New Report Finds Retail Prices in Puerto Rico Are Not Affected by the Jones

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

New Report Finds Retail Prices in Puerto Rico Are Not Affected by the Jones Organized 1885 Official Organ of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific Volume LXXXI No. 8 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Friday, August 23, 2018 New report finds retail bigmericans win want for strong isorganized clear: When we see an op - laborThe Koch brothers in andmo oth- prices in Puerto Rico are not Unions. That’s the mes- portunity to use our political er conservative campaign Asage from polling that voice to give workers a more donors have provided lavish shows more than 60% of voters level playing field, we will seize funding for this war on orga- nationwide approve of orga- it with overwhelming passion nized labor. In state after state, affected by the Jones Act nized labor. And that’s certainly and determination. Tonight is when Koch-sponsored, corpo- conomists from Bos- consumers by evaluating the the message from Missouri, the latest act of working people rate-friendly governors have ton-based Reeve & Asso- competitiveness of freight rates where voters on August 7, changing a rigged system that taken charge –Scott Walker ciates and San Juan-based in the United States/Puerto overturned the state’s so-called for decades has been favoring in Wisconsin, Rick Snyder in E “right-to-work” law by an over- Estudios Técnicos, Inc. last Rico market, the quality of corporations, the mega wealthy Michigan, Mitch Daniels in Indi- month released a joint report, service provided by the Jones whelming margin. and the privileged few. ana, Eric Greitens in Missouri– “The Impact of the Jones Act on Act carriers, and the impact of The Missouri result offers a When we see an opportunity they have signed so-called right- Puerto Rico,” that concluded the the carriers’ freight rates on the reminder of what happens when to use our political voice to give to-work legislation into law. Jones Act has no impact on either prices of goods shipped between the people –as opposed to corpo- workers a more level playing Designed to undermine the retail prices or the cost of living the United States mainland and rate-friendly Republican gover- field, we will seize it with over- ability of Unions to organize in Puerto Rico. In addition, the Puerto Rico. nors and legislators– are given whelming passion and determi- workers, to collectively bargain report found that the state of the “There has been much debate a chance to decide whether they nation,” stated Trumka. and to engage in politics on want a muscular labor movement art maritime technology, Puer- about the impact of the Jones Trumka’s point is a vital one. behalf of economic and social to fight for better wages and to-Rico focused investments, Act on Puerto Rico, particularly The August 7 voting saw a justice, right-to-work measures benefits, and for fairness in the and dedicated closed-loop ser- following Hurricane Maria,” number of labor allies –such as are really “right-to-work-for-less” workplace and society. vice offered by Jones Act carriers said John Reeve, the principal in Kansas Democratic congres- laws. According to the Economic provide a significant positive Reeve & Associates and the lead In a state where Republicans sional candidate James Thomp- Policy Institute, “These bills economic impact to the island, economist on the study. “The have won the last five presiden- son– win key primaries. It also won’t lead to more manufacturing at freight rates lower or compa- findings of our analysis show tial elections and where the GOP saw labor-backed Democrat plants or better jobs or anything now controls the executive and good. They lead only to weaker rable to similar services to other that reliable, efficient, and reg- Danny O’Connor finish within legislative branches of state gov- Unions, less bargaining power Caribbean Islands. ular Jones Act services benefit a whisker of his Republican ernment, 65% of the Missourians for [workers], and lower wages. In the first comprehensive re- consumers and businesses on the rival in a special election to fill who cast ballots voted to scrap Wages are 3.1% lower in so-called port on the impact of the Jones island, and no evidence suggests a historically Republican Ohio the “right-to-work” measure that congressional seat. ‘right to work’ (RTW) states, for Act in Puerto Rico following that exempting Puerto Rico from was enacted just months after a Union and nonunion workers Hurricane Maria last year, the the Jones Act would reduce con- But the Missouri win was corporate-aligned Republican alike, after correctly accounting authors analyzed the econom- the sweetest result for a Union sumer prices in Puerto Rico. On grabbed the governorship from for differences in cost of living, ic impact of the Jones Act –a movement that has been under the contrary, such an