Anchorage 2008 - Position Papers

The position papers are written specifically for the 5th NRF Open Assembly by people prominent in Northern issues and activities from a variety of backgrounds. These essays focus on the different themes and sub-themes that will be addressed during the meeting and are meant to serve as a springboard inspiring discussion in the various sessions as well responses from panelists and other speakers.

Plenary Session I: The Future of Northern Co-operation

• Geopolitics of a Changing North
  Lassi Heininen, Adjunct Professor, University of Lapland, Finland

• Multilateral Versus Unilateral Actions: Balancing the Needs for International Governance in the New Arctic
  Rob Huebert, Centre for Military and Strategic Studies,Universityof Calgary, Canadian International Council Research Fellow

• The Shifting Focus of Northern Cooperation
  Toms Rostoks, University of Latvia

• Canada and the New Geopolitics of the North Pacific Rim
  Lassi Heininen, Adjunct Professor, University of Lapland, Finland
  Heather Nicol, Trent University, Canada

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On the 24th of June 2008 in Oslo the research institute Ocean Futures and the Northern Research Forum jointly hosted a very well attended seminar that explored various aspects of Arctic and northern affairs. The seminar was entitled "The Politics of the Eurasian Arctic. National Interests and International Challenges". Read more here. Following are position papers from the seminar:

• Nordic Interests and the Future of the North
  Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Iceland

• Geopolitics of a Changing North (see above)
  Lassi Heininen, Adjunct Professor, University of Lapland, Finland

• Norwegian Interests, Norwegian Policy in the High North
  Marit Nybakk, M.P. of the Norwegian parliament, Stortinget, Norway

• Extended Security and Climate Change in the Regional and Global Context: A Historical Account
  Willy Østreng, Ocean Futures, Centre for Advanced Study, Norway

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Plenary Session II: The New Geography of a Warming North

• Climate Change: Facts-Scenarios. What can we Learn from the Ice Sheets?
  Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir, Danish Climate Centre, Danish Meteorological Institute

• Population of mammals of boreal regions of Eurasia under climate changes
  L.G. Emelyanova, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Geographical Department, Chair of Biogeography.

• Study of the Transient Layer Developed in Permafrost-affected Soils of Southern Tundra (European Northe-East of Russia)
  Dmitry Kaverin, Institute of Biology, Syktyvkar, Russia

• Suicide in Inuit Nunaat: An analysis of Suicide Rates and the Effect of Community-level Factors
  Christopher Penney, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada; Sacha Senécal, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, University of Western Ontario; Eric Guimond, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, University of Western Ontario,Inter-University Centre for Demographich Study (CIED); Ellen Bobet, Confluence Research; and Sharamjit Uppal,Statistics Canda

• Measuring Inuit Community Well-Being: The Canadian Inuit Community Well-Being Index
  Sacha Senécal,Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, University of Western Ontario; Christopher Penney, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada; and Erin O'Sulluvan, Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, McMaster University

• Background Paper on the Human Health Consequences of Climate Change in the Circumpolar North
  Lawrence D. Weiss, PhD, MS, Alaska Center for Public Policy

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Plenary Session III: The Accessible Arctic in the Global Economy

• Sustainable Arctic Communities: A Proposal for the Early Introduction of Smart Electric microGrids, Renewable Energy and Electric Transportation in Remote Arctic Communities
  Bill Adams, PhD, Canada

• Far Eastern Oil Pipelines
  D.B. Badmatsirenova and N.M. Gataullina, Technical Institute in Neriungry, Sakha State University, Russia

• The Arctic and Challenges of the Exterior - Knowledge, ICT, and Autonomy
  Dr. Oliver Krone

• The Social Economy of Canada´s Aboriginal North
  Dr. David C. Natcher, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

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Plenary Session IV: Leadership in the Age of Uncertainty

• Revolution in Governance: A Matter of Global Necessity
  Kirk Cameron and William J. Klassen

• The Relationship Between Humans and the Environment from the Latvian Perspective
  Gunda Reire, Chairperson of the Strategic Analysis Commission

• Reshaping the North of Russia: towards a Conception of Space
  Anna Stammler-Grossmann, Arctic Centre, Universityof Lapland, Finland