Arctic News Archives - People and Expeditions

A collection of older (2003-2004) news items that relate to people, expeditions, and government issues in the Arctic. All links will take you to sites outside of PRISM. Use your back button to return.

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People News - 2004

• December 31, 2004 - Russian Polar Explorers Celebrate New Year. - Novosti
  Russian polar explorers in both the Arctic and Antarctic have plans for gift-giving and satellite communications to celebrate the New Year.
  
  
• December 24, 2004 - Santa Workshop Said Under Threat from North Pole Thaw - Yahoo!
  Santa may have to move his workshop from the North Pole because global warming is thawing the ice beneath his elves' and reindeers' feet.
  
  
• December 17, 2004 - Danish Prince Frederik Heads for Another Arctic Dog Sled Trek - National Post (Canada)
  Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik will go to Greenland to join a dog-sled expedition that is re-enacting an expedition led by Danish explorers nearly a century before.
  
  
• December 5, 2004 - A Stitch In Time Saved America's First Settlers - SFGate
  Thousands of years ago people from Siberia probably came across a now-sunken land bridge to populate North America, but they probably wouldn't have survived without the simple sewing needle. What might be the world's oldest sewing needle has been found at a Russian archaeological site.
  
  
• November 29, 2004 - Feeling The Heat... - Economic Times (Reuters)
  Arctic people aim to team up with tropical islanders in a campaign against global warming, arguing that polar bears and palm-fringed beaches stand to suffer the most.
  
  
• November 25, 2004 - Letters Show Feds Playing Hardball With Aboriginals Delaying Arctic Pipeline - Yahoo!
  Letters obtained by The Canadian Press suggest that Ottawa is threatening to walk away from all talks with the Deh Cho First Nations who oppose the Mackenzie Valley Gas Pipeline. This tactic would cost the Deh Cho dearly by delaying payments for energy activity already occurring on their land.
  
  
• November 25, 2004 - Two Russians Intend to Cross Arctic Ocean in a Dog-Drawn Sledge - Novosti
  Two Russians plan to be the first to cross the Arctic Ocean in a sledge drawn by dogs. They plan to start in February, 2005.
  
  
• November 24, 2004 - As Ice Melts, Arctic People At Loss For Words - MSNBC
  The languages of the Arctic indigenous natives do not include the words for many of species and weather conditions now being seen in that area.
  
  
• November 24, 2004 - Arctic States Agree To Vague Plan to Slow Thaw - ENN
  Eight Arctic countries, including the United States, encouraged "effective Measures" to adapt to climate change, but did not come to any agreements as to which measures to adopt. Environmentalists were not pleased with the vagueness of the policy document. (See similar story from Houston Chronicle.)
  
  
• Nov. 13, 2004 - US Urged To Help Slow Arctic Thaw - BBC
  At a conference in Iceland, indigenous people of the Arctic have asked the United States to cut greenhouse gas emissions to slow the thaw of polar ice. They warned that their way of life was being endangered and castigated Bush for his refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol.
  
  
• Nov. 12, 2004 - Canadian Military Plans Massive Arctic Exercise - China Economic Net
  Canada's military will conduct a massive exercise to prepare themselves to cope with an environmental disaster should it occur in the Mackenzie Delta. Many energy companies have been exploring this area to determine if it is feasible to resume drilling in the Beaufort sea or to establish oil and gas pipelines.
  
  
• October/November, 2004 - Arctic Denizens Feel The Heat - NWF
  Climate change is adversely affecting wildlife and human communities, especially in the Arctic. For many changes in the sea ice are particularly devastating. The polar bear is already in trouble.
  
  
• October 17, 2004 - Polar Bear Migration Draws Tourists To Canadian Town - Post Gazette
  The town of Churchill, Manitoba is right in the middle of the migration route of polar bears. Many tourists come to see the hundreds of bears that pass by during the late fall.
  
  
• October 15, 2004 - Wiping Snow Off Greenland's Oldest Ski - IOL
  A piece of wood unearthed in southern Greenland in 1997 appears to be part of a ski used by Norsemen over 1000 years ago.
  
