Tuesday, 21 February 2012 15:04 Written by Eilís Quinn

A NASA-funded collaborative research team launched a rocket Feb. 18 from Alaska's Poker Flat Research Range to collect data from the heart of the aurora some 202 miles above Earth.Photo: Mark Conde, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Alaska Dispatch.

There's some amazing photos on the website of our Eye on the Arctic collegues at Alaska Dispatch.

The photos were taken when a sounding rocket was launched on Saturday, February 18 to take data during the aurora borealis.

To read the article and scroll through the photo gallery, click here.

Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca

Monday, 20 February 2012 15:30 Written by Eilís Quinn

Radio Canada International.

I was just reading the Climate and E-Health Newsletter from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. 

In it, they highlighted a 2011 BBC video on the mussel harvest in Kangiqsujuaq, a small Inuit community in the far north of Quebec, Canada.

The footage was flimed for the BBC's Human Planet but the extract the BBC posted on their site is stunning.

Well worth a watch if you haven't seen it already.

To watch, click here.

Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca

Friday, 17 February 2012 16:48 Written by Eilís Quinn

An unmanned aerial vehicles. Photo: JUNG YEON-JE, AFP.

An overview of some of the most read stories on Eye on the Arctic this week:

Alaska - United States

Unmanned Arial Vehicles, better known as drones, may play an increasing role in developing the Arctic in the United States. And may be used for everything from wildlife counts to monitoring forest fires or environmental disasters.

Sweden

The Maser (Material Science Experiment Rocket) was launched from Sweden's Arctic city of Kiruna this week. In it, an experiment examining why space travel weakens astronauts' immune systems. Elsewhere in Sweden's North, Facebook is being critisized for not planning to recycle heat produced by the thousands of computer processors in it's planned server park.

Canada

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), Canada's national Inuit organization is calling for improvements to Arctic search and rescue after the death of an teenage boy in Nunatsiavut, in Canada's North Atlantic.

Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca

Friday, 10 February 2012 15:59 Written by Eilís Quinn

Man walks past Greenland flag at sundown. Photo: Eilís Quinn, Radio Canada International.

Here's a sampling of some of the Arctic stories that had Eye on the Arctic visitors talking this week:

Greenland:

Greenland was in shock this week after a triple murder in Nutaarmiut, a remote Inuit village in the territory's northwest.

Canada:

In Canada, a study explores just why snowy owls are migrating out of the Arctic in unusually large numbers.

Sapmi:

Sami National Day was celebrated this week across the Sami areas of Russia, Norway, Finland and Russia .

Norway:

A new computer game called Naval War: Arctic Circle has been developed to let players lead Russian or NATO forces into battle over the Arctic.

Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca

Friday, 03 February 2012 18:13 Written by Eilís Quinn

An Inukshuk stands on top of a hill overlooking the town of Kuujjuaq, Que. Photo: Jacques Boissinot, The Canadian Press.

A sampling of some of the most read stories on Eye on the Arctic this week.

Canada

China's increased interest in the Arctic grabbed headlines across the country this week after an address from Zhang Junsai, the Chinese ambassador to Canada, in Montreal, Quebec. Zhang reiterated China's desire for an increased role on Arctic issues. China is seeking permanent observer status on the Arctic Council, but not every member country is in favour. Canada chairs the council as of 2013.

Alaska - United States

The Alaska Northern Waters Task Force has issued a series of recomendations to assert the United States, and Alaska's, presence and importance in the North.

Denmark

Denmark's appointment of Klavs A. Holm as Arctic Ambassador representing Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands and coordinating Denmark's Arctic strategy is examined.

Sweden

The Sami, the indigenous people of Sweden's Arctic, organize a mining protest against development ion their traditional lands.

Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca

Friday, 27 January 2012 18:05 Written by Eilís Quinn

Sweden:

The Swedish Public Employment Service released figures that painted a dire picture for young job seekers in Sweden. Unless they were willing to move to the Arctic that is. Some sectors are described as being 'desperate' for workers especially in expanding areas like mining.

Canada

The Grand Chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations says aboriginals in the northwest Yukon territory are feeling left out when it comes to the approval process for mining projects. Grand Chief Ruth Massie says First Nations are overwhelmed with the amount of mining applications and need more resources to deal with them.

And elsehwere around the Arctic...

Finland:

The presidential election dominated news in the country this week. But the spectacular display of northern lights in the country's northern Lapland province still ended up getting plenty of people's attention.

Alaska:

Issues around oil-taxes continued to spark debate, and an essay in Nature questioned whether Oil has passed a 'tipping point' towards higher prices. Meanwhile, the Russian tanker Renda contined its journey back home after a successful fuel delivery to the remote Alaskan community of Nome in the state's northwest.

Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca

Thursday, 26 January 2012 17:13 Written by Eilís Quinn

Radio Canada International's The Link did an in-depth interview this week on the black-and-white silent film The Romance of the Far Fur Country.

The film was originally commissioned by the Hudson's Bay Company to commemorate their 250th anniversary in 1920.

Shot in 1919, the film faded from public consciousness after its release. But Canadian historian Peter Geller tracked down the original footage in London, England and brought it back to Canada. 

I've been looking at some of the stills from the shoot on the website returnfarfurcountry.com today. 

It got me thinking about our own filming in the Arctic.

Filming in 1919:                                                                          

Still frame from the 35mm footage of The Romance of the Far Fur Country (1920). All images courtesy of the Hudson's Bay Company Archives. Source: returnfarfurcountry.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Filming in 2010:

Eye on the Arctic crew filming on sea ice near Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada. Photo: Eilís Quinn, Radio Canada International.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things haven't really changed that much have they?

Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca

Friday, 20 January 2012 17:55 Written by Eilís Quinn

oto: Jeff McIntosh. Archive Photo. The Canadian Press.

News from around the circumpolar world this week:

Canada:

A big meeting in Toronto, Ontario this week as Canada prepares to chair the Arctic Council in spring 2013. Issues on the agenda included resource development and how to deal with non-Arctic nations who are increasing interested in observing such forums.

Russia:

Three extremely polluted areas (also known as 'hot spots') have been cleaned up in Arctic Russia. However, many residents Russia's Far North say they are still struggling with pollution and poor drinking water.

Finland:

Icebreaking season started this week in Finland, almost two months later than in the previous year.

Alaska:

The Russian tanker Renda and the U.S. Icebreaker Healey made it to remote Nome, Alaska this week with an emergency fuel shipment. The voyage has riveted many in the North. Click here for an analysis of the operation.

Scandinavia:

Norway's booming oil industry may be boon to laid-off workers from bankrupt Saab. A program is being put in place so former auto-workers can retrain as repairmen for damanged oil platforms.

Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca

Thursday, 19 January 2012 13:22 Written by Eilís Quinn

Climate change is increasingly focussing the world's attention on the Arctic. Everything from geopolitical issues to economic and resource development in North regularily makes the headlines.

But the increased attention on the North is also influencing Arctic culture. The way the North is potrayed in art and music produced in the South is evolving.

This week, a university conference is underway in Montreal to look at some of these themes as they pertain to music.

Friday, 13 January 2012 17:04 Written by Eilís Quinn

Planes at the airport in Gothenburg used so-called curved approaches to cut down fuel use. Archive photo: Lars Pehrson/Scanpix. Radio Sweden.

Many of the most-read items on Eye on the Arctic this week told stories of climate adaptation in the North.

Sweden:

A suburb of Stockholm puts the breaks on a construction project after a study says the rising water levels caused by climate change could put the project at risk. Elsewhere, an EU sponsored project at a Swedish airport is examining how new flying techniques may reduce carbon emissions.