action may the Democrats in 2016. demographics, and labor market critical economic and national well increase prices.” assault in recent years. “The defeat of this poisonous characteristics. The negative im- security law that ensures goods “The results were overwhelm- This landslide victory for labor anti-worker legislation is a vic- rights upsets the political calcu- pact of RTW laws translates to transported from U.S. port to ingly conclusive regarding the tory for all workers across the lus, and the spin, of the billion- $1,558 less a year in earnings for U.S. port be on vessels that are economic contributions of the country,” declared AFL-CIO aire class that has for decades a typical full-time worker.” American crewed, and Amer- Jones Act to Puerto Rico. Their President Richard Trumka as the promoted a nationwide drive to In Missouri, after Greitens (a ican built and owned. The detailed, fact-based analysis results came in. “The message use the power of government to scandal-plagued politician who report analyzed the impact on found that Puerto Rico received sent by every single person who weaken Unions. very similar or lower shipping worked to defeat Proposition A continued on page 3 freight rates when compared to neighboring islands and that the transportation costs have no impact on retail prices on the Challenges facing U.S. Merchant island,” said Matt Woodruff, Chairman of the American Mari- time Partnership. “Moreover, the Marine in new government report study found that prior claims and he U.S. Government Ac- flag operators, according to 40% in recent years, helping to press reports that questioned the countability Office (GAO) DOT’s Maritime Administration stabilize the financial situation value of the Jones Act to Puerto has released a new report (MarAd). MarAd officials told of participating operators, but Rico were erroneous and their T on the challenges facing the GAO that the difference in opex MarAd expects that rising opex validity completely undermined U.S.-flag deep sea fleet, includ- between a U.S.-flag ship and a will be a continuing challenge. when compared to the economic ing rising operating costs and a foreign-flag ship has risen from MSP offers significant advan- facts at hand.” declining number of qualified $4.5 million per year in 2009 tages for the federal government, In summary, the findings American mariners. GAO urged to as much as $6.5 million per according to MarAd and DOT. include: the Department of Transpor- year today. For 60 ships, this It is a low-cost way to procure Periodicals’ postage paid at San Francisco, CA (USPS 675-180) postage paid at San Francisco, CA Periodicals’ The Jones Act has no impact on tation (DOT) to formalize a additional expense is offset by U.S.-flag tonnage and to keep either retail prices or the cost national maritime strategy to the Maritime Security Program a young fleet, as the program is of living in Puerto Rico. respond to these challenges, as (MSP), which provides an limited to vessels of less than · The report found that ship- requested by Congress in 2014. annual subsidy of $5 million to 25 years of age. GAO found that ping costs between the mainland Rising costs enrolled U.S.-flag vessels. The over the last twelve years, oper- MSP appropriation has risen by continued on page 7 Costs are rising for U.S.- continued on page 9 SUP ELECTION NOTICE: PAGE 5 Page 2 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, August 23, 2018 SUP Honor Roll California Labor Federation Voluntary contributions from the membership to the following funds: policy statement on maritime “California’s ports are the gateways for nearly 50% of all U.S. waterborne commerce. Organization/ Political Fund The ports link the state to the global economy and fuel economic growth. Ports and Wilfredo Aquino. 60.00 their intermodal goods-movement businesses support a high-wage workforce in the General Fund Ben Ashton. 50.00 highly Unionized transportation trades. The Federation supports releasing funds from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for port infrastructure improvements and building. Ben Ashton. 50.00 Emo Aulelaua . 20.00 Antolin Avorque. 10.00 The Federation reiterates its support for federal statutes that ensure that vessels Chris Bartolo. 20.00 engaged in the coastwise and international trades are built and crewed by American West Coast Quentin Brown. .10.00 workers. The Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program, the Passenger Vessel Services Act, and U.S. cargo preference laws are critical in maintaining a viable American Chris Bunheirao. 50.00 Sailors Merchant Marine. Dave Connolly. 100.00 Archie Aki. 50.00 The Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920) stipulates that vessels that carry Robert Barbee. 25.00 Ian Donohue. 50.00 cargo between U.S. ports be built in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens and Archie Bickford. 25.00 Dale Gibson. 35.00 crewed by U.S.
