Arctic Update Header
October 26, 2011

Today's Eventstodaysevents 

 

The House will continue to consider land conveyance legislation and begin consideration on legislation to repeal a contractor withholding provision. The Senate is not in session.

 

National Ocean Policy, today. The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on the National Ocean Policy. Witnesses include Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Nancy Sutley and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Jane Lubchenco, among others. A link to a recording we be provided here.


Media Reviewtodaysevents    

 

BoehnerBoehner Calls for Tougher Line on Russia. Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Tuesday accused Russia of trying "to restore Soviet-style power and influence" and called on the Obama administration to take a tougher line with the former Cold War foe. In a rare foreign-policy address, Boehner warned about the consequences of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's expected return to the presidency, suggesting the U.S. should reconsider its policy of a "reset" with Russia. The Hill 

 

Coca cola polar bearCoca-Cola Turns Can White to Help Polar Bears. Coca-Cola Co. is turning its red cans white to help draw attention to a campaign to protect polar bears and their habitats. Coca-Cola is giving $2 million to the World Wildlife Fund to support its work on polar bear protection. The two organizations are encouraging consumers to donate $1 and the beverage maker has agreed to give another $1 million to match these contributions. Business Week 

 

 

Narwhals to be Tracked Via Satellite. Scientists will use satellites to monitor a pod of narwhals in Nunavut moving toward its wintering ground. Earlier tracking programs show the animals move into south Baffin Bay this time of year. That has conservationists concerned because of resource exploration going on in the area. CBC News 

 

russian flagRussia Launches Oil Link to Feed China Pipeline. Russia, the world's biggest crude producer, has launched an oil pipeline that will facilitate the steady supply of 300,000 barrels per day to energy-hungry China and speed up development of new Arctic crude deposits. The 430 km (270 mile) Purpe-Samotlor pipeline, part of a future trunk going North, will also help top Russian producer Rosneft develop its largest new field, Vankor, to reach an expected output of 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2013. Reuters 

 

Polar Bear Management Needs More Traditional Knowledge Input: NTI: Traditional Inuit knowledge could fill the gaps left by science. Polar bear management across the circumpolar world needs to build in more traditional Inuit knowledge: that's the message from a Canadian delegation member attending an international meeting on polar bear management taking place in Iqaluit this week. Canadian delegate Gabriel Nirlungayuk, the director of wildlife at Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., who met with officials from Denmark (Greenland), Norway, the United States and Russia Oct. 24, says many of these countries base their polar bear management systems on science alone - rather than tapping into the knowledge of Inuit hunters. Nunatsiaq Online

 

YoungRep. Don Young Fights for Alaskan Native Hunters and Craftsmen. The House Natural Resources Committee held a legislative hearing today on H.R. 2714, a bill sponsored by Alaskan Congressman Don Young.  If passed, H.R. 2714, would permit the interstate sale of sea otter pelts and the export of handicrafts, garments, and art made from such pelts of the Southcentral or Southeast Alaska northern sea otter stocks that are taken for subsistence purposes. In parts of Alaska such as Southeast and Southcentral Alaska, the sea otter population has grown so large that it is having a harmful effect on other species. Between the abalone fishery being closed since 1996 and the sea otter predation of many urchin and sea cucumber species, Alaska's economy has been impacted greatly and has seen losses in excess of tens of millions of dollars. Congressman Don Young 

 

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts. President Obama announced his intent to nominate several individuals for key Administration posts, including: Bonnie Bassler to be a member of the National Science Board of the National Science Foundation. The White House 

 

Begich Announces New Staff. Bruce Scandling is returning to Senator Mark Begich's office as its legislative director. He previously severed as Senator Begich's legislative assistant on health issues. Senator Mark Begich 

 

Tim Arcan, NOAA ocean researchNaval and Ocean Engineer to Lead NOAA Ocean Exploration and Research Office. Tim Arcano, an ocean engineer with extensive experience in naval submarine and submersible design and engineering was selected as director of NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER). Arcano is slated to begin Nov. 7. OER provides direction to NOAA and advises the U.S. Department of Commerce in the field of ocean exploration, research, and advanced technology development. A key element of OER is the Okeanos Explorer Program. It combines America's ship for ocean exploration, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, with shore-based high-speed networks and infrastructure for live communications, including HD video of the seafloor, to scientists and other audiences ashore. It is the only federal program dedicated to systematic telepresence-enabled exploration of the world ocean. NOAA   