  
• October 14, 2004 - Falcon Tracker Finds Foul Environment - Planet Ark
  A naturalist who tracks peregrine falcons is concerned about the loss of the birds' habitat in the ANWR if oil companies open it for drilling. He likens the area to the Oklahoma Land Rush with oil companies positioning themselves for the opening.
  
  
• October 11, 2004 - Denmark To Claim North Pole - ENN
  Denmark will send a team to show that the seabed under the North Pole is a natural continuation of Greenland. They plan to claim the area and do oil and gas drilling there as warming melts the ice in the area.
  
  
• October 10, 2004 - ...Pollution Fears Threaten Tribal Way of Life - Boston News
  Elders of tribes along the Bering Coast are warning that fish stocks in Kokechik Bay are highly polluted. They warn this type of pollution may have far-reaching effects on the fishing industries. The Bering Sea is the home to 50% of commercial fish stock for the US.
  
  
• September 29, 2004 - Melting Glacier Erodes Greenland Tourism - Taipei Times
  Ilulissat residents are quite concerned about the report that the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier had receded more than 5 km in the past two years. The community depends heavily on tourists who come to see the glacier calve into icebergs.
  
  
• September 27, 2004 - Arctic Drilling As Divisive As Issues Get - Sacramento Bee
  Bush and Kerry appear to be widely divided in their positions about whether the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should be opened to oil and gas drilling. Their positions are outlined here by a political analyst.
  
  
• September 19, 2004 - Bush Accused of Blocking Arctic Report - Arab News
  An Arctic leader has told the Senate Commerce Committee that President Bush is trying to bury an international report that contains recommendations of the impact of global warning on the people of the Arctic. She said State Department officials are blocking the release of one of two reports that were to be presented to government ministers from eight Arctic nations at a meeting Nov. 9 in Reykjavik, Iceland
  
  
• September 11, 2004 - Polar Bear Injures Russian Explorer - Novosti
  An explorer in Franz Joseph Land was attacked and wounded by a polar bear, but will recover. (Map of Franz Joseph Land from Encarta.)
  
  
• September 9, 2004 - Flags of Russia, St. Petersburg Flown Over Arctic Drifting Station - Novosti
  Eleven Russian polar researchers have been safely delivered to a spot on the ice over the North Pole. A research & living complex was built on the sea ice for the team which will remain at the station for several months. (Earlier story from Novosti.)
  
  
• September 9, 2004 - Ice Patch Finds Keep Amazing Archaeologists - CBC North
  More hunting artifacts have been located in this summer's excavation in the Kulaine region of the high Arctic.
  
  
• September 9, 2004 - Arctic Science Mission Faces Cold War-Style Hurdles - Yahoo!
  Getting the opportunity to place U.S. instruments in Russian waters off Cape Dezhnev to monitor climate change required repeated proposals to the Russian authorities and many delays before permission was granted. (Map of Cape Dezhnev from Audubon Society).
  
  
• September 5, 2004 - Russian-US Expedition Leaving for Laptev Sea - Novosti
  A joint Russian-US expedition has headed to the Laptev Sea to install three autonomous stations that will monitor various aspects of climate in the Arctic. (Map from Encarta showing Laptev Sea.)
  
  
• September 3, 2004 - Explorers Prepare for Ski-Sail Trip To Arctic - AZ Central
  Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen, former teachers, are preparing another expedition., this time to the Arctic. Their Antarctic expedition with its associated curriculum was quite popular in schools around the world. This expedition, also, will feature an online curriculum and live chat with the explorers.
  
  
• Sept. 3, 2004 - Global Warming Thaws Arctic, Divides Governments - Yahoo!
  An international panel has established that the Arctic climate is warming rapidly now and even more rapid changes are expected and that human activities are partly responsible for this warming. But there is no agreement among countries which border the Arctic region on how it should be addressed.
  
  
• August 30, 2004 - Laying Claim To The North - Toronto Star
  The Canadian military is conducting military exercises and meeting with native peoples throughout the North preparing to demonstrate Canada's sovereignty over the Arctic.
  