Recommended publications
  • Texts G7 Sout Pole Expeditions
    READING CLOSELY GRADE 7 UNIT TEXTS AUTHOR DATE PUBLISHER L NOTES Text #1: Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen (Photo Collages) Scott Polar Research Inst., University of Cambridge - Two collages combine pictures of the British and the Norwegian Various NA NA National Library of Norway expeditions, to support examining and comparing visual details. - Norwegian Polar Institute Text #2: The Last Expedition, Ch. V (Explorers Journal) Robert Falcon Journal entry from 2/2/1911 presents Scott’s almost poetic 1913 Smith Elder 1160L Scott “impressions” early in his trip to the South Pole. Text #3: Roald Amundsen South Pole (Video) Viking River Combines images, maps, text and narration, to present a historical NA Viking River Cruises NA Cruises narrative about Amundsen and the Great Race to the South Pole. Text #4: Scott’s Hut & the Explorer’s Heritage of Antarctica (Website) UNESCO World Google Cultural Website allows students to do a virtual tour of Scott’s Antarctic hut NA NA Wonders Project Institute and its surrounding landscape, and links to other resources. Text #5: To Build a Fire (Short Story) The Century Excerpt from the famous short story describes a man’s desperate Jack London 1908 920L Magazine attempts to build a saving =re after plunging into frigid water. Text #6: The North Pole, Ch. XXI (Historical Narrative) Narrative from the =rst man to reach the North Pole describes the Robert Peary 1910 Frederick A. Stokes 1380L dangers and challenges of Arctic exploration. Text #7: The South Pole, Ch. XII (Historical Narrative) Roald Narrative recounts the days leading up to Amundsen’s triumphant 1912 John Murray 1070L Amundsen arrival at the Pole on 12/14/1911 – and winning the Great Race.
    [Show full text]
  • The South Polar Race Medal
    The South Polar Race Medal Created by Danuta Solowiej The way to the South Pole / Sydpolen. Roald Amundsen’s track is in Red and Captain Scott’s track is in Green. The South Polar Race Medal Roald Amundsen and his team reaching the Sydpolen on 14 Desember 1911. (Obverse) Captain R. F. Scott, RN and his team reaching the South Pole on 17 January 1912. (Reverse) Created by Danuta Solowiej Published by Sim Comfort Associates 29 March 2012 Background The 100th anniversary of man’s first attainment of the South Pole recalls a story of two iron-willed explorers committed to their final race for the ultimate prize, which resulted in both triumph and tragedy. In July 1895, the International Geographical Congress met in Lon- don and opened Antarctica’s portal by deciding that the southern- most continent would become the primary focus of new explora- tion. Indeed, Antarctica is the only such land mass in our world where man has ventured and not found man. Up until that time, no one had explored the hinterland of the frozen continent, and even the vast majority of its coastline was still unknown. The meet- ing touched off a flurry of activity, and soon thereafter national expeditions and private ventures started organizing: the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration had begun, and the attainment of the South Pole became the pinnacle of that age. Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen (1872-1928) nurtured at an early age a strong desire to be an explorer in his snowy Norwegian surroundings, and later sailed on an Arctic sealing voyage.
