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

Thursday, 02 February 2012 13:48 Written by Mia Bennett

The Chinese research vessel and ice-breaker Xuelong. Photo: AFP

The Chinese Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Zhang Junsai, spoke at a luncheon at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations today. The Montreal Gazette has an article on his talk, emphasizing the fact that he twice affirmed that China is committed to peace in the Arctic.

A member of the audience that the newspaper reported to be a "specialist in Arctic and northern security issues" asked Zhang about the region, and he responded, "We hope that this will be solved by peaceful means.

Tuesday, 31 January 2012 14:55 Written by Mia Bennett

Aerial view of melting glaciers near Ilulissat, Greenland part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Photo: Michael Kappeler, Pool, AFP Photo.

Earlier this month, Denmark appointed Klavs A. Holm as the new Arctic Ambassador, an office which will become permanent. At the same time, Danish Foreign Minister Villy Søvndal announced the closure of the embassies in Iraq, Benin, and Zambia.

This move gives a strong signal that Denmark is putting forth a more visible diplomatic presence in the Circumpolar North while refocusing its priorities in the Global South, where it will open embassies in Myanmar and Libya.

Ambassador Holm will represent all three parts of the Danish Commonwealth: Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. He will also coordinate the implementation of the government's Arctic strategy, released last August.

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

Friday, 27 January 2012 12:32 Written by Mia Bennett

Ice floes float in Baffin Bay above the Arctic CirclePhoto: Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press.

First it was server cooling rooms. Now, new, trans-Arctic telecommunications cables might be the next big thing up North.

At this year's Pacific Telecommunications Council conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, there was much talk about a potential subsea optical transmission cable that could be laid under the Arctic Ocean thanks to the melting ice cap. Network World reports that with this cable, internet, voice, and private traffic could go directly between Asia and Europe, doing away with the need to pass through North America.

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

Friday, 20 January 2012 11:15 Written by Mia Bennett

Sub.-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle is escorted from provincial court in Halifax on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012. The Canadian navy intelligence officer, charged with communicating information to a foreign entity, faces charges under the Security of Information Act.

Royal Canadian Navy Intelligence Officer Jeffrey Delisle was arrested in Halifax last week for espionage. He is being charged under the Security of Information Act with "breach of trust and communicating safeguarded information to a foreign entity" between July 6, 2007 and January 13, 2012, the date on which he was arrested.

This is the first time that someone is being prosecuted under Section 16 of the act, and Sub-Lieutenant Delisle faces life imprisonment.

Delisle has been working for the Canadian Forces as an officer for the Navy since 2008, and as a reservist since 1996.

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.

Monday, 16 January 2012 14:51 Written by Heather Exner-Pirot

An Arctic Tern lands on a fence by the scientific base at the Arctic settlement of Ny-Alesund, Norway, in the Svalbard archipelago. Photo: Martin Bureau, AFP.

It’s the time of year when bloggers indulge themselves by offering predictions, and I shall be no different.  The Arctic’s past belonged to peoples, and the present goes to states, but I will predict that the future will see big oil companies as the primary actor in Arctic affairs.

One of the big stories in Arctic geopolitics in the past four years is the development of the ‘Arctic Five’, or A5 (the five states that have coastlines bordering the Arctic Ocean including Canada, Denmark/Greenland, Norway, Russia and USA) beginning with the May 2008 meeting in Ilulissat, Greenland.