  
• August 30, 2004 - Pioneer On Pilgrimage To Kayak Birthplace - Scotsman
  Duncan Winning, the man who developed the modern kayak, has traveled to Uummannaq island, north of Greenland. He was able to meet the family of the man who constructed the Inuit sealskin kayak he used as a model for his modern version made of high-tech materials.
  
  
• August 27, 2004 - Toxins Accumulate In Arctic Peoples, Animals - National Geographic
  Studies of people and animals living in the Arctic have shown very high levels of chemical contaminants in their bodies. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) from industrialized nations are infiltrating the food web.
  
  
• August 27, 2004 - History Project Wraps Up In Taloyoak - CBC North
  The Inuit Heritage Trust has finished studying the area near Taloyoak where legend has there was a slaughter of Inuit people by the Tunnit people long ago. (Photo of Taloyoak, previously known as Spence Bay.)
  
  
• August 25, 2004 - Ancient Inuit Graves Discovered In Greenland - IOL
  Three burial grounds of ancient Inuit have been located in Greenland. There are the first such burial sites found in the high northern regions of that country and probably date from the 13th century.
  
  
• August 25, 2004 - U.S. Senators visit Arctic, Investigate Climate Change - ENN
  Several senators have visited Svalbard to learn more about climate change in the Arctic and to be briefed on the soon-to-be-released Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. (Map and images of Svalbard, Norway.)
  
  
• August 24, 2004 - Arctic Team Finds Ship Remains - BBC
  Portions of the ship, Victory, which was carrying Sir John Ross and Sir James Clark Ross on their unsuccessful bid to find the Northwest Passage, has been located by a British team retracing the explorers' route. (Map showing Felix Harbor where artifacts were found.)
  
  
• August 20, 2004 - Norwegian Tanker To Be Escorted Out of Russia - Novosti
  A Norwegian tanker, which entered Russian waters in the Barents Sea without permission, will be escorted out by the Russian military.
  
  
• August 19, 2004 - Military To Test Unmanned Surveillance Plane - Canoe
  Canada is planning to utilize UAVs to increase their ability to keep Canada's coastline under surveillance. These drone aircraft will be under remote control. The Canadian Government is planning on testing the first of these aircraft in the next week.
  
  
• August 16, 2004 - Expedition Leaves For Sunken Ship - Novosti
  A Russian Expedition has been launched to try to locate the Chelyuskin, a Soviet icebreaker that sank in 1934 in the Chukchi Sea. (Map)
  
  
• August 13, 2004 - Arctic Team Reaches Destination - BBC News
  The team led by Don Mee has successfully reached Thom Bay in the Arctic as they retrace the steps of the John Ross expedition. (Map)
  
  
• August 12, 2004 - Paul Martin Declares Canadian Sovereignty Over the Arctic - Canoe
  While talking to people about the possibility of a National Drug Plan in Canada, Prime Minister Paul Martin twice repeated the statement, "The world should understand this: that Canada does exercise sovereignty over the North," and that military exercises by Canadian troops in the area were appropriate. As global warming begins to open sea lanes, the rights to this region become increasing important.
  
  
• August 8, 2004 - I Needed A Challenge - BBC News
  Not all adventurers are 30 years old or younger. One challenger for Britain's most active adventurer is a 60 year old woman who spent several months journeying by yacht around the Arctic.
  
  
• August 8, 2004 - Drift-Ice Research Unit..To Be Set Up... - Novosti
  The Russians are sending a ship to study the Arctic environment from the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans.The ship will serve as a station for two years with a rotating roster of scientists.
  
  
• August 8, 2004 - Arctic Soldiers Losing Skills - CNews
  Canada reports that many of their aboriginal soldiers no longer have the traditional survival skills that have made them such an elite and dependable team in the past.
  
  
• August 4, 2004 - Alert Issued For Alaskan Oysters, Seafood - CBC North
  Some Alaskan seafood seems to be infected with a warm-water bacteria, and people are warned not to eat RAW Alaskan seafood. This bacteria is normally not seen in Alaskan waters but the summer's warmer-than-usual temperature have allowed it flourish.
  
