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The Arctic This Week September 19 - September 25, 2016
By Ella Daly, Pavel Devyatkin, Helen Helling, Val Muzik, Vincent Schulze, Yashwinie Shivanand, and Ryan Uljua September 28, 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.
The Arctic Institute welcomes Ella, Pavel, Helen, Val, Vincent and Yashwinie.
More info on our new colleagues who are now responsible for TATW is soon to be found on our webpage.
TAI’s RECENT ACTIVITIES
Check out Victoria Herrmann’s recent commentary on the U.S. presidential election and the potential impact on Alaska.
THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES
The Arctic Council celebrates 20 years
To mark its twentieth anniversary, the Arctic Council released a press statement reconfirming its commitment to the Ottawa Declaration and cooperation with Indigenous permanent participants towards the goals of “prosperity, development, and environmental sustainability” (EOTA, TAJ). Upon the signing of the Ottawa Declaration in 1996, the forum has aimed to address sustainable development and environmental protection (EOTA). The Arctic Council has since found itself to be of utility in producing benchmark reports and an excellent arena for negotiations (MarEx). Happy 20th anniversary, Arctic Council!
Elections held in Russian Arctic
On Sunday, September 25, 2016, parliamentary elections were held across Russia, with overwhelming results favoring for pro-Putin parties (IBO). Gaplikov won Komi Republic with 62.17 of the votes (IBO), United Russia won Murmansk with 39.3 percent of the votes (IBO), while Yabloko won the Republic of Karelia with 9.9 percent of the votes (IBO).
Operations start at joint oil field in far northern Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave official permission to initiate the launch of commercial operations at a joint Gazprom Neft and Rosneft oil field in northernmost continental Russia. Tax revenues are expected to amount to $15.52 bln, according to Gazprom’s CEO (Sputnik, TASS, TASS).
Greenland ice sheet melting faster than thought
A new GPS-based study shows that the Greenland ice sheet is melting 7% faster than previously thought, suggesting that the rate of ice melt has been underestimated by around 20 billion tons per year. (Rappler, Northern California News). It is yet unclear how much this will affect future sea level rise predictions (CBC, ABC News).
Ottawa’s Museum of Nature set to open Arctic Gallery
The Museum of Nature in Ottawa has announced that Canada Goose will sponsor a new exhibit, the Arctic Gallery, for the next 10 years. Historical artifacts will be presented alongside modern artwork and exhibits on climate, sustainability, geography, and ecosystems (NN). The gallery, set to open in June of 2017, will be curated in part by Inuit communities in order to capture a complex picture and combat stereotypes of the Canadian Arctic (CBC).
THE POLITICAL SCENE
Asylum seeker returns to Russia
On Friday, September 23, 2016, a Russian citizen requested asylum from Norway (NRK). The asylum seeker road in Storskog on a bicycle—walking between the Russian Borisoglebsk border checkpoint and the Norwegian Storskog border checkpoint is forbidden (IBO). Since then, the asylum biker’s application has been rejected by Norway’s immigration ministry, UDI, and he has voluntarily returned to Russia (NRK, in Norwegian).
Transnational
Climate and Development Head the Arctic Council’s Agenda (Arctic Deeply).
Canada
'All high fives': Canada wraps up research mission to prove Arctic ownership claims (CBC).
Ottawa not ready to back Nunavut’s road to the Arctic Ocean (NN).
Liard First Nation members clash over election (CBC).
Nunavut Tourism stripped of funds and responsibilities (CBC).
Iceland
Iceland ratifies climate deal (HNN).
Norway
Twelve of a hundred roads get Sami name (NRK, in Norwegian).
People in Troms most positive to merge counties (NRK, in Norwegian).
Storskog-fence built a few centimeters too close to Russia (IBO.)
The ambassador who went back into the cold (TAJ).
Hattrem ends as junior foreign minister (HNN).
Clear expectations of the government's new High North forum (HNN).
Russia
Putin to discuss social policy with government, meet with Paralympians and scientists (TASS).
Russian Foreign Ministry: Arctic Council turns Arctic region into peace zone (TASS).
Putin to hold meeting of Strategic Development Council (TASS).
United States
Begich out - not considering run for Senate (AJOC).
ENERGY
Russia
Pumps starting at Russia’s northernmost oil field (IBO).
