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Anyone who has been following the environmental changes in the Arctic, particularly the melting of the arctic ice shelf, will know that a lot of the public and media attention has been focused on the arctic polar bear and what the melting ice means to their survival. As the ice melts, the bears are losing their habitat and there is concern that the eventual lose of the arctic ice cap will mean extinction for these animals. more »

In a referendum on Tuesday, more that 75 percent of Greenland voted in favor of self rule, making it more likely that Greenland will achieve total autonomy from Denmark. Greenland has slowly been working towards complete autonomy, withdrawing in 1982 from the European Union and achieving semi-autonomy from Copenhagen in 1979. Before the referendum Denmark said that it will go along with the results of the vote even though the referendum isn’t binding on Greenland’s parliament. more »

On November 15th, when hunters from Pond Inlet first spotted a large group of narwhal whales trapped under the ice near Bylot Island, north of Baffin Island, they estimated the number to be around 200. Now it seems like the number is closer to 400, with the whales unable to get free of the ice that shifted and caught them under water. In an effort to help the tusked whales breathe, hunters have punch several desk sized holes in the water. But with the nearest opening some 50 kilometers away, there is little hope for the whales’ survival. more »

According to a Canadian Arctic specialist, the European Union’s recent announcement of plans to bid for a piece of the Arctic pie is a like a “gauntlet being thrown down.” University of Calgary political scientist Rob Huebert goes on to say that, “This is really troubling for Canadian interests. This is Europe trying to muscle in on the formulation of the governance system for the Arctic.” more »

In a 2-1 decision the 9^th Circuit Appeals Court of Appeals has stopped one of Alaska’s offshore drilling project dead in its tracks citing that the federal government has not looked deeply enough at the impact of the project on the bowhead whale and shoreline communities at the proposed drilling site. According to the decision the federal agency responsible for offshore leasing, Minerals Management Service, violated the 1970 National Environmental Act by not fully studying the environmental impact of the offshore drilling project which was to take place about 16 miles off Northern Alaska. MMS has been ordered to do more in depth study of the impact of the drilling on the sea life in the Beaufort Sea. more »

On Wednesday Sen. Ted Stevens conceded to Democrat Mark Begich, ending Steven’s four decade political career. Stevens’ re-election bid has been sprinkled with controversy, including a federal felony conviction. He stood trial on charges of failing to disclose gifts, including a sauna, from an oil service company and was convicted just days before the election. The total amount in gifts and home renovations that Set. Stevens had received was over $250,000.

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Climate  has caused profound changes in the Arctic ecosystem, most visibly in the extent and thickness of the sea ice. Ice-dependent species of marine mammals, such as polar bears, walruses, ringed and bearded seals, may be especially vulnerable to reductions in sea ice extent and thickness. Resting, molting, foraging and denning/pupping habitats are rapidly disappearing. It is reasonable to predict that populations of these ice-dependent species will undergo reductions in number and that individual health and body condition will be compromised. more »