The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of September 16, 2019

Eye on the Arctic Ocean Railway

This Week, Eye on the Arctic, the major news platform reporting on Arctic issues, published a longread dedicated to the notorious Arctic Ocean Railway project. Written by Eilís Quinn, the article takes its readers on an investigative journey through the European North, putting the views and actions of indigenous peoples in the focus of her story (EOTA).

Take 1: After an unexpected signing of the memorandum of understanding between Finland’s Finest Bay Area Development and Norway’s Sør-Varanger Utvikling this May, the controversy around the projected railway line between the cities of Rovaniemi (FI) and Kirkenes (NO) sparked again. Despite the lack of any further updates on the progress of the project from the investors so far, the protests of the Saami people supported by indigenous communities worldwide haven’t died down. The insightful article by Eilís Quinn reminds us of this ongoing struggle for the right to decide on one’s own future questioning the traditional, inherently colonial ways of developmental thinking.

Raising Female Voices: First Ever #MeToo Conference

First ever conference #MeToo Moving Forward, was held this week in Reykjavik, Iceland. Hosted by the Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir who called gender inequality “one of the most persistent evils of our times”, the three-day conference gathered together major gender equality activists and women’s rights defenders across the globe hoping to explore the roots of the movement and find possible ways forward (CNN, The Guardian).

Take 2: One of the major achievements of the conference was, perhaps, the inclusion of women with disabilities, migrant women as well as care workers. By focusing on the emergence of the #MeToo movement and its varieties in different parts of the world, the organizers thus consolidated its global impact and acknowledged its extreme significance for the contemporary society. The fact that Iceland is playing a leading role in this initiative means, among other things, bringing a new twist to its engagement in the Arctic Council.

Nunavut Stakes on Young Leaders

On September 18, Nunavut’s New Democratic Party announced a 25-year old candidate for the upcoming federal elections in Canada. Mumilaaq Qaqqaq set three top priorities: youth, housing, and the implementation of the UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples (CBC).

Take 3: Giving way to young political leaders is perhaps the only way out for northernmost communities across the Arctic. Taking into consideration that the latter have been experiencing a major outflow of young people for the past several decades, active political engagement of the youth should be welcomed and supported on all levels. There is an urgent demand for young voices to be heard, and it is high time they take the lead in making history.

“Greening” the Norwegian Arctic

Following the recent municipal elections, Norway’s northeasternmost city of Vardø got 23,2% politically greener this time and made the headlines in Finnmark county. Led by Ørjan Jensen, the Green Party got the highest level of support from its voters than in any other county in Norway (IBO).

Take 4: Keeping in mind the yearslong dominance of the Labour Party in Vardø, the victory of the Green Party is worth special attention, especially when it comes to regional politics. The “greening” of the political leadership in Norway’s easternmost county of Finnmark means taking a more determined stance towards controversial industrial activities both within the county itself and across the border with Russia.

Drifting North: Mosaic Expedition Launch

Led by Professor Marcus Rex this time, the world famous Mosaic Expedition is about to start this Saturday from Tromsø, Norway. For the next 390 days, a crew of 600 people will be drifting towards northern Greenland on a ship locked up in the ice. This year marks the absolute longest and biggest Mosaic Expedition ever signaling the urgency of climate change mitigation actions. (BBC, National Geographic).

Take 5: The Mosaic expedition has become one of the most grandiose Arctic research expeditions of our times and a symbol of international scientific collaboration and efforts in understanding Arctic ecologies in change. Feel free to listen to a short yet insightful interview with Prof. Rex on the BBC webpage.