    [Show full text]
  • Roald Amundsen Memorial Lectures Will Be Held on 30 November & 1 December 2018
    the fram museum presents The memorialRoald lecturesAmundsen 2018 The seventh annual Roald Amundsen Memorial Lectures will be held on 30 November & 1 December 2018. The Memorial Lectures are held each year during the first weekend of December to commemorate the life and achievements of Roald Amundsen. The lectures on Saturday will be followed by the recreation of an historical dinner in the museum. the fram museum Friday 30 November presents 17:30 Registration The 18:00 Exhibition opening and book launch: Into the Mists: S.A. Andrée’s Balloon Expedition Towards the North Pole memorialRoald lecturesAmundsen 2018 Reception 20:00 Film: Roald Amundsen – the movie. Norwegian documentary from 1954. Director: Reidar Lunde. 100 min. 22:00 End Saturday 1 December 10:00 Geir O. Kløver – Welcome 10:20 Håkan Jorikson: From August to S.A. Andrée – the man behind the expedition 11:20 Break 11:30 Alexander Wisting: Shadowland – Otto Sverdrup’s Struggle 12:30 Lunch in the Gjøa Building 13:30 Meredith Hooper: Playing the Game – Scott’s other heroes 14:30 Break 14:40 Olav Orheim: The secret side of Greenland – some glimpses of military activities from WWII into the Cold War 15:40 Coffee break 16:10 Jan Wangaard: The Return ofMaud 17:10 Break 17:20 Motion Blur: Amundsen – from idea to the big screen 18:20 Reception on the deck of Fram 19:00 Recreation of the official dinner served on the evening of Roald Amundsen and his crew members’ return to Kristiania after the South Pole Expedition in 1912. The same 9-course menu and similar wine will be served, the same speeches will be held and the same music played.
    [Show full text]
  • Verdens Eldste Flybase Med Operativ Drift
    Kjeller – verdens Kjeller – en verden eldste flybase! full av eventyr! ER A L E K R O L E A L F K E O S J D J B E V O K N R A E E O R K N M V J A A E E E S R L O L R D E K R J E Y O L A M E L E W R O R O S L O N VEDLEGG FORTID – NÅTID – FRAMTID «Framtiden tilhører våre barn og neste generasjoner . K J E L L E R F LY P L A S S Hva sier dagens barn og ungdom i alderen 10 til 20 år; er de enige i en nedleggelse av flyplassen, en halvvveis nedleggelse eller en bevaring av hele Kjeller flyplass? Hva sier dagens familier hvis våre barn og neste generasjoner blir fratatt mulighetene til utdanning, opplevelser og mestring VERDENS som vi tar som en selvfølge i dag? «Kjeller flyplass er for luftsporten det samme som ELDSTE Holmenkollbakken er for norsk hoppsport», hevder generalsekretær i NLF, John Eirik Laupsa.» FLYBASE NOTAT FRA AERONORGE –interesseorganisasjon for norsk luftfart (under etablering) ARNESTED FOR NORSK LUFTFART KJELLER Hvor ideer og drømmer tar av! Luftfart og innovasjon ER AE L R L O L K E A E O F K J S D J K E V O R B A N E E O R K N M V J A E A E S E R L O K L R J Y D E E R L A O L E W M E R O R O S L O N NASJONALT ARVESØLV Kjeller har i snart 20 år vært landets hovedsmåflyplass, etter at flymiljøet tapte kampen om å beholde Fornebu i 1998 og samtidig fikk store operative begrensninger ved OSL på Gardermoen.
