which is becoming more international, includes workshops, concerts and theatrical performances about shamanism (NRK, in Norwegian).
The Political Power of Art in the Arctic (HNN).
The Purpose Was Precisely to Generate Debate (NRK, in Norwegian).
Museum Show Shares Tales of Arctic's Northwest Passage (Shoreline Beacon).
Greenlandic Theater to Turn Men;s Realities into Art (AJ).
Language Assistance Provisions Enacted in Western Alaska and the Arctic (KTOO).
Today is the Start of "Ijahis Idja" (NRK, in Norwegian).
First Win of 2016 for Degenkolb at Arctic Race in Norway (Cycling News).
Former Yellowknifer, Akeem Haynes, Wins Bronze at Rio Olympics (CBC).
Schoolmates Laughed Sami- Now He's Talking Only Norwegian (NRK, in Norwegian).

Abbreviation Key
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN)
Aftenbladet (AB)
Alaska Business Monthly (ABM)
Alaska Dispatch News (AD)
Alaska Journal of Commerce (AJOC)
Alaska Native News (ANN)
Alaska Public Media (APM)
Arctic Info (Russian) (AIR)
Arctic Institute (TAI)
Barents Nova (BN)
Bristol Bay Times (BBT)
BusinessWeek (BW)
Canadian Mining Journal (CMJ)
Christian Science Monitor (CSM)
Eye on the Arctic (EOTA)
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (NM)
Financial Times (FT)
Globe and Mail (G&M)
Government of Canada (GOC)
Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)
Huffington Post (HP)
Independent Barents Observer (IBO)
Indian Country Today Media Network (ICTMN)
Johnson’s Russia List (JRL)
Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (KNR)
Lapin Kansa (LK)
Maritime Executive (MarEx)
Moscow Times (MT)
National Geographic (NG)
Natural Gas Europe (NGE)
Naval Today (NT)
New York Times (NYT)
NORA Region Trends (NORA)
Northern Journal (NORJ)
Northern News Service Online (NNSO)
Northern Public Affairs (NPA)
Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI)
Nunatsiaq News (NN)
Oil & Gas Journal (OGJ)
Ottawa Citizen (OC)
Petroleum News (PN)
RIA Novosti (RIAN)
Russia Beyond the Headlines (RBTH)
Russia Today (RT)
Voice of Russia (VOR)
Wall Street Journal (WSJ)
Washington Post (WP)
Whitehorse Star (WS)
Winnipeg Free Press (WFP)
Yukon News (YN)
Copyright © 2016 The Arctic Institute, All rights reserved.


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