 

Legislative Actionfutureevents  

 

H.R. 2714, to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the transport, purchase and sale of pelts of, and handicrafts, garments and art produced from, Southcentral and Southeast Alaska northern sea otters taken for subsistence purposes (Young, introduced and referred to committee)


Future Events                                   

   

White House Tribal Nations Conference, December 2, 2011. President Obama will host the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of the Interior. As part of President Obama's ongoing outreach to the American people, this conference will provide leaders from the 565 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to interact directly with the President and representatives from the highest levels of his Administration. Each federally recognized tribe will be invited to send one representative to the conference. This will be the third White House Tribal Nations Conference for the Obama Administration, and continues to build upon the President's commitment to strengthen the nation to nation relationship with Indian Country. The White House  

  

AGU Fall Meeting , December 5-9, 2011. The American Geophysical Union's ("AGU") Fall Meeting to connect with colleagues, broaden their knowledge base, and embrace the joy of science.  The groundbreaking research presented at this world-renowned event is critical to advancing our understanding of the natural world and to addressing the challenges society faces as they relate to our science. As an organization, AGU works to unite Earth and space scientists who are dedicated to the common goal: scientific discovery for the benefit of humanity.  One of the most important ways we do this is through the Fall Meeting - an event that embodies who we are as a scientific organization and that is key to helping us achieve our organizational mission, vision and goals. 

 

Alaska Marine Science Symposium , January 16-20, 2012. The symposium was first held in 2002 to connect scientists in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and beyond in an effort to collaborate and communicate on research activities in the marine regions off Alaska. There will be plenary and poster sessions featuring a broad spectrum of ocean science on issues of climate, oceanography, lower trophic levels, the benthos, fish and invertebrates, seabirds, marine mammals, local and traditional knowledge, and socioeconomic research. There will also be speakers, workshops and special sessions. 

 

Arctic Science Summit Week 2012 , April 20-22, 2012. The summit will provide opportunities for international coordination, collaboration and cooperation in all areas of Arctic science. Side meetings organized by stakeholders in Arctic science and policy are also expected. More information to follow. 

 

From Knowledge to Action, April 22-27, 2012. The conference will bring together over 2,000 Arctic and Antarctic researchers, policy and decision-makers, and a broad range of interested parties from academia, industry, non-government, education and circumpolar communities including indigenous peoples. The conference is hosted by the Canadian IPY Program Office in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada, among other groups. Each day of the conference will feature a program of keynote speakers, plenary panel discussions, parallel science sessions, as well as dedicated poster sessions. The conference-wide plenaries will explore themes related to topics of polar change, global linkages, communities and health, ecosystem services, infrastructure, resources and security. Other sessions will provide the opportunity to present and discuss the application of research findings, policy implications and how to take polar knowledge to action. 

  

The Tenth International Conference on Permafrost, June 2012. The conference will be held in Tyumen, Russia, and is organized and hosted by Russia. The last conference was held in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 2008. Details to follow.  

 

The Arctic Imperative Summit, July 29-August 1, 2012. The summit will be hosted by Alaska Dispatch and will bring together leading voices in this conversation, including residents from the small villages that comprise Alaska's coastal communities; state, national and international leaders; the heads of shipping and industry; as well as international policymakers and the news media. The goal of the summit is to sharpen the focus on the policy and investment needs of Alaska's Arctic through a series of high level meetings, presentations, investor roundtables and original research.

 

15th International Congress on Circumpolar Heath, August 5-10, 2012. This kivalina girlevent is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Society for Circumpolar Health, and the International Union for Circumpolar Health.  The forum will consider community participatory research and indigenous research; women's health, family health, and well-being; food security and nutrition; social determinants of health; environmental and occupational health; infectious and chronic diseases; climate change health impacts; health service delivery and infrastructure; and behavioral health.

   

Arctic/Inuit/Connections: Learning from the Top of the World , October 24-28, 2012.  The 18th Inuit Studies Conference, hosted by the Smithsonian Institution, will be held in Washington, DC. The conference will consider heritage museums and the North; globalization: an Arctic story; power, governance and politics in the North; the '"new" Arctic: social, cultural and climate change; and Inuit education, health, language, and literature. For more information, please email Lauren Marr

 

USARC header

Find us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter

4350 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 510
Arlington, VA 22203, USA 
(703) 525-0111 (phone)
www.arctic.gov
info@arctic.gov