    [Show full text]
  • Nasjonsrelaterte Stedsnavn På Svalbard Hvilke Nasjoner Har Satt Flest Spor Etter Seg? NOR-3920
    Nasjonsrelaterte stedsnavn på Svalbard Hvilke nasjoner har satt flest spor etter seg? NOR-3920 Oddvar M. Ulvang Mastergradsoppgave i nordisk språkvitenskap Fakultet for humaniora, samfunnsvitenskap og lærerutdanning Institutt for språkvitenskap Universitetet i Tromsø Høsten 2012 Forord I mitt tidligere liv tilbragte jeg to år som radiotelegrafist (1964-66) og ett år som stasjonssjef (1975-76) ved Isfjord Radio1 på Kapp Linné. Dette er nok bakgrunnen for at jeg valgte å skrive en masteroppgave om stedsnavn på Svalbard. Seks delemner har utgjort halve mastergradsstudiet, og noen av disse førte meg tilbake til arktiske strøk. En semesteroppgave omhandlet Norske skipsnavn2, der noen av navna var av polarskuter. En annen omhandlet Språkmøte på Svalbard3, en sosiolingvistisk studie fra Longyearbyen. Den førte meg tilbake til øygruppen, om ikke fysisk så i hvert fall mentalt. Det samme har denne masteroppgaven gjort. Jeg har også vært student ved Universitetet i Tromsø tidligere. Jeg tok min cand. philol.-grad ved Institutt for historie høsten 2000 med hovedfagsoppgaven Telekommunikasjoner på Spitsbergen 1911-1935. Jeg vil takke veilederen min, professor Gulbrand Alhaug for den flotte oppfølgingen gjennom hele prosessen med denne masteroppgaven om stedsnavn på Svalbard. Han var også min foreleser og veileder da jeg tok mellomfagstillegget i nordisk språk med oppgaven Frå Amarius til Pardis. Manns- og kvinnenavn i Alstahaug og Stamnes 1850-1900.4 Jeg takker også alle andre som på en eller annen måte har hjulpet meg i denne prosessen. Dette gjelder bl.a. Norsk Polarinstitutt, som velvillig lot meg bruke deres database med stedsnavn på Svalbard, men ikke minst vil jeg takke min kjære Anne-Marie for hennes tålmodighet gjennom hele prosessen.
    [Show full text]
  • Roald Amundsen
    Roald Amundsen - Norwegian Antarctic Expedition, South Pole, 1910 - 1912 The Crew of the Fram | The "race to the pole", Amundsen v Scott | Who was Roald Amundsen? presentation Roald Amundsen was the first man to lead a successful expedition to the South Pole. Arriving about a month before Scott and his party after unilaterally declaring it a race. Amundsen used dog sleds, his party was well organized and well prepared with the single intention of reaching the pole, rather than any other exploration or scientific discovery. Roald Amundsen, 1872-1928 Crew of the Fram 1912, Amundsen centre with bowler hat Crew of the Fram in detail The Fram and Terra Nova (Captains Scott's ship) unexpectedly meet in the Bay of Whales, Ross Sea, Antarctica, 4th Feb 1911 Roald Amundsen, Olav Olavson Bjaaland, Hilmer Hanssen, Sverre H. Hassel and Oscar Wisting by their South Pole marker tent and flag Roald Amundsen and his dog team at the South Pole The South Pole party safely back aboard the Fram Pictures used courtesy National Library of Norway Nasjonalbiblioteket Roald Amundsen began a career studying medicine at the University of Christiana (now the University of Oslo), but dropped out in order to go to sea. His first Antarctic trip was in 1899 on the Belgica expedition when he was one of the first party ever to over winter in Antarctica as the ship became trapped in the pack ice and drifted until it broke out in the following spring. He established his credentials on this trip as a leader, ice master and as a resourceful expeditioner.
    [Show full text]
  • Antarctica University of Wyoming Art Museum, 2007 Educational Packet Developed for Grades K-12
    Antarctica University of Wyoming Art Museum, 2007 Educational Packet developed for grades K-12 Purpose of this packet: Question: To provide K-12 teachers with Students will have an opportunity background information on to observe, read about, write the exhibition and to suggest about, and sketch the art works age appropriate applications for in the galleries. They will have exploring the concepts, meaning, an opportunity to listen and and artistic intent of the work discuss the Antarctica exhibition exhibited, before, during, and after with some of the artists and the museum visit. the museum educators. Then, they will start to question the Special note on this exhibit: works and the concepts behind This particular exhibit is dense and the work. They will question rich with interdisciplinary connections the photographic and artistic and issues of the greatest importance techniques of the artists. And, to the earth and its inhabitants, This Eliot Furness Porter (American, 1901-1990), they will question their own curricular unit introduces much Green Iceberg, Livingston Island, Antarctica, 1976, responses to the artists’ work that can be studied in greater detail: dye transfer print, 8-5/16 x 8-1/8 inches, gift of in the exhibition. Further, the the geography of the polar regions, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Wolf, University of Wyo- students may want to know more the history of Antarctica and polar ming Art Museum Collection, 1984.195.47 about Antarctica, its history exploration, the politics that govern of formation and exploration, this area. Teachers are encouraged to climate, geology, wildlife, animals, plants, environmental use this exhibit of Antarctica – as portrayed by artists – as a effects and scientific experimentation.