Kolguyev oil changes hands (IBO).
Sovcomflot delivers first Yamal oil in Murmansk (IBO).
Oil pipes threatened by forest fires amid disputes over the scale of destruction (ST).
Putin Launches N. Russia Oil Field's Commercial Operation (Sputnik).
Arctic Development in Action: Russia Commissions Northernmost Oil Field on Earth (Sputnik).
Canada
Time to invest in renewable energy for Arctic communities: WWF-Canada (RCI).
Quebec company touts wind power in Canada's Arctic (RCI).
Arctic communities move to reduce reliance on diesel fuel (CMJ).
United States
Pipeline Promises: Alaska’s quest for a natural gas line (APM).
LNG rail shipments to begin demonstrations (APM).
Alaska Railroad prepares for first U.S. shipments of natural gas (AJOC).
Prudhoe plan approved on day Oil & Gas Division director resigned (AJOC).
Pipeline Promises: Alaska’s quest for a natural gas line (KTOO).
Norway
Government Party supports the proposal to ban heavy oil (KNR).
MILITARY / SEARCH & RESCUE
Russian military drills and cruise missile practice
Russia's Northern and Pacific Fleet warship took part in tactical naval drills in the Arctic. Russia has been stepping up its military, trade, and exploration activities in the Arctic region. It has been building transport and energy production infrastructure, as well as installing military facilities and developing the Northern Sea Route linking Europe to Asia (Sputnik, see also Sputnik).
Russia
Russia's Northern, Pacific Fleets Participate in Arctic Region Tactical Drills (Sputnik, see also TASS).
Norway Bets on F-35 to Attack Targets in Russia (Sputnik).
Current scale of defense facilities construction in Russia comparable only to 1970’s (TASS).
Shooting cruise missiles from Arctic archipelago (IBO).
From Severomorsk to Syria (IBO).
Russia moves missiles to Finnish border (EOTA).
United States
Alaska senator says Navy has explaining to do (EOTA).
MINING
Canada
Altius Minerals Corporation has new gold prospects discovered at Wilding Lake and optioned to Northwest Arm Capital (CMJ).
Company starts trenching at well-known Newfoundland quarry (CMJ).
Diamond processing at Ekati resumes, three months after fire (CBC).
De Beers opens massive diamond mine near Arctic Circle in Canada (SCMP).
Four oil and gas companies could get exclusive lifetime exploration rights in N.W.T. (CBC).
Feasibility of Victoria Gold’s Eagle project is promising (CMJ).
Expanded Eagle Gold mine plan indicates robust financial payoff (PN).
United States
Transboundary mine developer shutting down (APM).
Finland
Finns begin to abandon lawsuits against Talvivaara mining company (EOTA).
Greenland
New ownership structure approved for ruby mine (TAJ).
Norway
Norwegian Discovery Triggers Fears Underwater Arctic Mining Could Cause Damage (Sputnik).
SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Atmospheric acidity has decreased
Studies of ice cores from the Greenland ice sheet reveal that atmospheric acidity has gone down to preindustrial levels (ScienceDaily). The industrial acid pollution that began in the 1930’s and peaked in the 1960’s and 1970’s has fallen dramatically (HP).
Earth sciences, climate and weather
Greenland's extreme heat continued into this summer (AD).
Ask a Climatologist: The Blob is back (APM).
New European satellite provides crystal-clear view of Arctic (Cryopolitics).
NASA Observes Effects of Summer Melt on Greenland Ice Sheet (Spaceref).
Glacial Rebound (Herald Review).
New research: the ice cap is melting faster than you thought (KNR, in Danish).
Dramatic Visualizations Show Just How Quickly the Arctic Is Melting (Gizmodo).
Cruise Ships And Icebergs Should Not Mix; The Arctic Is Not Ice-Free (HP).
Where Ice Once Crushed Ships, Open Water Beckons (NYT).
Sea-ice Extent Reports Help Public Understand Climate Change’s Impact on Arctic, Experts Say (KUAC).
Climate change demands close watch, accurate measures in Arctic (AD).
Five Canadian communities threatened by climate change now (CBC).
Above the Arctic Circle, climate change closes in on the remote town of Barrow (Toronto Star).
How warmer seas are changing our planet for the worse (Zeenews).
