The Arctic This Week November 9 - November 15, 2015  Photo: Marc Jacobsen 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. Been to Bodø and the High North Dialogue this year? If not, do not miss out next year and join us for #HND16 and find out if there is a blue future of the Arctic?  TAI’s RECENT ACTIVITIES As part of our collaboration with the Norwegian newspaper High North News, TAI’s Malte Humpert has briefly discussed Statoil’s recent withdrawal from offshore oil exploration in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea. The article ‘A trend to leave the Arctic’ can be found here. THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES Dozens of Russian oil projects put on hold for years Russia’s major oil companies announced that at least 29 planned projects will be postponed nationwide, and a number of the targeted projects are located in the Russian Arctic. Included on the list of plays being postponed is Gazprom’s Zapadno-Tambeyskoye field off the northern Yamal Peninsula, which now isn’t scheduled to start until at least 2023 (IBO). In addition, all new drilling in the Kara Sea has been postponed until at least 2017-2018, in large part due to the effects of Western sanctions (IBO). Meanwhile in a piece of positive news for the Russian oil sector, several new onshore and offshore fields are starting to come online in Nenets and in the nearby Pechora and Kara Seas (IBO). Mineral exploration spending down in Yukon & NWT, up in Nunavut Spending on mineral exploration projects in Yukon and the NWT dropped in 2015 compared to 2014. In the NWT spending on exploration and appraisals dropped 9% from $101.7m in 2014 to $93m in 2015. In Yukon, the drop was only about 2.5%, from $107.1 to $104.8m. Meanwhile, in Nunavut spending on exploration and appraisals in 2015 exploded by about 30%, from $158m in 2014 to $202.5m (CBC). Nunavut is looking to create a new, more modern Mental Health Act and is turning to local Inuit for help When Nunavut officially became a Canadian Territory in 1999, a Mental Health Act was also adopted; at the time this piece of legislature was already 10 years old. Now, both the people and the government are looking to make a more relevant version. The government is therefore turning to, among others, the Inuit people to ensure that the new act will incorporate how Inuit people feel about the prevalent issues, specifically suicide (CBC). Clyde River and Greenpeace against seismic testing In a cooperation described as surprising, the Clyde River community in Nunavut gets help by Greenpeace in a legal battle against a consortium of international companies. Hunters from Clyde River fear that the proposed seismic testing off the coast of Baffin Island will disrupt and harm the marine mammals they depend on. Last year, Greenpeace formally apologized to the Inuit for their anti-sealing campaigns in the 1970s and 1980s (CBC). THE POLITICAL SCENE Europe Canada Russia United States ENERGY Oil production stagnating in Yamal Total oil production across Russia’s Yamal Peninsula in 2015 is expected to drop in 2015 compared with output in 2014, according to the region’s governor (UPI). The 4% decrease from 158 million barrels to 152 barrels is being attributed entirely to a lack of adequate infrastructure in the Russian Arctic to support growth in production (AIR). Canada Canada going green (PN). Finland Norway Opinion: Russians and Norwegians have different oil expectations (HNN, in Norwegian). Russia In a move to replace some Western partners lost to sanctions, Russia’s Rosneft has entered talks with Chinese counterparts regarding possible partnerships on Arctic oil projects (Reuters, Sputnik). United States Investigated for climate cheating (Exxon Mobil) (HNN, in Norwegian). Miscellaneous The cost of Arctic oil (Arctic Business). SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE The sovereignty of Alaska and the National Park Service The U.S. Supreme Court is about to decide on a lawsuit brought up by Anchorage resident John Sturgeon against the National Park Service (NPS) and the Department of the Interior. The point of contention is regarding NPS’ authority over state waterways that pass through lands under control of the federal agency. The case is particularly relevant for the long-standing contest over the sovereignty of the State of Alaska (AJOC). Earth sciences, climate and weather Sea ice plays a pivotal role in the Arctic methane cycle (Astro Biology). Northern lights on the TEDx event show (UArctic). Melting Arctic ice cap could alter global thermostat: expert (Yahoo! News). Wildlife and ecology Male bears have ravaged in Finnmark - large flocks of sheep killed (HNN, in Norwegian). Environmental management Model Arctic Council at NEFU: Students suggest introducing penalties for environmental violations (UArctic). Expeditions & research blogs Research and university news Starting inaugural Lule Sámi masters program (NRK, in Norwegian). Archaeology and history MILITARY / SEARCH & RESCUE Europe Russia Canada MINING Canada Greenland Russia Nickel giant Norilsk is investing heavily in its port facilities in Murmansk with the aim of doubling the amount of ore it can move from Siberia to processing facilities on the Kola Peninsula by the end of 2016 (IBO; Norilsk Nickel, in Russian). United States FISHERIES, SHIPPING AND OTHER BUSINESS NEWS Fisheries FISH FACTOR: Westward Tanner season called off again; Alaska a winner in TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) (AJOC). Seafood Industry message ready on Friday (Norway) (HNN, in Norwegian). Freedom and flexibility, Aspaker removes several obligations in fisheries (Norway) (HNN, in Norwegian). In the right direction, but not good enough (Norway) (HNN, in Norwegian). Shipping NAO suffers poor North-Sea rates (Seatrade Maritime). Vasiliy Golovnin Completes Voyage of Western Arctic Region (Shipping and Marine Events). Aviation Tourism Wild sheep and salt flakes from Saltstraumen - recipe for more tourists (Norway) (HNN, in Norwegian). Other business and economic news U.S. & Canada Russia Deeper into recession (IBO). At Murmansk business week to discuss cooperation in the Arctic (FreeNews.xyz). Nordics Sixty Minutes a Week to Get Your Money (Iceland) (HNN). “Nord i Sør” becomes broader (HNN, in Norwegian). HEALTH, YOUTH, SOCIETY AND CULTURE Health Spice is a synthetic drug that is raising many questions in Alaska, and Anchorage in particular has been hit hard by what some are calling an outbreak in the drug’s usage. This outbreak has led the Alaskan Assembly to pass a measure that gives law enforcement more options in dealing with the drug (APM). Youth Several schools in Northern Alaska will lose funding if the minimum amount of students needed per school is increased. This would be a loss, not only to the students who would lose out on an education, but also the community. Many of these schools are hubbs for culture and a haven for the community (APM). Society Advent Calendars are getting a makeover in the Yukon. The Yukon Liquor Corporation has created an alcoholic advent calendar that allow recipients to try 24 craft beers throughout the holiday season. This year the 100 calendars created were sold out in little more than an hour (CBC). Researcher: I was Surprised by the Violence in the Country (NRK, in Norwegian). Culture MOONSHOT: The Indigenous Comics Collection is using a new form of popular culture to combat preconceived notions about Indigenous peoples. Using comics as a method to combat ignorance and racism is an effective method due to the ability that combining words and visuals have on impacting perceptions (CBC). 37 Year-Old American Takes Over as Museum Director (NRK, in Norwegian). INFRASTRUCTURE United States Europe On track (AJ). 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) |
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