    [Show full text]
  • 2003 Trans-Norway Antarctic Expedition
    Trans-Norway Antarctic Expedition 2003 2003 Trans-Norway Antarctic Expedition 2 – 8 May 2003 Mary Royds Cleveland ................................................. Scilly Isles, England Cathy Cooper ............................................................Twickenham, England Wendy Driver ...........................................................Twickenham, England Shane Murphy ...................................................... Scottsdale, Arizona USA Jonathan Shackleton ..........................................................Mullagh, Ireland Judy Skelton .................................................................... London, England Robert Stephenson .........................................Jaffrey, New Hampshire USA ❧ The Norwegian flag on the front cover is one that Amundsen carried over the North Pole and to the South Pole. He gave it to Lincoln Ellsworth whose widow gave it to Beekman Pool who gave it to the current owner. ❧ The bas-relief portrait medallion of Amundsen on the back cover may be found in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco (for many years the location of the Gjøa, the boat in which Amundsen was the first to sail the Northwest Passage ). ❧ The portrait of Amundsen above is adpated from the frontispiece of Vol. I of The South Pole. ❧ The sculpture of Amundsen with a sled dog stands in the grounds of his house near Oslo (from a photograph by James McCarthy). ❧ The view of the polar party is from a photograph that appears in Roland Huntford’s The Amundsen Photographs. Amundsen and his men were then (December 8, 1911) seven miles north of Shackleton’s ‘Furthest South.’ Twenty copies of this Keepsake have been issued by the Erebus & Terror Press, Jaffrey, New Hampshire, April 2003 [E&TP-9]. T THREE IN THE AFTERNOON [December 14, 1911] a simultaneous “Halt!” rang out from the drivers. They had carefully examined their sledge-meters, and they all showed the full distance—our Pole by reckoning.
    [Show full text]
  • Airships in the Arctic
    ARCTIC VOL. 46, NO. 3 (SEPTEMBER 1993) P. 278-283 Airships in the Arctic America, Norge, Italia, and Graf Zeppelin- it was60 years of the hydrogen. Able to carry a crew of five, she was ago and more that these airships voyaged to the Arctic and powered by three gasoline engines providing a total of 80 explorers suchas Walter Wellman, Roald Amundsen, Lincoln horsepower and driving two wooden propellers, foreone and Ellsworth, and Umberto Nobile captured the attention of the one aft. world. The era of arctic exploration by airship was short, On 8 July 1906 the knocked-down America finally arrived and for most of the adventurers who flewthe hydrogen-filled at Spitsbergen. When the airship’s engines were tested, they ships it was a glorious return. For others, there was the fell apart. By now it was mid-September, too late to try for ultimate price to be paid. But the challenge of the Arctic, the North Pole. Three men were left to spend the winter at of the North Pole, of being the first was irrepressible. the support base, and the rest of the party, together with the uninflated and knocked-down airship, returned by ship AMONG THE FIRST TO TRY to France. Back in Paris, Wellman had the America cut in two and The Arctic’s icy circle would first be challenged from the a new6.1 m section sewn intoit. This increasedthe airship’s air by balloonists, and among the first was the Swedish length to 56.4 m, with a volume capacity for 7700 m3 of Salomon August Andrée, chief engineer from the Patent hydrogen gas.
