Environment | Cold United

Bruce Parry in Yakutsk, Yakutia/Siberia

On 06.25.10, In Adventures, Climate, Cultures, Environment, Lives, Photos, Projects, Societies, TV, Travel, documentary, By Bolot

Bruce Parry (with a tripod) and his team in Yakutsk, Yakutia/Siberia

Hurray! Bruce Parry with his IndusFilm crew is in the Siberian town of Yakutsk! What’s he doing here?

Bruce Parry (born 17 March 1969, in Hythe, Hampshire, England) is a former Royal Marine instructor who is now a TV presenter and adventurer, known particularly for the documentary programme series Tribe (known as Going Tribal in the United States), co-produced by the BBC and the Discovery Channel. Resource: Wiki.

I met Bruce Parry two days ago on Lenin Avenue in Yakutsk. Actually he and his team arrived early, on June 17th. They have already visited a village near the town, went for two celebrations of Ysyakh, Yakut national holiday. One was held in Gorny ulus (three hours by a car from Yakutsk) and Megino-Kangalassky region (just in the front of Yakutsk on the opposite bank of the Lena River). On the day of the meeting, they visited Epl Diamonds’ diamonds-cutting and jewelry’s factories and drove around the downtown shooting general views of the city.

First, I would love to tell the story of how his arrival happened to be possible. (more…)

Tagged with: Arctic • BBC • Bruce Parry • Climate change • Culture • documentary • Even • IndusFilms • reindeer herders • Russia • Sakkyryr • Siberia • social change • Yakut • Yakutia • Ysyakh

My photo in The Encyclopedia of Weather & Climate Change!

On 06.21.10, In Climate, Environment, Lives, People, Photos, Projects, By Bolot

My photo in the Encyclopedia of Weather and Climate Change

My photo of women waiting for a bus in Yakutsk in winter was published in “The Encyclopedia of Weather & Climate Change. A Complete Visual Guide.” Can you believe it? Aaaah. I don’t. This is like a dream.

Funny, but a year ago, when I received Mr. Lachlan McLaine’s message titled “Image query”, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Actually, I did, but I couldn’t realize how big the project Mr. McLaine mentioned was, though he wrote that he was currently working as a project editor on a book titled “The Encyclopedia of Weather”. He said, “It’s a big project with an emphasis on good informative photos and illustrations.”

At that moment, his words didn’t mean anything special to me. I was just an ordinary Siberian guy, who was voluntarily developing YakutiaToday.com, the website dedicated to my lovely Siberian region called the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). And here I received the message saying “The picture wanted.”

First, I was just happy at the fact that my old picture posted on the mentioned web resource deserved any attention. Second, I said, “Why not? Take it, but, please, give the link to my site.” Third, I asked Mr. McLaine, “Is it possible to get one copy?” My intention was simple, I wanted to practice my English. My weather terminology is still weak, you know.

One year passed, and here we are. See further what was the final result. I am so happy. I am ready to repeat “Thank you, Mr. McLaine!” as many as possible. This post is one of my ways of saying “Thank!” (more…)

Tagged with: Climate change • cold • cold weather • Encyclopedia • photo • Russia • Sakha • Siberia • Weather • winter • Yakutia • Yakutsk

Arctic News Digest, June 01, 2010. Elected Readings.

On 06.01.10, In Climate, Environment, News, Science, By Bolot

Arctic sea ice cover heading towards another record low?

Arctic Ice

OSLO, May 31, 2010: The September 2007 sea ice minimum was probably the lowest extent of sea ice aerial extent in the Arctic in 50 years, definitely since satellite observations began in 1979. Last week the sea ice cover fell below the recorded extent at the same time in 2007. Over the two upcoming weeks, shrinking sea ice will thus be one of the hottest science topics… Read more at IPY-OSC.no

Arctic Ice May 2010

May 6, 2010 – The Arctic melt already more rapid than average this year, has begun to accelerate. No doubt that by the end of May 2010, there will be much less sea ice than there was in May 2007… More info & the graph at ScientificBlogging.com

First Soil Atlas of the Northern Circumpolar Region published

May 4, 2010 – The JRC Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) has published the first Soil Atlas of the Northern Circumpolar Region bringing together soil data for all the land masses above the latitude of 50° North. The maps describe the major soil types found in this region, together with their principal properties and characteristics, their main forming processes and their use… Read more at Eoportal.org.

