In two days, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian military and coast guard will be travelling by RCMP patrol boat PV Mackenzie up the Mackenzie River to the Arctic. The trip, which has also been taken the previous six summers, will see the PV Mackenzie travel from Hay River to Inuvik as part of Operation Gateway. During the trip the group will be stopping at several comminutes along the way. more »

The United States and Canada will embark next month on a joint expedition to the Arctic in an effort to map out the extreme northern region of the Arctic seabed. The effort will concentrate on the waters north of the Alaska-Yukon borders. This research trip follows last year’s very successful joint research trip conducted further in the southern region of the Arctic. more »

Denmark is the latest of the Arctic countries to release details of its plans to up its presence in the Arctic. Last week the country released an all-party defense position paper that indicated we should expect a major upgrading of Denmark’s northern capabilities. more »

With others Arctic countries such as Russia and Norway promising to increase their military presence in the Arctic, another Arctic country is taking a slightly different approach to securing their piece of the region and strengthening their position in the race for Arctic resources. more »

According to regional leaders participating in the 2009 Arctic Economic Development Summit, if Arctic communities are to not only survive, but flourish in the future they need to become more self sufficient.

During his keynote address, state District 40 Representative Reggie Joule talked about people’s personal responsibility for their lives. He also voiced his frustration over citizens deciding to depend on government aide instead of going out and getting the necessary training or education for jobs in the region. more »

With organized crime groups already established in the Canadian Arctic and anticipated to grow larger and stronger, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police want to develop a criminal intelligence network in the region.

Officials with the RCMP say that as more money comes into the remote Arctic communities through future mines and the development of other resources, drug and crime networks will only get a stronger foothold in the area, developing into larger groups. more »

On Thursday of last week, a small NASA aircraft successfully completed its very first science flight over the Arctic. The flight was part of a research expedition to study the disappearing Arctic ice and obtain a better understanding of the life cycle of the sea ice and its long-term stability.

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 An Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment, conducted by the Arctic Council, has recommended that that all northern countries, including the United States, agree to follow mandatory rules when it comes to constructing ships that will travel through the Arctic Ocean. It is believed that the Arctic is on its way to becoming a major throughway for commercial shipping, as the ice in the area continues to melt. more »