    [Show full text]
  • Roald Amundsen Born: 16Th July 1872, Borge, Norway Died: 18Th June 1928 (Aged 55)
    Roald Amundsen Born: 16th July 1872, Borge, Norway Died: 18th June 1928 (Aged 55) On the 16th of July, 1872, Roald Amundsen was born in Borge, Norway and was named Roald Englebregt Gravning Amundsen. He had three brothers and lived with his parents. When he was 14, his father passed away leaving him and his brothers in the care of his mother. His dream had always been to explore the world, but he studied medicine as this was his mother’s dream for him. When she passed away, he left school and moved to pursue his personal dream. Roald managed to acquire varies positions as a crewmate on various expeditions traveling to the Arctic. This includes a journey where he sailed as first mate on the Belgica in a Belgian expedition to the Antarctic in 1897. He learned a great deal about exploring and surviving such as eating seal meat will help to cure scurvy due to its high levels of Vitamin C and animal skin is a better insulator than woolen coats. He also learned the importance of preparation, due to a difficult winter, he had had to endure and the importance of the crew maintaining their high spirits, especially during the long winter days. In 1903, he sailed on the Gjoa with a crew of only six men with the goal of sailing through the Northwest Passage and around the northern side of Canada. In August of 1905, he completed the passage, the first to have completed this journey, and stopped at Cape Colborne. Here the journey halted due to ice, but in August 1906 they set sail again before concluding in Alaska in late August.
    [Show full text]
  • The Last Viking: the Life of Roald Amundsen, by Stephen R. Bown
    126 • REVIEWS have been planning to expand the discussion of these topics ventured out on a hastily conceived and hazardous rescue upon finishing the book, but we, regrettably, have lost the flight. In Part One, Bown uses a similar approach to fire opportunity for further discourse. the reader’s imagination by opening the first chapter with The maps Burch created to demonstrate human and cari- a scene of Amundsen and his men scurrying onboard their bou distributions and complement the text are clear and single-masted wooden vessel, Gjøa, in June 1903. They detailed enough to orient oneself in Northwest Alaska. The were taking a hasty leave of Christiania Fjord (now Oslo map legends could have been in a larger font so that read- Fjord), with creditors closing in, trying unsuccessfully ers, particularly older readers, could more easily discern to stop what became an epic conquest of the Northwest the scale of caribou distributions across a vast landscape. Passage. The photos of human and Rangifer activities contribute to Some people are born to a life of adventure, or so it the historical setting of the book. More photos would have seems. A distaste for the ordinary and a hankering for test- been a treat, but the spectacular panoramic photo on the ing boundaries are in their nature. In that way, Amundsen back cover, which shows a large concentration of caribou, reminds me of his contemporary Danish Arctic explorer in itself justifies purchasing the book. and adventurer, Einar Mikkelsen. Amundsen grew up in a country that after centuries of Danish domination sim- Greg Finstad ply slipped into Swedish hands and had yet to experience Program Manager, Reindeer Research Program its own sovereign status.
    [Show full text]
  • Amundsen's Polar Conquest
    N.S. ARUN KUMAR Story 100th ANNIVERSARY OF REACHING THE SOUTH POLE Cover Amundsen’s Polar Conquest The story of the race to reach the South Pole is a tribute to Roald Amundsen’s grasp of the prevailing conditions in the icy continent and his sense of intricate planning. The year 2011 celebrates the hundredth anniversary of the conquest of the South Pole. IS life was as much adventurous and It was 14 December 1911 when And enthrallingly enough it was true. mysterious as his death. While alive, Amundsen achieved this, putting to great During his entire preparation for the Hhe never let anyone on his plans shame the British Empire by defeating their expedition, Amundsen kept saying that he and eventually became the first human imperialistic naval explorer Captain Scott. was going to the North Pole. Only on the ever to reach the barren icy continent of The British team reached there on 17 deck of his ship, he disclosed his real Antarctica. His death was equally January 1912 only to find that Amundsen destination to his shipmates. But he did mysterious. He just disappeared while flying had preceded them by 33 days. More send a telegraphic message to Scott that a rescue mission over the Barents Sea on humiliating was the death of all the team, he was moving to the South Pole. 18 June 1928. It is believed that his plane including Scott, starving and dying in bad Many, however, believed that nobody crashed and he died. But his body was weather. It was a great shame, rather than reached the South Pole other than Scott never found.
    [Show full text]