FREE icepeople The world's northernmost alternative newspaper Vol. 2, Issue 12 May 4, 2010 www.icepeople.net Briefly Odd Olsen Ingerø to head office Fewer after four-year absence; other living in new senior officials also coming

Svalbard issues, ice sculpture get some notice at climate summit Related: Cows Population declines 3.3 percent eating grass during 2009; Russians drop the may cut N2O most, Thais still main foreigners emissions Given everything else that declined in 2009, - Icepeople.net the population of Svalbard might as well be a part of it. A van, top right, barely visible through a blizzard, approaches the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in There were 2,481 residents in the archipela- this scene from the documentary "Climate Of Change," focusing on environmental preservation go as of January 1, 2010, 84 fewer than a year efforts by individuals. The seed vault scenes in the film, which received positive reviews from ago, according to Statistics . The de- critics during screenings at the Tribeca FIlm Festival last month, are called "particularly ethereal." cline includes 33 residents in Nor- wegian settle- Foreign residents Svalbard: Still strange ments, which in Svalbard 2010 now have a pop- All men women Doomsday remains the theme in literary and lowbrow films, books ulation of 2,052, "Comatose seeds are wrapped in stone," a and 50 in the Russian commu- woman's subdued voice recites above sparse Hauntingly familiar: Watch a two-minute nity of Barents- eerie music, pausing between phrases. "It is excerpt of the Svalbard portion of the Garden of Eden…numbered and tagged burg, which now "Climate of Change" and other previews has half the oc- and vacuum packed." from the film free at www.icepeople.net. "A doomsday allotment, just in case…the cupants as it did work and the sign of a civilization stashing seven years ago. provisions and holding its breath." lived up to its "particularly ethereal" billing. "Svalbard has Such is the impression of Svalbard made Those working at and with the Svalbard a high level of on attendees at the Tribeca Film Festival, Global Seed Vault tend to cringe at its in- and out-migration, markedly influencing where "Climate of Change" screened last "doomsday" label in popular media, but it's the size of the population," a summary by the month. The 85-minute documentary, focusing clearly here to stay as a new collection of agency notes. 's population, how- Web exclusive: Download the MP3 ever, has been in steady decline due to the loss “ on small-scale environmental preservation ef- movies, books and other entertainment contin- "Sporløst Gikk Tiden" by Liv Mari Schei This is far, far more stressful than of mining and other industries. forts in sometimes unusual locations world- ues focusing on the ominous aspect of the free at www.icepeople.net. minus 55 degrees and making 20 wide, received generally favorable reviews two-year-old facility. Men represent 57 percent of residents in Norwegian settlements, but women make up miles a day. from critics who agreed the Svalbard portion See DOOM, page 4 See POPULATION, page 2 - David Hempleman-Adams, expedition guide Inside Look, but don't touch the bears ” Blues Bonanza, other local news Fewer tourist encounters with by Norwegian and U.S. researchers, found animals, but better precautions tourists going on group snowmobile expedi- Page 2 tions during the spring of 2009 had varying Headlines from Svalbardposten possible, UNIS researcher says levels of interest in seeing polar bears. Those - Tour company seeks tent camp near Mine 3 Confrontations between polar bears and hu- traveling to remote parts of northern Spitsber- - Deadline for food grinders in homes extended mans in Svalbard are declining, and fewer visi- gen or to the eastern coast, people ages 55 to - May Day missed for first time in 85 years tors are heading into the wilds uninformed. But 66, and visitors most interested in photography better education of tourists is still needed as were more likely to seek out the animals. Page 3 Elham Al-Qasimi, in this April 23 photo from her some groups are exposing themselves to danger "Oddly, tourists with a certificate of com- online journal, celebrates becoming the first Weather forecast more than others. pleted apprenticeship as education seemed This polar bear jawbone from Svalbard is the Arab woman to reach the North Pole. Page 3 Those findings are part of a master's thesis more exposed to end up in an encounter," she by Margrete Keyser for The University Centre wrote in a summary of her thesis. "This oldest known specimen. Photo provided by UNIS. Events calendar In Svalbard. Her work, which is continuing as seemed to be caused by an insecurity regarding Page 4 part of a database of encounters being compiled See BEARS, page 3 Page 2 May 4, 2010

