Abstract Peripheral to the concern and implications of the melting arctic regions is the concern about the wildlife supported by the region. The author of the paper focuses his study on the arctic fox. The writer attempts to build an understanding and image of this creature about which very little attention has been given in discussions on environmental concerns. This paper examines the role of the arctic fox in the environmental balance of the arctic region; because in the harsh environment of the arctic where it becomes very easy to forget about global warming and endangered habitats in sub zero temperatures, every life form, including the arctic fox, is but a component in the balance of nature and life in the region.
From the Paper "Concerns about the lemming population as a vanishing food source upon which the arctic fox relies is probably less of an issue than what the access to the region will mean to the arctic fox as a species. With the changing weather, it can be expected that mankind will expand his own habitat into regions previously unpopulated in the arctic. A region where the harsh weather itself, the frozen tundra, the snow, are the roaming grounds of the arctic fox, it can be expected that we might see a decline in the numbers of artic fox as a result of man's presence over the environmental changes. The artic fox, described as a "hardy" animal, is no doubt, like foxes in other regions, able to sustain itself as a small predator and as a scavenger of bigger animals; but it probably cannot stave off the harm it faces by the presence of mankind in its environment."
Abstract This paper defines the Arctic in terms of geography and culture. The author performs a SWOT analysis to examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of increased Arctic travel and tourism. The paper concludes that increased environmental government regulation is needed to maintain sustainable development.
From the Paper "Despite the harsh climate and isolation, it seems as though more and more people are traveling north to the Arctic as an alternative to the traditional ski trip and a beach vacation. According to some Arctic experts, travelers have made their way to the Arctic by ships for some time now. Ship based tourism has mostly been small scale; however, the cruise business world has recently experienced an increase in growth particularly with regard to the size and number of vessels destined for the Arctic."
Abstract This paper describes the migratory patterns of the Arctic Tern and the Canadian Goose. The Canadian Goose is a wetlands-dwelling species inhabiting regions of arctic Canada, Alaska, Siberia and, more recently, continental Europe. The Arctic Tern migrates from nesting grounds in the Arctic south to the Antarctic and back. The paper also explores aspects of the life cycle of the Canadian Goose within five areas of habitat, and the remarkable migration pattern of the Arctic Tern.
From the Paper "The Canada Geese forage in flocks and feed on plant material, seeds, berries and aquatic plants. They primarily inhabit wooded lakes and ponds, bays and marshes but have recently begun to adapt to urban sites such as golf courses and parks that offer a similar ecology. Since the geese exploit areas of low and tender vegetation, their migratory habits are largely influenced by the short summer season in their northernmost regions. In addition, the breeding period extends for more than two months, making the high-arctic breeding areas unsuitable. In addition, the geese rely on the accumulation of fat reserves during the winter season for their long migration flights."
Discusses issues surrounding the Canadian Arctic such as an ongoing dispute over sovereignty, climatic change, Aboriginal needs, mineral exploitation and matters of defense capability.
Abstract The paper relates that Canadians refer to Arctic Canada as an inland waterway, an archipelago of islands separated by the Northwest Passage, which is claimed by Canada. However, the U.S. and European powers assert that the Northwest Passage is an international sea route. The author points out that, if Canada cannot control and supervise shipping, then there is the likelihood of great environmental damage and the inability of Canada to ascertain if dangerous vessels are traversing the passage. The paper explains that the Inuit, who occupy the area claimed by the U.S as international waters, back the assertion of Canadian sovereignty and the enlargement ot the federal military and civilian administration roles in the Arctic. The author concludes that Canada is committed to the idea that the internationalization of the Northwest Passage represents serious liabilities for Canadians in the region, the environment and geo-political factors.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Meaning of Canadian Arctic Sovereignty
The American Perspective
Security and Defense
An Arctic, not Canadian Arctic Shipping Route
Last Remarks
From the Paper "Prime Minister Stephen Harper's approach has repeated the sentiment of Professor McCrae, in Arctic sovereignty as something that Canada must 'use' or lose. Canadians living in southern areas, critical of the much increased military spending of Harper's government, are generally of kinds to forget the vital everyday roles played by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with regard to the Arctic region. Part of this military investment involves a strong effort to build up the visible CAF presence in the high Arctic, while expanding Arctic capabilities in defense, communications, search and rescue, and civilian services."
Tags: strategic, oil, diamond, inuit, ice, military
Abstract This paper will examine misperceptions of the Arctic and Antarctic landscapes as cognitive constructs. These misperceptions will be analysed as constructs of two different cultures: European and Aboriginal. It will be argued that the Arctic and Antarctic landscapes have, over the centuries, functioned as a geographical equivalent of a psychological Rorschach test; vast white landscapes upon which we (or rather, white male explorers) have imposed readings that reveal more about ourselves than about the geographic realities of the spaces. In contrast to this, the views of peoples indigenous to the Arctic may be seen as a more valid perception of this forbidding environment.
