The Arctic This Week January 26 - February 1, 2015  Photo: Thomas Leth-Olsen 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. THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES Drilling Restrictions in ANWR, Beaufort, and Chukchi Seas Proponents of Alaskan oil and gas have suffered a double setback as the Obama administration has moved to limit exploration and drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, as well as ban drilling in parts of the Beaufort Chukchi Seas (NYTimes,AD,AJ). Reactions have been, as expected, varied, hyperbolic, and intensely emotional: Rep. Don Young called Obama a “wacko” and Sen. Murkowski has accused him of acting via “executive fiat” (AD); the Heritage Foundation’s Stephen Moore accuses Obama of hiding a “radical climate-change agenda” behind what Moore considers more tolerable concerns about protecting wildlife and wilderness areas, much to the glee of ISIS and Vladimir Putin (Daily Signal); and, Alaska Governor Bill Walker described himself as “very frustrated” with the move (APM). Fairbanks Republican Click Bishop mustered one of the more creative responses: drawing inspiration from Ted Cruz’s infamous Green Eggs and Ham filibuster, Bishop read a Dr. Suess-inspired speech on the floor of the legislature (APM). Conversely, “conservationists in Alaska and outside the state praised Obama, saying that while his recommendation currently has no practical change on refuge management, the action replaces Reagan-era policy and will send an enduring signal of the administration’s commitment to protecting the wilderness” (AD). Volcanoes galore This week has been heavy on volcano news. Earlier last week, an Alaska Airlines flight to Nome had to skip its destination because of debris from the Russian volcano Shiveluch on the Kamchatka Peninsula, which erupted again last Monday (AS). In Alaska, it has been one year since the Shishaldin Volcano “woke up… and didn’t go back to sleep” (APM). Meanwhile, Augustine Volcano in Cook Inlet has a tendency to become top-heavy, causing occasional rock slides into the ocean. Zebulon Maharrey of USGS has discovered evidence for a tsunami caused by Volcano Augustine around the time of the construction of the Egyptian pyramids (APM). In Iceland, the sulphur dioxide emitted since the eruption at the lava field Holuhraun has been found to be harmful with 50 - 60 thousand tons of the gas being released every day (mbl). Federal government considering changes to Nutrition North program The Canadian federal government has posted a tender seeking out new proposals for how to operate the Nutrition North food subsidy program. The program replaced the previous Food Mail program in 2011 as a means of lowering food prices in northern communities. However, a November audit found that the government has failed to provide proper oversight as to whether the subsidies are actually lowering prices for customers (CBC). Along these lines, activists called for a boycott of North West Company stores on January 31 to protest high food prices (CBC). While volunteers and donors in southern Canada have sent large amounts of groceries north in response to Nunavut’s current food crisis, some Nunavut activists are saying the donations are only a temporary fix that’s masking bigger problems (CBC, NN). Yukon Zinc shuts down Wolverine mine, faces financial difficulties Yukon Zinc will shut down the Wolverine mine for at least two to three months, citing a decline in metal prices. The announcement came as members of Yukon’s First Nations met with mining executives in Vancouver regarding legislation concerning mining activities on native lands in Yukon, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories (YN, with a more detailed perspective on the event from CBC). It was revealed later in the week that financial problems have also put Yukon Zinc behind on a nearly $3 million payment in overdue security deposit payments to the Yukon government meant to fund the mine’s eventual closure and environmental reclamation. This has put the company out of compliance with its mining license, which may create legal issues (YN). The shutdown was not a shock to industry insiders, however, given global economic conditions (CBC). UPCOMING CONFERENCE The annual High North Dialogue Conference will take March 17-19, 2015 in Bodø Norway. To find out more click here.  THE POLITICAL SCENE United States Europe Russia Canada ENERGY Arctic general Call for Presentations - 2015 Arctic Energy Summit, September 28-30, Alaska. Abstracts due by February 27 (Alaska Business). Russia US Nikaitchuq primed for royalty reduction (North Slope) (PN). Canada Canadian ‘price shock’ (PN). Nordics Faroe Petroleum leaves Iceland (NORA). SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE Weather and climate While Alaska's Interior enters a deep freeze, Southeast sets warmth, rainfall records (AD) andJuneau sets record for January rainfall with 11.29 inches (AD). Climate study says Arctic sea ice meltdown could pause for years due to natural variability (Full-Time Whistle). Hot as Barents! (BO) Flora and fauna Atlantic, Pacific Fish Face Mixing as Arctic Warms (Discovery