  
• August 4, 2004 - Copper, Ivory Offer Glimpse Of High Arctic's Past - CBC North
  Ten Inuit students are helping excavate a Thule house near Repulse Bay and have found harpoon heads, beads, and copper. Some of the objects are over 1,000 years old. (Interactive map of Repulse Bay, Canada. Use the tool above the map to zoom out to get a better overview or use the red square on the map of Canada to the left as a reference.)
  
  
• August 3, 2004 - Arctic Team Begins Epic Journey - BBC
  To retrace the expedition of polar pioneers, Sir James Ross and his nephew Sir James Clark Ross, is the goal of a team of seven British Explorers, one of whom is a descendent of the latter explorer.The team is led by Don Mee who unsuccessfully attempted to undertake this expedition by himself last year.
  
  
• July 29, 2004 - Yellow River Station Opens - China.org
  The Yellow River Station on Spitzbergen, China's first Arctic research station, has opened and work has begun.
  
  
• July 17, 2004 - China Prepares For Arctic Expedition - UPI
  China has begun an expedition that will result in their first research station in the Arctic.The station will be located near the North Pole on Svalbard Island.
  
  
• July 17, 2004 - Protecting The Arctic From Oilmen - International Herald Tribune
  A plan has been announced to lease rights for oil and gas development in Teshekpuk Lake, an important breeding ground for many Arctic birds and subsistence area for the indigenous Inupiat who hunt and fish there. (Map of the area - The lake is near the yellow-colored Beaufort Sea Planning Area.)
  
  
• July 16, 2004 - Russian Scientists Plan To Study Sunken Icebreaker - Novosti
  Russia has announced that they will be using an underwater robot to study a Russian icebreaker that sank in the Chukchi Sea in the 1930s. (Map showing Chukchi Sea near Wrangel Island.)
  
  
• July 12, 2004 - Chest Holds Arctic Mystery - Toronto Star
  A group of Inuit have discovered a locked chest and the graves of three unknown individuals, near Baker Lake, Nunavut. Archaeologists and conservationists plan to open the chest around August of this year.
  
  
• July 9, 2004 - Three Democratic Senate Candidates Call For Opening ANWR - RigZone
  Senatorial candidates Brad Carson, Chris John and Tony Knowles have called for "responsible development of the coastal plain" of the ANWR. Experts feel this may bode well for energy policy in the next Congress.
  
  
• July 3, 2004 - Canada Starts Seabed Mapping... - CBC
  Canada has begun mapping the seabed in the Beaufort Sea, taking a step toward establishing sovereignty under international law.At stake is control of oil and gas reserves in the area.
  
  
• July 3, 2004 - Tiny Arctic Shoreline Village Decides To ...Fight Erosion - Yahoo! News
  Tuktoyaktuk's 800 residents have decided to try to stem erosion threatening their village on the Mackenzie Delta. Changes in climate have been accelerating the erosion in recent years. (Similar story of other villages in peril from Yahoo.)
  
  
• July 2, 2004 - Nine New Sites Join World Heritage List - Scotsman
  Two Arctic sites were among nine sites recently named to the World Heritage List. One was Russia's Wrangle Island Reserve, a habitat for polar bear and seals. The other is the Ilulissat Icefjord, on the west coast of Greenland.This designation provides added protection for these areas.
  
  
• July 1, 2004 - Explorer Renews Arctic Challenge - BBC
  Dom Mee, who was trapped in the pack ice last year and forced to give up his expedition, plans to again try to retrace the steps of Sir John Ross and reach the harbors of Thom Bay. (Similar story by The Scotsman with more about Sir John Ross.)
  
  
• June 8, 2004 - New Theory of Early Human Migration Patterns - Pravda
  Russian scientists have discovered an ancient mammoth site with carved bones and arrowheads at the edge of the Arctic circle (66° N latitude). This shows that humans inhabited this territory much earlier than previously thought, according to the scientists.
  
  
• May 27, 2004 - Ice Man Is Last Of Great Polar Explorers - Scotsman.com
  Sir Wally Herbert, now 70 years old, describes the first surface crossing of the Arctic in 1969. This journey took 1.5 years and has not been repeated since much of the ice has melted.
  