Who's to blame and how to express your wrath . Over the last decade, these pioneers have become recruiters of fellow countrywomen in a flow of migra- Editor tion." Mark Sabbatini "While migration from Thailand to other Western countries is dominated by single women, both genders Copy editor migrate to Svalbard and arrive in all family statuses. Kristan Hutchison They come for work." "Until the mid-1990s, only a few Thai women, Psychiatrist married to Norwegian men, had settled in Svalbard. Irene Gallion Over the last decade, these pioneers have become re- cruiters of fellow countrywomen in a flow of migra- Mailing address tion." Icepeople Vei 210 -2- 13 , Svalbard 9170 Norway

Telephone Norway: +47 41 51 46 38 U.S. +1 (970) 673-4472 Thai women, who by far are the most numerous group for foreign residents living in Svalbard, serve E-mail cuisine from their native country during a fundraiser at The University Centre In Svalbard. [email protected] Svalbard residents come and go fast Web site POPULATION, from page 1 foreign men come from Thailand. www.icepeople.net the majority of foreign nationals in those com- "Until the mid-1990s, only a few Thai munities. A total of 18 percent of all women women, married to Norwegian men, had set- Svalbardbutikken is halting Icepeople is published weekly (or thereabouts) are foreign nationals, compared to 13 percent tled in Svalbard," wrote An-Magritt Jensen, a sales of computers, cameras, on Tuesdays (or thereabouts), with printed of men. professor in sociology at the Norwegian Uni- televisions, appliances and other copies available free on a limited basis in Thailand continues to be the dominant for- versity of Science and Technology, in an analy- electronics, with store manage- Longyearbyen. Additional printed copies are eign group with 96 residents, followed by Swe- sis of Svalbard's Thai population last year. ment saying they are losing too availably locally and by mail upon request. den with 53 and Russia with 29. Forty percent There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net many sales to internet shoppers. Charges are on an "at cost" basis. Other factors such as high of the foreign women and 22 per cent of the for the complete story. prices, the recession and moving the electronics section from a Copyright stuff separate location at Lompensen- Briefly teret into the main store in 2008 Original contents of this publication can be reproduced for non-commercial purposes free Blues Bonanza features the researchers, said it is too early to do the of charge if Icepeople is credited as the same in Norwegian portions of the Barents source. The original writers, photographers trio of bands Saturday Sea. and other contributors retain their rights to all Blues are traditionally a dark season fa- Some researchers have raised concerns published works. vorite in Svalbard, but a one-night marathon of crab populations may threaten cod stocks. But concerts is being offered Saturday as the Sundet said there is considerable interest Corrections policy lengthy polar summer settles in. among fishermen since it is a major source of The trio of performances are scheduled at income for Canada and Alaska, "so even if the When we screw up you'll know about it – on 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Svarbar. Admission is price is only about half of what it is for king the front page. One of the big complaints 150 kroner. crabs, snow crabs generate plenty of revenue." about newspapers is they tend to bury The three bands are Blåmyra, a Longyear- corrections and clarifications deep inside byen bluegrass sextet; Akaustisk Soda, a NPI: Vessel feud threat to where few people who read the original article decade-old bluegrass/alternative group from see them. If we need to fix something, an alert Bergen featuring banjo player Rino Silden; and Norway's polar status Moving Day, a new Oslo group that clims to box on the front page will state what story is in Norway may have settled a 40-year-old error and where the full correction is printed. take "inspiration from the old-time music re- vival in New York in the early '60s." battle with Russia over the , but can't re- solve an internal battle about funding a re- Submitting material search ship for the same area, according to the Barents snow crabs may head of the Norwegian Polar Institute. Jan-Gunnar Winther told Aftenposten last Letters, columns, photos and other material total 100 million by 2016 week