News). Environmental management Plastic in the Ocean (APM). Research and university news The University of Greenland is divided into two departments (KNR, in Danish). Institutions of higher education plan to merge (Norway) (BO). Miscellaneous MILITARY / SEARCH & RESCUE SOCOM Commander Sees Arctic as Priority On the eve of a trip to Norway, General Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, has highlighted tensions in the Arctic as a potential threat, with a focus on Russia’s increasing military buildup in the area (National Defense Magazine). United States Russia Russian Fleet Causes Concern in Norway (NORA Region Trends). Europe Canada Canada Orders Six Arctic Patrol Ships Worth $2.3 Bln (Naval Today). MINING Weak ruble compensates falling nickel price Russian conglomerate Norilsk-Nickel expects strong returns despite the decline of global nickel prices. This has been offset by the weak ruble and the company’s avoidance of Western sanctions that have plagued many other Russian companies (BO). Talvivaara may seek more state aid Troubled Finnish mining company Talvivaara may need more state aid in addition to a 60 million euro bailout granted last November (BO). The company has received a brief reprieve, however, as a Finnish court gave it until mid-March to submit a corporate restructuring plan (EOTA). The future of Greenland’s mining industry: opinions Two editorials worth a read this week address resource issues in Greenland: one discusses the impact of nationalizing the NunaMinerals mining company on investors (Arctic Journal), while the other assesses a report on a potential resource rush one year after its publication (Arctic Journal). Another article, in Danish, shows NunaMinerals’ chairman casting doubt on the company’s survival (KNR). Store Norke requests crisis loan from the Norwegian government The financially-beleaguered Svalbard coal mining company Store Norske has requested a 450 million NOK ($58 million USD) crisis loan from the Norwegian government to avoid bankruptcy. Following the company’s loan request, the Norwegian government announced it is commissioning a whitepaper on Svalbard that will focus on development issues, including the future of the coal mining industry in the Arctic archipelago and the industries effect on the town of Longyearbyen (BO). Lower oil prices have mixed impact on Alaska’s mining sector The recent drop in oil prices has had both positive and negative effects on Alaska’s mining industry. While energy and transportation costs have decreased, the state’s budget shortfall has put several development projects on hold that would benefit the mining sector, including the planned 200-mile long Ambler Road project that would link the Ambler Mining District with global markets (PN). The Canadian federal government accepted the Nunavut Impact Review Board’s recommendation to approve Agnico Eagle Mines’ Meliadine gold project in the Kivalliq region, marking a big step forward for the project that is expected to produce 2.8 million ounces of gold (NN). Ucore Rare Metals Inc. announced promising new findings from exploratory drillings conducted at its Bokan-Dotson Ridge rare earth element project on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska that could lead to a deeper expansion of the existing site (PN). The project manager for the Kaunisvaara mine in Swedish Lapland has claimed that there are parties interested in buying the mine. The mine shuttered this past December following the bankruptcy of owner Northland Resources (BO). Nordea’s decision to divest itself of coal mine holdings has raised questions about the financial future of investments in the coal industry (EOTA). Northern Neighbors (PN). FISHERIES, SHIPPING AND OTHER BUSINESS NEWS Selling marijuana in Alaska Since the legalization of marijuana in Alaska, there has been much discussion about how to distribute and profit from it. The “Alaska Cannabis Club” is planning to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Anchorage on February 24, the day that recreational marijuana becomes legal. Since the sale of marijuana will remain illegal, patients will make donations in return (AD). Fisheries Effect of Climate fluctuations on Fisheries in a Sub-Arctic Environment (Climate Vulture). Shipping Aviation Other business and economic news Alaska and Canada Business Leaders Meet For Innovation Summit (Alaska) (APM). Territory hopes to dress Japanese, Chinese to the nines (N.W.T., Canada) (NORJ). Greenland Great Greenland-designer: sealskin should be in ordinary fashion stores (KNR, in Danish). Law professor: Thule is a lost case (KNR, in Danish). New report on the way on job opportunities in Greenland (KNR, in Danish). Russia Time to tighten the belt (Murmansk Oblast) (BO). Finland Business think tank: Double the immigration rate (Finland) (YLE). Nordics Slight increase in unemployment (Norway Post). The Arctic Circle's Coolest Accommodations Turn 25 Years Old (Sweden) (NPR). HEALTH, EDUCATION, SOCIETY AND CULTURE Alaska, cities deal with school funding and workload issues The chairman of the Anchorage School District has called for the sparing of teachers when