Wildlife and ecology
Rabies endures with help of the arctic fox (Bristol Bay Times).
Aquatic Plants May Accelerate Arctic Methane Emissions (EOS).
Terns flee warming temperatures in epic migration north to Alaska (The Guardian).
Melting sea ice leaves polar bears hungry (EarthSky).
Polar bears not the only animals affected by disappearing ice: Bob McDonald (CBC).
Arctic ice melt is killing birds and will leave caribou stranded (New Scientist).
4 charged in Alaska with illegally killing walrus, causing stampedes (CBC).
Greenland Sharks Can Get 400 Years Old (Eatglobe).
Lice on wild fish have caused a negative effect on stocks this summer (NRK, in Norwegian).
The all-natural ‘environmental disaster’: The Yukon creek that has been dyed red by rust for millennia (National Post).
Siberia Has Been Burning All Summer (Gizmodo).
A journey to the end of the world: The Arctic Sea's Wrangel Island (Forbes India).
Environmental management
BP in the Bight: why the planned oil spill response is too slow to protect the coast (The Conversation).
What’s the latest in the battle over the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? (Augusta Free Press).
Danish shipowners want ban on heavy oil in the Arctic (KNR, in Danish).
The compulsory slaughter of 250,000 reindeer (NRK, in Norwegian).
"Seeds on Ice": A tribute to the seed vault in Svalbard and Norway (HNN, in Norwegian).
Research and university news
Northern Fleet’s hydrographers discover new Arctic islands (Arctic.ru).
First step in the Deep Space mission (Phys.org).
Estimates of diesel soot pollution will help Arctic environment (Phys.org).
Got clams? Researcher hopes to collect shellfish to study Iqaluit waters (CBC).
Tracking the hunters (Winnipeg Free Press).
'All high fives': Canada wraps up research mission to prove Arctic ownership claims (CBC).
Ship of Fools II Expedition Escapes Arctic Freeze by Skin of its Teeth (Breitbart).
British conservationist takes to the skies for 4,500-mile migration with swans (The Guardian).
N.L. man completes month-long journey across Greenland ice cap (CBC).
Pioneering polar explorer on life in temperatures of -58.9C (Kentnews).
Siberian scientists unveil boots for Earth's coldest temperatures (RBTH).
Polar explorer's new challenge: climate change (Arizona Daily Sun).
Scientist at work: Tracking melt water under the Greenland ice sheet (Chron).
Ocean Research Project: NASA Survey (Cruising World).
Summit on Arctic research in Washington (HNN, in Norwegian).
Fostering scientific diplomacy in the Arctic (Russia Direct).
How to Create Policy-Relevant Research for a Sustainable Arctic Future (Arctic Deeply).
PolarTREC 2017-2018 Application Period is open! (PolarTREC).
AMAP: International Conference on Arctic Science: Bringing Knowledge to Action (UArctic).
Nunavut’s Canadian High Arctic Research Station gets set for 2017 launch (Nunatsiaq Online).
University of Alaska tuition could go up 10 percent next fall (AJOC).
Archaeology and history
Long-Lost ‘Ghost Ship’ Discovered In Arctic Sea Bed (Inquisitr).
The Last Great Arctic Shipwreck (The Atlantic).
Ghosts of the expedition (TAJ).
Melting Ice in the Arctic is Actually a Nightmare for Archaeologists (Scientific American).
Photographic record of early Arctic expedition to go under the hammer (Plymouth Herald).
Winnipegger shares Arctic history, information, aboard Crystal Serenity cruise ship (CBC).
Connecting the Vineyard to the Arctic, Whaling Family Tree Is Familiar (Vineyard Gazette).
The war in northern Norway is far from forgotten (NRK, in Norwegian).
Orkney legacy for Arctic explorer who was given the cold shoulder (The Times).
FISHERIES, SHIPPING AND OTHER BUSINESS NEWS
Federal court overturns state control of Cook Inlet salmon
Siding with commercial fishing group United Cook Inlet Drifters Association (UCIDA), the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a 2011 decision made by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council that had placed several fisheries under the control of the State of Alaska (APM). The decision places the fisheries back under the federal management plan, which the UCIDA says will alleviate the issue of under harvesting (AJOC).