Norway will lose its status as a "polar na- are welcome, but we can't offer pay for Snow crabs, first caught in Norway in tion" unless an agreement is reached. Efforts to published items since nobody here is getting 1996, may turn into a feast for some commer- build a new vessel have been ongoing since paid at the moment. Submissions in electronic cial fishermen as officials estimate there are 2001, with institute officials saying their cur- form (text, Word documents, JPEGs, etc.) are now 40 million crabs in the Barents Sea and rent fleet is outdated and soon won't be capable highly preferred, although typing and/or UNIS students drill the permafrost in Greenland the population could reach 100 million in five of field work. scanning of items will be considered on a per- as part of a project examining nitrous oxide years. A vessel will cost about 1.1 billion kroner case basis. We reserve the right to edit emissions in the Arctic. Photo by Bo Elberling. The species have a lot of offspring, few en- and take at least four years to build. The Min- submissions for length, clarity, accuracy, libel emies and a good supply of food, Russian sci- istry for the Environment is in a dispute with and other reasons, but we will also make entists told Finnmark this week. Commercial the ministry in charge of fishing and coastal is- every reasonable effort to contact the author fishing of the Russian waters off Finnmark is sues about which agency will play a lead role about any changes prior to publication. now being considered, but Jan Sundet, one of in managing the maritime environment. May 4, 2010 Page 3

HEADLINES STOLEN FROM SVALBARDPOSTEN VERDENS NORDLIGSTE AVIS

Tour company hopes to set up tent camp near Mine 3 Tundra Events is hoping to place a large Sami-style camping tent outside Mine 3, but will need permission from Store Norkse to do so. The tour company is asking Longyearbyen officials to approve three tent sites for this summer, with the other locations being near Mine 7 and where the fiber optic cable disap- pears into a fjord near Svalbard Airport. Dag Ivar Brekke, vice administrative director of Store Norske, said there is a 50-meter safety A polar bear observed by several people roams before police chase it from the area zone for abandoned mines and open fires are April 26. It was one of three bears spotted near Longyearbyen within a couple of days. Photo by not permitted. Tundra Events Arne O. Bergdal Per Andreassen of the Svalbard governor's office. calls the site attractive and notes a mining mu- seum is planned there, "but if it becomes diffi- Study: Tourist safety training can improve cult we will look at the other two options." BEARS, from page 1 training by professionals should also be imple- what are good security routines." mented, since some travelers are less likely to Delay of food grinders leads Svalbard tourists, who constantly call see- study material on their own. to extension of deadline ing a polar bear one of their primary goals, are A lack of experience is also a concern with besieged with information from the time they some researchers, since an increasing number The deadline for installing food grinders arrive, including the ever-present warning not of projects means they are experiencing an in- in all Longyearbyen residents has been ex- to wander beyond the Longyearbyen city limits crease in encounters during recent years while tended since they are now scheduled to arrive unless somebody is carrying a rifle. Keyser, in those of tourists are in decline, Keyser noted. May 31 instead of the original date of May 3. an e-mail interview, said her concerns aren't "A differentiation in the registrations be- Officials had approved a July 1 deadline for about an awareness of polar bears as much as tween resident researchers and visiting re- installation of the devices, but the new target date is "not absolute," said Brynjulv Øverby, Travelers can't play golf be- providing complete information about dealing searchers would help to analyze the situation with them. even better," she wrote in her thesis summary. head of Bydrift. He said summer holidays can tween the runways and there's affect when many people are at home, which no danger of high tide washing "Of course they know that we have polar "It is likely to believe that a high proportion of bears," she wrote. "It's a matter of teaching the researchers that got involved in a con- is more of a problem for individual residences planes off a sand runway into than apartments and similar complexes. Com- the sea. But it seems flying into them how to behave to avoid the encounter in frontation with a polar bear