facing budget cuts in the next fiscal year, and has even proposed funding for 24 new teaching positions (AD). Still, some Anchorage teachers have protested claimed inequities in pay and workload between elective and core subject teachers (APM). In order to address budget and retention issues that have resulted in reliance on out-of-state teachers, the University of Alaska is planning an initiative to recruit more homegrown teachers from within the state (AD). Highly anticipated TV crime thriller set in the Arctic debuts to positive reviews “Fortitude”, a crime thriller set in the Arctic, premiered on the British television network Sky on January 29th to positive reviews (ABC). The story is set in a fictional town in Svalbard, and if the show is successful, the Norwegian Arctic archipelago is expected to see a bump in tourism dollars (Daily Mail). Prompted by the premier of the show, the The Independent newspaper took a look at the Arctic as an increasingly-frequent setting in arts and entertainment (The Independent). Finally, as part of the marketing for the show, a life-sized animatronic polar bear was recently unleashed on the London Underground, much to the shock of commuters and the delight of social media (London Evening Standard, Daily Record). Final preparations underway for 2015 Yukon Quest dog race The Yukon Quest, Alaska’s lesser-known long distance dog race after the Iditarod, is scheduled to begin on February 7th in Fairbanks, Alaska. Mushers have been making their final preparations this week ahead of the 1,000-mile race, which concludes in Whitehorse, Canada (APM). This year will mark a first in the race’s 31-year history, as musher Brent Sass will be the first competitor to wear a helmet a year after he suffered a concussion during the same race (CBC). Health Over 200 kilometers for doctor at night - Eastern Lapland hospital night duty transferred to Rovaniemi (LK, in Finnish). Youth A group of parents at Nunavut’s only francophone school have called for leadership changes in the territory’s francophone education board, citing a lack of transparency regarding recent staffing issues (NN; see also CBC). A youth perspective on the challenges facing the North (Centre for International Governance Innovation). Fewer children placed in Qaasuitsup Municipality (KNR, in Danish). Society A revived form of Norse paganism is making a comeback of sorts in Iceland, where the construction of a new temple devoted to the Norse gods was recently announced (G&M). Ahead of the Super Bowl, Alaska Dispatch News profiled George Nix, a Haida Indian who became the first Alaskan to play in the NFL in 1926 (AD; see also AD). The upcoming legalization of recreational marijuana use in Alaska is expected to force the retirement of 10 dogs from the Alaska State Troopers’ K-9 unit. They will be replaced by a new corps of dogs who will instead only be trained to detect drugs that still remain illegal (AD). Arctic 30: Tales from a Russian prison (Responding to Climate Change). Arctic Winter Games need volunteers (in Danish, KNR). Kotzebue man sentenced to 9 years for child porn charges (Arctic Sounder). Culture Two northern recording artists - one from Nunavut and one from NWT - have each been nominated for the Aboriginal Album of the Year at the 2015 Juno Awards (CBC). The documentary film festival DocPoint 2015 kicked off this week in Helsinki, featuring over 160 films, several of which focus on Finland and Russia (Yle). The Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, WA will host an Arctic-focused art exhibition until late April entitled, “Vanishing Ice: Alpine and Polar Landscapes in Art, 1775-2012” (McMichael). The Daily Mail published an interesting travel review of Svalbard (Daily Mail). Perhaps the long-time allure of the Arctic would inspire a trip to such a place (The Independent). 'Operation Arctic (Operasjon arktis)': Sundance Review (Hollywood Reporter). Freezing revellers claim world record for coldest disco dance on Earth (The Siberian Times). INFRASTRUCTURE United States Canada How to Thread a Fiber-Optic Cable Through the Arctic (IEEE Spectrum). Abbreviation Key Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) Aftenbladet (AB) Alaska Business Monthly (ABM) Alaska Dispatch (AD) Alaska Journal of Commerce (AJC) Alaska Native News (ANN) Alaska Public Media (APM) Anchorage Daily News (ADN) Arctic Info (Russian) (AIR) Arctic Institute (TAI) Barents Nova (BN) Barents Observer (BO) Bristol Bay Times (BBT) BusinessWeek (BW) Canadian Mining Journal (CMJ) Christian Science Monitor (CSM) Eye on the Arctic (EOTA) Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (FNM) Financial Times (FT) Globe and Mail (G&M) Government of Canada (GOC) Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Huffington Post (HP) Indian Country Today Media Network (ICTMN) Johnson’s Russia List (JRL) Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (KNR) Lapin Kansa (LK) Moscow Times (MT) National Geographic (NG) Natural Gas Europe (NGE) Naval Today (NT) New York Times (NYT) Northern Journal (NJ) 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) |
↧
Arctic News: The Arctic This Week February 4
↧