  
• May 25, 2004 - Russian, US Scientists To Study Arctic Together - Russian Information Agency
  A group from the University of Alaska and another from the Russian Academy of Sciences have signed an agreement to study the Pacific area of the Arctic together to look at the impact of rapid climate changes.
  
  
• May 18, 2004 - British Adventurer Youngest To Reach North Pole - CBC North
  Ben Saunders, age 26, did not achieve all of his Arctic exploration dream, but has become the youngest solo explorer to reach the North Pole.
  
  
• May 18, 2004 - Arctic Runner's Plane Drama - BBC
  Several runners in the North Pole Marathon had to dive off the runway as a plane came in to land. They had been asked to stop to allow the plane to land, but some just kept running resulting in the somewhat "close shave."
  
  
• May 13, 2004 - Inuit 'Poisoned From Afar' By Climate Change - New Zealand Herald
  The head of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference said that the Inuit are paying dearly for the actions of people in other countries. Toxins and rising temperatures are two of the challenges caused by pollution in the Arctic.
  
  
• April 28, 2004 - British Man Scores Polar Success - BBC News
  A British fireman and his team of novices have reached the Geomagnetic North Pole. His goal is to journey to all four North Poles over the next two years.
  
  
• April 21, 2004 - Ancient Feathers Astound Researchers - CBC North
  Melting ice in Yukon alpine meadows several years ago exposed some bird feathers attached to arrows or darts. Recent carbon-dating of these feathers revealed them to be about 4,300 years old.
  
  
• April 21, 2004 - Polar Team Out On Doctor's Advice - BBC
  A British team, racing from Canada to the North Pole, pulled out of the Arctic Challenge because of severe frostbite to two of its members.
  
  
• April 21, 2004 - Scientist Probes Mystery of Inuit Heart Defects - CBC North
  Inuit babies are more likely to be born with heart defects than other babies. Scientists are trying to determine if it is related to a lack of certain vitamins in the Inuit diet.
  
  
• April 19, 2004 - Tourists Ignoring Call To Boycott Alaska... - AZ Central
  An animal rights group is trying to revive a tourism boycott in order to put pressure on the state to outlaw hunting of wolves from airplanes. So far the plea seems to be unsuccessful.
  
  
• April 8, 2004 - China To Build First Arctic Station In Norway - People's Daily
  China will build its first Arctic research station on Spitzbergen Island, Norway. Satellite observation will be a main focus once the station is built.
  
  
• April 7, 2004 - Trans-Arctic Expedition Sets Off From Siberia - Russian Information Agency Novosti
  An international team has set out to determine effects of global climate change on plant and animal species across the Arctic. This expedition will use new health-monitoring and transportation technology.
  
  
• April 2, 2004 - Yukon Doubtful About Offshore ANWAR Drilling - North CBC
  While the Alaskan governor favors oil drilling off the shores of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the members of the Yukon government are not so sure it is a good idea.
  
  
• Mar. 25, 2004 - Four Nunavut Communities Want to Host Whale Hunt - CBC North
  Inuit in Nunavut have received permission for traditional hunting of a bowhead whale. Several communities want to sponsor the hunt.
  
  
• Mar. 25, 2004 - Iceberg Off Western Greenland Painted Red - Seattle Post Intelligence
  Chilean-born, Danish artist Marco Evaristti has painted one of the icebergs off Greenland deep red using 780 gallons of meat dye.
  
  
• Mar. 24, 2004 - Reindeer Herders Building Snowy Drive-In - The State (SC)
  Reindeer herders in Norway are building a snowmobile drive-in theater for the Eighth Sami Film Festival, April 5-7.
  
  
• Mar. 23, 2004 - Dene Leaders Plan Climate Change Awareness - CBC North
  The new Dene national chief, Noeline Villebrun, will try to inform the Canadian government of how climate change is impacting the lives of the Athabaskan people of the North.
  
  
• Mar. 21, 2004 - North Pole Expedition Presumed Dead - The News
  Rescuers have given up the search for North Pole adventurer Dominick Arduin, who went missing March 6. Heat-seeking cameras have failed to find any traces of her. She is believed to be dead.
  