were non-resident the first place, how to behave when there is a researchers and presumably not very experi- pliance inspections by the Svalbard governor's Svalbard is just as weird. office are likely to take place in the fall. Svalbard Airport is one of polar bear close and how to act to scare it off if enced." "The World's 18 Strangest Air- the situation escalates into a problem." Between 1987 and June of 2009 there were "One example might be that we have many 74 encounters between humans and polar May Day celebration called rent-day meaning for a de- ports," according to the current gree in dentistry, but Ellingsen issue of Popular Mechanics. tourists coming to rent rifles…but they don't bears, she stated, noting to total is from the off for first time in 85 years know that they also should bring a signal Svalbard governor's office. Police cases ac- said he questions if the mys- While other airports on the list The traditional May Day memorial cere- pistol, which is the most important device we counted for 23 – so they're not considered sur- tery man could have obtained are distinct for runways on steep mony was bypassed in Longyearbyen for the use to scare the bear off. Many seem to think prise or self-defense encounters – personnel at one by the age of 24. slopes in the Alps and intersect- first time in 85 years due to the reorganization that as long as they have a rifle with them they research stations for 27, tourists for 15, trap- ing with major city streets, Sval- of a trade union responsible for the event. Pro- are safe. I think 'OK, maybe they are safe but pers for seven and local residents for four. bard's is notorious for its north- visional representatives are scheduled to elect what about the bear?' Without means and Police responded to three sightings of polar ern latitude and shifting soil. board members to Longyearbyen Arbeider- knowledge to scare it off they might have to bears near Longyearbyen at the end of April, "I never thought it was very forenings this fall, and the realization there kill a bear that maybe didn't need to get shot in but Keyser said she doesn't know if a some- strange," said Ole Rambech, the was no planning for the May 1 event was a bit the first place." times mild winter that resulted in poor snow airport's manager. "This is a sudden, said Ottar Svensen, the interim leader. Placing informative films hotel lobbies and cover will affect the number of animals near standard airport built to interna- Traditional events include a procession at the airport, and attaching brochures to e- settlements since their location cannot be easi- tional standards." through town and speeches at the Skjæringa mails confirming bookings are among Keyser's ly predicted. memorial. A memorial ceremony did take recommendations for improving self-education There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net place in the evening at Svalbard Church. “ possibilities. Better regulations and safety for the complete story. That Russia does not fully share the Norwegian view of Weather forecast for Longyearbyen how the resources Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday in the fish river Partly sunny. WSW winds at Cloudy with snow late. SW Varying snow up to 23 cm. Snow up to 15 cm. E winds zone around 4 km/h. High -6C (-6C wind winds at 14 km/h. High 2C ESE winds at 22 km/h. High at 12 km/h. High -1C (-6C Svalbard are to be chill), low -3C (-4C wind (-2C wind chill), low -1C 0C (-7C wind chill), low -2C wind chill), low -10C (-12C chill). (-8C wind chill). (-8C wind chill). wind chill). exercised has not led to a general Extended forecast: Sunday, cloudy and cold, -8C (-10C), -11C (-12C); Monday, some sun, -8C (-8C), -9C (-10C); Tuesday, cold increase in tension and partly cloudy, -8C (-12C), -11C (-17C); Wednesday, periods of snow, -7C (-10C), -8C (-17C). in the area. Data provided by AccuWeather.com - Grete Faremo, defense minister ” Page 4 May 4, 2010