Abstract This paper discusses the Arctic region in Canada and its sovereignty. It describes the many lucrative and economically viable opportunities that exist there. The paper then looks at the problem that exists in that the Arctic area is so vast and so fragile that not many expansions can take place without causing damage to the environment. The paper also discusses demographic problems in the area, but focuses on Canada's sovereignty issues there. In addition, the paper argues that Canada must assert a presence in the Arctic region to prevent damage to a very sensitive and valuable ecosystem. The paper concludes that the possible ramifications for Canada not asserting this presence could lead to poor sustainable development and possible disputes between circumpolar nations in the future.
From the Paper "Military presence in the Arctic region is nothing unfamiliar, past and present. Events such as World War Two led to the construction of designated military bases, which brought about infrastructure to the Arctic region. An example of this infrastructure that was constructed in the Arctic is the Alaska Highway. This highway was completed in October of 1942 and stretches for two thousand four hundred and fifty kilometres (Grant, 1988). This huge undertaking was done mostly by the American government in secrecy. This was because Alaska was apart of the Northwest Staging Route that had aircraft travelling from the United States to the Soviet Union. It was seen as a "jumping off point" to aid the Allied troops in Europe. Many bridges needed to be built along the way and because it was war time there was a lack of man power as well as resources. So as a result, many bridges were disassembled in the southern parts of the United States and reassembled where they were needed along the Alaskan Highway route (Duerden, 2005). At this point in time, Canada would provide "right of ways", and waive import duties and taxes and allow the use of timber and gravel along the route. Canada would attain control of the highway in the Yukon, Alberta and British Columbia portions, six months after the war ended and it would become "an integral part of the Canadian highway system." (Grant, 1988) The negative impacts that the construction of these various airfields and roadways had on the ecosystems of the Arctic region was measurable. The ground that they were built on was permafrost, which is difficult to build on due to the heaving and uplifting that takes place when it freezes then thaws."
Abstract This essay will argue that, as was the case with the descriptions of Pytheas, perceptions of the Arctic and Antarctic are governed by a mingling of the imaginative and the economic. In general, the economic perception tends to dominate with the closer proximity to the pole. Thus, it will be argued that European and Canadian views of the Arctic have historically been dominated by a mingling of economic and imaginative factors. In contrast, the distant (from Europe) Antarctic has been a realm dominated by the imagination as much, or more so, than by economic interests.
Abstract The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the most promising onshore area for oil exploration and one of the wildest areas remaining in the United States. Therefore, the conflict between the need to develop energy resources and the desire to preserve wild areas has led to the prolonged debate over the merits of programs to lease the region for oil exploration and development. According to the paper, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would cause environmental costs that include some elements that are essentially certain, as well as elements that are uncertain, such as the unpredictable effects on the number and health of certain important species. The paper concludes that development is environmentally damaging no matter the cautions, because it alters the wild state of the region forever.
From the Paper "When Alaska entered the Union in 1958, Congress transferred an exceptionally large amount of land to the new state, and at the same time, the Department of the Interior used its authority to administratively reserve land for federal use, resulting to decades of controversy and disputes (Grover). Since 1957, the United States Department of the Interior has exercised primary administrative authority over most of the land comprising modern-day ANWR Grover). This fact has meant that a great deal to people who care about the Refuge (Grover). Federal management has produced a land that is valued as much for its unique wilderness character as it is prized for its suspected mineral wealth, and in particular, it has precluded significant petroleum exploration and development of the Refuge (Grover)."
Abstract This paper explains that the issues surrounding the massive Canadian Arctic region vary but have a direct impact on sovereignty and circumpolar cooperation of countries with respect to environmental issues. The paper then discusses these issues and how they put Canadian sovereignty at risk. The paper argues that must assert a presence in the Arctic region to prevent damage to a very sensitive and valuable ecosystem. By pressuring the international community not to make the Northwest Passage an international strait, Canada will achieve its goal.
From the Paper "The idea of military influence in the north was not only seen in this era. The Cold War, in the post World War Two era focused on the two super powers of the United States and Soviet Union. Because of their nearness to one another circumpolarly, the United States developed the Distance Early Warning system, better known as DEW. The DEW system was a development of a series radar station in the far northern Arctic region of Canada, with additional stations along the North Coast and Alaska. It was set up to detect incoming Soviet bombers and missiles during the Cold War."
Tags: pipelines, non renewable resources, cooperation transboundary, boom bust cycle
Abstract An analysis of this book which is a study of the Inuit people of Holman Island, a community in the Northwest Territories of Arctic Canada. It discusses how Condon analyzes their community, family life, relations with friends and peers, gender and sex issues, school and work situations, and prospects for the future.