  
• Mar. 17, 2004 - Missing North Pole Explorer Probably Dead... - ABC
  According to her support team, there is almost no chance of finding French-Finnish explorer, Dominick Aruin alive after she disappeared 10 days ago trying to reach the North Pole alone. One more rescue mission will be attempted.
  
  
• Mar. 14, 2004 - Supporters Report Arctic Adventurer Missing - ABC
  French-Finnish explorer, Dominick Arduin, has been reported missing by her support team. A helicopter search has not turned up any sign of her nor has the team heard from her for over a week. Arduin was attempting to be the first woman to ski to the North Pole alone. (Earlier article from the BBC.)
  
  
• Mar. 7, 2004 - Iditarod Mushers Get Down To Business - Seattle PI
  The Iditarod Sled Dog Race got underway today after the restart 25 miles north of Anchorage where the snow conditions were better. The Iditarod is now in its 32nd year.
  
  
• Mar. 7, 2004 - Russian Rescuers Airlift Stranded Polar Scientists - New Zealand Herald
  Russian scientists have been evacuated from the remains of the Severny Polyus-32 station to Spitzbergen, Norway. Their station was destroyed after a 12 foot ice wall from a neighboring floe crashed down on them. The ice floe where the station was situated was broken and several of their buildings crushed, effectively stranding the scientists. (Update on this story from The Australian.)
  
  
• Mar. 6, 2004 - Copter Locates Researchers On Arctic Ice - ABC News
  A Russian rescue helicopter has located 12 Russian scientists trapped for four days on an Arctic ice floe after their station on the ice began breaking apart. They lost 4 of the 6 buildings of their research station. (More from Novosti Russian Information Agency. Picture of scientists from the BBC.)
  
  
• Feb. 18, 2004 - Traditional Inuit Ice Treks Guided From Space - Science Daily
  Maps of ice type and extent (Floe Edge maps) created from satellite data are proving very helpful to the Inuit of Northern Canada in their annual quest for fish and game.
  
  
• Feb. 17, 2004 - Satellite Map Helps Track Quest Racers - CBC North
  The Yukon Quest dogsled race has gone high-tech, with the trail being put on satellite maps and volunteers helping map it with GPS. (Follow the race here.)
  
  
• Feb. 16, 2004 - Consumption of Whale Meat Linked to Disruption In Children's Brain Development - Environmental Investigation Agency
  Levels of mercury are high enough in whales and dolphin to be dangerous to children who eat these foods. The mercury has been shown to cause damage to the nervous system if ingested.
  
  
• Feb. 16, 2004 - Trip To Pole Via Land and Water - BBC
  To test the limits of human endurance, Ben Saunders is planning to travel by ski from Russia to the North Pole and from there to Canada. He plans to pull supplies on a sledge for this trek over land, sea ice, and icy water. (You can follow his journey here).
  
  
• Feb. 9, 2004 - Climate Change Killed Neandertals - National Geographic
  30 scientists from several different nations have issued a study that uses a variety of data to look at the demise of the Neandertals. Their conclusion was that inability to adapt their hunting practices, as they were forced to new hunting grounds by the changing climate, played a major role in their disappearance.
  
  
• Feb. 4, 2004 - Arctic Challenge for Northern Ireland Team - BBC
  A team of four men will try to break the world record for the fastest unsupported trek to the North Pole.
  
  
• Jan. 28, 2004 - Inuit Changed Arctic Ecosystem ... -CBC News
  The hunting practices of prehistoric Inuit whalers dramatically changed an Arctic pond ecosystem on Somerset Island, long before European settlers arrived according to researchers who studied sediments and fossils from the pond.
  
  
• Jan. 15, 2004 - China to Open First Arctic Station - Xinhua News
  Construction is almost complete on the first research station built in the Arctic by the Chinese. It should open in March and is located in Ny Alesund, (Spitzbergen) Norway (78 55' N, 11 56' E).
  