What's up Briefly May 6 2 p.m.: Board of cultural and leisure meeting. Næringsbygget, Tundra room. Board of City Operation Authority Local board endorses meeting. Time not specified. Næringsbygget, Smutthullet room. lowering voting age May 7 Longyearbyen will join other Norwe- gian cities seeking to lower the voting age 9 p.m.: Board of growing enterprises for local elections to 16 after the municipal meeting. Næringsbygget, Tundra room. board endorsed the proposal June 16. May 9 "It is important to encourage young peo- ple to more politically active and 11 a.m.: Liturgy. Svalbard Church. conscious," a board declaration states. "This Brian K. Vaughan, a tv/movie/fiction writer who made a monkey a co-star of the post-Apocalyptic Y: May 11 will lead to greater commitment to the polit- The Last Man comic book series, is turning his doomsday focus on Svalbard for "The Vault," a 7 p.m.: Meeting of the local board. ical issues that interest young people. More- movie about a thief trying to save mankind by breaking into the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. over, it is important to provide education Lompensenteret, Mediateket. about democracy and political systems in End of the world remains fertile ground May 12 cooperation with the school and the local board. Such a scheme would create more DOOM, from page 1 4.5 million duplicates of seeds are stored." 7 p.m.: Presentation by filmmaker and politician confidence and trust, and thus also The pace isn't likely to slow in the near fu- Another sober examination of issues related author Jan Anders Diesen on Roald in the long term lead to increased new re- ture, especially with some predicting the ar- to the vault is "Seed Warriors," a Swiss docu- Amundsen's South Pole expedition. cruitment in Longyearbyen government." rival of Judgement Day during Christmas of mentary also premiering earlier this year. Pro- Radisson. The test project will lower the voting 2012. motional materials also take a "world in peril" May 14 age from 18 for council elections in 2011. The novel "Solar" by British author Ian slant and focus on the efforts of individuals, The deadline for local governments to apply McEwan, a climate change satire whose tragi- such as a Kenyan scientist trying to deposit 4 p.m.: Svalbard Camp registration to Norway's Justice Department is July 1. comedy peaks in , has seen an unique native seeds at the vault while they still begins. Outdoor camp in August for Austria sparked a movement among Eu- abundance of page 1 features in the New York exist. youths 13-18 is limited to 40 ropean countries in 2007 by lowering the Times Sunday Book Review and other major lit- "Our protagonists come from a range of participants. Fee 800 kroner. Register by voting age to 16 for all elections. Germany, erary publications. Being pitched to movie stu- disciplines but they all face innumerable hur- sending name, year or birth and mobile Slovenia and Switzerland have lowered the dios now is "The Vault" by Brian K. Vaughan, dles – bureaucracy, a lack of money and re- The pace isn't likely to slow in the near future, especially with some predicting the arrival of Judge- telephone number to campsvalbard@ age on a limited basis. a writer of the "Lost" television show and Y: sources, the absence of political will," a synop- ment Day on Christmas Day of 2012. lokalstyre.no. The Last Man comic series, described "as a sis notes. "These unlikely heroes have all made cross between "Ocean’s 11" and "2012"/"Chil- considerable sacrifices and have proved re- May 16 Cultural center work dren of Men." silient in the face of adversity." 11 a.m.: Liturgy. Svalbard Church. "When a terrifying plague destroys crops It's safe to assume a more downmarket ap- now live via webcam Tore Andersen, ???, Bjørn Holm (bassist) May 17 and Knut Hem and causes starvation on a global scale, the proach will be featured in "The Vault." Construction of Longyearbyen's new world’s greatest thief must break into the ex- Details are sketchy, including who might 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.: Traditional celebration cultural center can now be followed live via tremist-controlled Doomsday Vault to steal the buy it and when it might be released. But of Norwegian Constitution Day. Web camera, according to an announcement one seed that could prevent the extinction of Vaughan's extensive resume of eclectic in- today. the human race," a synopsis notes. cludes another post-global plague story in Y: May 18 Still photos updated every minute offer Apocalyptic portrayals of the isolated Nor- The Last Man, summarized by Wikipedia as 7 p.m.: Brainstorming session for new a rooftop view of the city's main pedestrian wegian archipelago are nothing new, and range "about the only man to survive the apparent si- cultural center. Næringsbygget, walkway. The new center, scheduled for from scholarly to silly to sci-fi. The highbrow multaneous death of every male mammal (bar- Smutthullet room. completion in October of 2010 as an addi- road is taken by "Climate of Change," where ring the same man's pet monkey) on Earth." tion to the current municipal building, is still U.S. director Brian Hill uses two British artists Still, the article notes "among other impor- May 22 in the excavation stage. Ecosystem generally healthy, high. More stringent environmental