Fisheries
Opinion: Shot in the foot and tangled up in red tape (TAJ).
Walker requests disaster declaration for humpy fishery (AJOC).
Fisheries Dissension within same-Ap (NRK, in Norwegian).
Alaska fisheries escape effects of climate change for now (APM).
Shipping
Cruise Ships And Icebergs Should Not Mix; The Arctic Is Not Ice-Free (HP).
Permanent Fund will not invest in oil tax credits (APM).
Mat-Su Borough lawsuit could stall commercial marijuana in the valley (APM).
Bent Columbia propeller shrinks Southeast ferry service (APM).
Danish shippers want IMO heavy fuel ban in Arctic (TAJ).
Around the Arctic in 21 minutes (TAJ).
Shipping companies snub Russian Arctic route (IBO).
New Oil Tanker Begins Year-Round Service in Russian Arctic (GCaptain).
Where Ice Once Crushed Ships, Open Water Beckons (NYT).
Business & Finance
Fed keeps key rate unchanged but hints of hike (AJOC).
Alaska’s bankers keeping their eyes on an uncertain future (AJOC).
Alaskans endure rising insurance costs (APM).
UArctic Congress participants suggest developing Arctic code of business ethics (Arctic.ru).
HEALTH, YOUTH, SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Orthodontics a huge challenge for Northern residents
Due to the isolated nature of some communities in the Canadian Arctic, orthodontic upkeep requires many northern patients to take bi-monthly flights to larger communities. These flights are disruptive to the academic lives of the adolescents receiving orthodontic care and costly to Health Canada, which covers both the cost of care and the frequent health-related travel costs for Indigenous Canadians. Many northern Canadians resist traveling great distances to receive health care, but are often left with no other options (Maclean’s).
Health
A new detox center in Whitehorse will service double the number clients of the center it is replacing, as well as increase the program length from 28 to 30-90 days (CBC).
Alaska’s heroin problem brings together state, local and federal leaders in search of a solution (EOTA).
National suicide prevention conference coming to Nunavut’s capital (NN).
MPs head to Nunavut to study 'tragic epidemic' of suicide (CBC).
Youth
Nunavut government to close Iqaluit youth home at month’s end (NN).
Society
Cambridge Bay set to create tiny house community to meet demands for affordable housing by its quick growing population (AD).
The Arctic Inspiration Prize, awarded annually to groups committed to benefitting the Canadian Arctic, has grown into a charitable trust and will appoint a new board of directors to increase ‘Northern ownership’ (CBC).
New art piece in Juneau brings awareness to homelessness (APM).
Blog: A glimpse of the Arctic’s past and future in Newfoundland, Canada (EOTA).
Indigenous or Aboriginal: Which is correct? (CBC).
No longer fearing water (TAJ).
Canadian police must acknowledge racial bias to fix it, Indigenous advocates say (CBC).
'A misunderstanding': Northerners question failing grades on new justice report card (CBC).
No sign of bombs after Nunavut school, airport threat, RCMP says (CBC).
Culture
The body of Inuk chalk-and-ink artist Annie Pootoogook was found in Ottawa; police are seeking more information on her final hours (CBC).
‘Sealskin Sewing Channel’ features instructional videos on creating sealskin clothing as part of programme aiming to increase Inuit access to information technology for cultural preservation (TAJ).
Saami accuse a Danish jeweler of 'stealing' traditional designs (AD).
Playing Scrabble in Chipewyan: New game helps teach language (CBC).
Mixing traditions: Nunavut fur designer installs sod roof in Iqaluit (CBC).
Canada’s National Film Board shares its treasure trove of Inuit stories (EOTA).
Tanya Tagaq seeks Retribution with new album (CBC).
Have guitar, will travel (TAJ).
INFRASTRUCTURE
Cost of drinking water expected to soar in Sweden (EOTA).
Upgrade to improve internet for 20,000 Greenlanders (TAJ).
Expert View: Safe Water and Sanitation in Arctic Communities (Arctic Deeply).
High winds knock out power to 33,000 Interior households (APM).
NTCL insolvency threatens remote Arctic communities (G&M).
Abbreviation Key
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN)
Aftenbladet (AB)
Alaska Business Monthly (ABM)
Alaska Dispatch News (AD)
Arctic Journal (TAJ)
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)
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