  
• Jan. 2, 2004 - 'New World' Link To Arctic Find - BBC
  Stone Age artifacts from northern Siberia show that humans were present in Arctic regions as long as 16,000 years ago. This surprising finding includes portions of spears made from mammoth ivory and the horn of the wooly rhino, stone tools, and animal bones near the Yana River. (Similar story at Seattle Times)
  
  
• Jan. 2, 2004 - Mad Cow Scare Spreads to Alaska Dog Race - News.com
  American meat products scheduled to be used for dog food in an international sled-dog race will not be used because of the fear that they might be contaminated with the mad cow virus.The Canadian government notified organizers of the race that dog food containing American meat products will not be allowed across the border.
  
  

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Archived News from 2003

• Dec 31, 2003 - Cross-Tundra Tour To Raise Global Warming Awareness - CBC North
  An American-led dogsled team has begun a 5,000 km transect of the Arctic with the stated purpose of educating people about global warming. Students and other interested parties can follow their trek via their website.
  
  
• Nov. 3, 2003 - Inuit Battle To Shut US Air Base - BBC
  Denmark's Supreme Court has been asked to shut down a US Air Base in Thule to enable a group of Inuit to return to their traditional hunting grounds. Update on ruling- which basically says they deserve compensation, but not the land.
  
  
• Sept. 17, 2003 - Emerald Prospectors Stumble Onto Gold - CBC North
  There has been a discovery of gold and silver in the Findlasen Lake area in the Yukon.
  
  
• Sept. 14, 2003 - Officials Monitor Rare Pneumonia Strain In Arctic - CBC North
  Health officials in Quebec are keeping a close eye on cases of streptococcus pneumoniae, serotype 1. The rates of infections are high in aboriginal populations in Alaska and Northern Canada, in spite of a vaccination program.
  
  
• Sept. 5, 2003 - Guns Not At Ready Before Bear Attack - CBC News
  Misunderstanding of gun laws may have contributed to severity of polar bear attack on Inuit guide.
  
  
• Sept. 2, 2003 - Scientists Investigate Arctic Links to Europe - All Things Arctic
  Stories of blue-eyed, fair-haired, bearded Inuit told by early explorers and Inuit are being validated by saliva tests conducted by an Icelandic anthropologist. The results will be released in October.
  
  
• August 31, 2003 - Russian Nuclear Sub Sinks, Nine Killed - New Zealand Herald
  A Russian submarine being towed away for scrap sank during a storm, killing nine of the crew members. Officials say the nuclear reactors, which were shut down in 1989, pose no ecological threat.(Earlier story from BBC with map)
  
  
• August 15, 2003 - Bear Completes Arctic Journey - BBC
  Adventurer Bear Grylls has cossed the North Atlantic in an inflatable boat.
  
  
• May 12, 2003 - Norway Advises Pregnant Women Against Whale Meat - Reuters
  Norwegian scientists have advised pregnant women and those who are breast-feeding to avoid eating whale meat because of high levels of mercury found in the meat.
  
  
• April 27, 2003 - Russia Returns to Arctic - BBC news
  Russia has set up a polar research camp, ~150 km. from the North Pole, after an absence of 12 years. The current group of scientists will spend 6 months at the camp.
  
  
• April 19, 2003 - Adventurer Follows in Icy Footsteps...- Guardian Unlimited
  Rebecca Harris, and her team of eight members, will travel the route taken by the doomed Franklin expedition to make people more aware of this explorer. (Additional information from BBC News)
  
  
• April 1, 2003 -Toxin Threat to Inuit Food - BBC
  A traditional diet of polar bear, seal, and whale is resulting in "unacceptable" levels of man-made environmental toxins in the Inuit population in Greenland.
  
  
• Feb. 11, 2003 - Iditarod Start Moving To Fairbanks - ESPN
  It has been decided to move the start of the Iditarod to Fairbanks rather than cancel the race. There has been so little snowfall and such unseasonably warm tempertatures in the Alaska range that it was not safe to start in Anchorage as usual.
  
  
• Feb. 6, 2003 - Ancient Feathers Bring Clues to Yukon's Past - CBC North
  Artifacts from the Yukon's melting glaciers are providing clues to the lives of ancient people.
  
  
• Jan. 9, 2003 -As Alaska Thaws, Engineers Eye Strange New World -Anchorage Daily News
  Melting of permafrost is causing headaches for engineers as bridges, road surfaces and channels become destabilized and damaged.
  
  

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