monitoring – actress Tilda Swinton narrating poems by Si- tant ideas, the story deals extensively and ob- 11 a.m.: Cultural exchange in The camera is accessible by clicking the and management between the two countries is but concerns about pollution mon Armitage – to present characters such as a jectively about gender issues and technological Barentsburg. Longyearbyen clubs picture icon on the left side of municipality's called essential due to "potential major and ir- 13-year-old member of a youth environmental and scientific advancement taking the place of home page at www.lokalstyre.no. and climate change raised reversible changes of the ecosystem." showcase their talents for their Russian group in India and a renaissance man teaching the so-called 'natural order of things.'" counterparts. Ship for first 35 The Barents Sea ecosystem is relatively Pollutants such as PCBs are a particular Strange Svalbard science isn't limited to the A 55-year-old heart transplant recipi- citizens to cook with solar power in Africa. participants departs at 11 a.m., others clean and illegal fishing greatly reduced, but threat to species high in the food chain includ- "Simon had the idea very early on to write seed vault in the mind of writers and directors. ent. A blind marathon runner. A 15-year- will depart by helicopter at 1:30 p.m. numerous threats to wildlife exist from prob- ing polar bears and sea birds, according to the something comparing the global seed vault to a "Solar" plays with shifting climate change old seeking a record for youth on skis. A lems such as pollution and global warming, ac- study. Ocean acidification from anthropogenic kind of giant potting shed," Hill said in an in- moralities inspired by a Spitsbergen snowmo- Show starts at 6:30 p.m. businessman just looking to get a cording to a joint Russian-Norwegian study. emissions of CO2 is another concern. Also, terview published in the movie's press kit. The bile expedition. Another adult novel, "Dark haircut. The study, released this month, states the warming may be causing reproductive difficul- director's crew on the island was severely lim- Matter" by bestselling children's author Getting to the North Pole is tough area faces a critical period as several oil fields ties among marine mammals. ited, consisting of two assistants and his 13- Michelle Paver, will feature another frozen enough, but for many the expedition is are scheduled to start up during the next six There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net year-old son who was on school holiday. misadventure when it is published in October. What's online also about overcoming personal limita- years and fishing activity is expected to remain for the complete story. Minimalist or not, the seed vault portion of The plot, set in 1937, focuses on a group of tions or achieving sometimes eccentric the documentary was among the most fre- young Englishmen on a Spitsbergen mission of Icepeople.net provides daily updates of firsts. Something like becoming the first scientific discovery, only to find something Arab woman at the top of the world may quently mentioned by Tribeca festival critics. news about Svalbard and the world's "Rather than being used to introduce us to sinister lurking in the snow. merely require the right ancestry, but polar regions, plus extras for articles from interview subjects or even present statistics, "I've always loved ghost stories and for the other quests such as a planned boat row the narration adds beauty to the already incred- past decade, I've had 'Dark Matter' at the back the print edition. Among the latest news: to the Pole require elements like abnor- There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net ible landscapes," wrote Eric Eisenberg in a re- of my mind," Paver told The Bookseller in an ! Drilling fallout continues after oil disaster mal warming to happen at the right time. interview. "'Dark Matter' is my attempt to cap- for the complete story. view for Cinema Blend. "One poem in particu- For guides helping the new wave of lar, written about an underground seed storage ture the beauty and menace of the Arctic, in a ! Why Norway's offshore drilling is safer explorers attempt their dream it also facility in Svalbard, Norway, is haunting as we ghost story that will scare the hell out of you." ! New N. Norway youth council elected adds challenges to the already demand- move from snowy streets to tomb below, There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net known to some as the Doomsday Vault, where for the complete story. ! Hungry polar bears learn rock climbing for the complete story.