From the Paper "Intuit, or Eskimos, live in small, isolated villages, usually in groups of only 10 to 50 people, though the exception could be as large a group as 800. Most villages would have perhaps six dwellings. The Eskimo world is small and self-contained not only in terms of the size of the village and the size of the home but also in terms of the circle familiar to a single Eskimo. Relatives constitute the primary world of the Eskimo. The Eskimo family consists of the conjugal unit, a husband, wife, and their children. At the time of first European contact, most women had only two or three children, though Eskimo couples wanted to have as many children as possible. There were two reasons for this fact: 1) there was a high rate of infant mortality; and 2) there was a low effective fertility rate. In this century, however, after Eskimos became relatively sedentary and started weaning their children at a much earlier age, the birth rate exploded to some of the highest levels ever recorded for a human population."
Abstract This paper examines proposals to initiate Oil Drilling and Development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It opposes these initiatives. It outlines the potentially disastrous environmental impacts. It proposes alternative sources. Most importantly, it argues that American national energy policy, particularly with the present situation in the Middle East, must move away from a reliance on fossil fuels to alternative sources.
Abstract Discussing how the people of the North Arctic region had to adjust according to the various environmental factors over time. An examination of their cultural development from an anthropological point of view.
From the Paper "The first human occupation of the Americas occurred in Berengia during the last glaciation of the region. Later, it was more widely accepted that the primary center of population expansion was in Alaska, subsequently spreading into the Canadian Arctic and Greenland. The physical environment of the populated regions influenced the developing cultures of each group, affected by access to resources, barriers to trade routes, and weather and land conditions. As a result of environmental impact, religion, technological adaptations, economy and food source acquirement varied among the cultural populations, and is still seen in ethnic societies of the Arctic region today, evidence of the cultural sustainability of such adapted groups."
Abstract This paper describes the different steps in the process of global warming, describes its primary causes, and explains how the problem of global warming is exacerbated by the effects of global warming in the Arctic.
From the Paper "Global warming is no myth. Since the Industrial Revolution, the earth's average surface temperature has risen about one degree Fahrenheit, "with accelerated warming during the past two decades," according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("Climate"). Most of the global warming that has occurred over the past several decades is a direct product of human activities: factory emissions and automobile emissions especially. The emissions from factories and automobiles create what are known as "greenhouse gases," mainly carbon dioxide. The earth actually has a natural "greenhouse effect," a layer of the earth's atmosphere that keeps surface temperatures warm enough for biological life as we know it. Without a natural greenhouse effect, Earth surface temperatures would be far lower than they are now. However, the overall rise in the Earth's surface temperatures since the Industrial Revolution has occurred far faster than it would have without human intervention. Accelerated global warming can have dire consequences for life on earth. For example, according to Kate Ravillous of New Scientist, the west coast of the United States could suffer a severe water shortage by 2050 due to global warming. Most of the culprits of global warming exist in the most heavily industrialized and populated parts of the world such as the United States and Eastern Europe. However, the geological and environmental factors that directly cause global warming occur in one of the most sparsely populated regions of the globe: the Arctic. Global warming begins with anthropogenic factors such as auto emissions, proceeds to rising Arctic surface and air temperatures, and becomes magnified by several positive feedback mechanisms. In fact, if left unchecked, global warming in the Arctic will account for most of the damage incurred by the phenomenon world wide because of the positive feedback mechanism."
Abstract This paper presents a detailed examination of the debate over drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The writer explores both sides and presents the argument that drilling will not negatively impact the environment and will support wildlife there. The writer uses the example of Purdhoe Bay to illustrate how drilling without harming the environment can be effectively done.
From the Paper "Experts in the field of environment and science have been warning the world for years that the earth's resources are not unlimited and would eventually run dry. It has only been in the past few decades however that the world's population began to listen. In the panic about dwindling resources there has been a rush to locate new sources of energy and other needed materials. Environmentalists have moved in to block hasty projects while those who support them try to push them through and the end result is often a standoff. In the midst of this occurring the last American frontier, Alaska, has moved to the forefront of controversy. One such controversy is the proposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Proponents believe it will provide the world with a much needed energy source, while detractors of the drilling insist it will destroy the environment and harm local wildlife, in particular the caribou porcupines. Once one studies the facts, the past, and similar projects one will find that drilling can be done in an environmentally safe manner and provide the world with a much needed source of natural resources."
Abstract This paper looks at the pros and cons of drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). It looks at issues and conflicts of the drilling argument and the need for oil in the U.S. as opposed to the quality of life issue for certain animal species.
From the Paper "One of the most controversial environmental issues being discussed recently is whether or not to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The ANWR was first set aside as ..."
Tags:Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, ANWR, Oil, Conservation, Environment