Sewage, jet fuel spilled in Arctic

CBC, May 31, 2010 – Millions of litres of harmful contaminants — including sewage and jet fuel — have been spilled across great swaths of Canada’s pristine Arctic in recent years, an analysis by The Canadian Press has found… All facts at CBC News.

Polar Bears not at Risk: Nunavut, Canada

NUNAVUT, May 31, 2010 – Polar bears have most recently been considered to be a species of special concern in Canada. A federal scientific committee has recommended that the same status apply to the species again. The Nunavut government does not think the polar bear should be classified as a species of special concern under the federal Species at Risk Act, says territorial Environment Minister Daniel Shewchuk… Read more at EyeOnTheArctic

(more…)

Tagged with: Arctic • Climate • Environment • ice cover • jet fuel • Northern Circumpolar Region • polar bears • pollution • sea ice • sewage • Soil Atlas

Hannes Rada’s Photos: Awesome Icebergs in Antarctic Peninsula

On 05.26.10, In Climate, Environment, Natures, Photos, Travel, By Bolot

I have a friend of mine, Hannes Rada. He is a really big, big fan of travelling from his home in Austria to so-called off-beaten places on the Earth. He publishes his travel notes and amazing photographs on his own website OffBeatenTrack.at in German. A few days ago he launched the fan page on Facebook in English, where he displays some pictures of his unique photographs collections. One of his sets is dedicated to AWESOME ICEBERGS of Antarctic Peninsula.

In his pictures icebergs are very sublime and imposing. They are like people with their own unique personality. Moreover, I would say, they force me to compare them with the gorgeous winter fairy tale characters. Very beautiful and touching! The last word is used, because I pretty much understand their lives appear to be not everlasting, but short. Sooner or later they will melt and disappear. Climate changes, you know. That’s really pity. Wish the global freezing to replace that unhealthy global warming… to some extents, of course.

Meanwhile, enjoy the beauty of the Antarctic Peninsula icebergs. (more…)

Tagged with: Antarctic • Antarctic Expedition • Antarctic Peninsula • Austria • Climate • Climate change • climate changes • Environment • global environmental system • global freezing • global warming • Hannes Rada • iceberg • off-beaten destination • photo • Travel

Snow Change in North Siberia: Indigenous Peoples’ Views on Climate Change and Ecology

On 05.19.10, In Climate, Cultures, Environment, Lives, People, Science, Societies, By Bolot

Reindeer in Yakutia, North Siberia, Russia. Photo by Bolot Bochkarev.

Here I would like to share the current results of the Siberian part of the Snow Change International Research Project realization. It took me real efforts to find this information. The project I am about described has its own website, but its owner doesn’t have time to publish a very interesting research results info on its online resource. Therefore, I asked a regional coordinator, the Northern Forum Academy chairman, Vladimir Vasiliev, to present the text to me. He did, but it was totally written in Russian. So I have translated it into English and not sure yet if some terms sound correctly. If any, just let me know about mistakes.

About: SnowChange is a not-for-profit independent cooperative organisation with headquarters in Finland. Head of International Affairs: Tero Mustonen
Status: Active. Website: SnowChange.org.

Project Mission

The international community network of SnowChange spans all eight Arctic states. Most of the member communities and families are from the various Arctic Indigenous Nations and other subsistence communities.

The project involves working with the various Northern areas and peoples on the topics of ecological, especially climatic and weather changes from the scientific and traditional knowledge point of view. In addition to the community documentation Snowchange as well works to advance local Indigenous knowledge in the global context and advance decolonisation of the North in the face of rapid changes.

The scientific priority of Snowchange is currently in the following areas of the North:
- The Saami territories of Finland, Russia, Sweden and Norway
- Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Murmansk and Republic of Karelia in Russian Federation
- Savo, North Karelia and Kainuu, Finland
- Iceland and Faroe Islands
- British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada
- Alaska, USA

In addition to the operations in all Arctic countries (United States / Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Greenland and Faroe Islands (Denmark), Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russian Federation) SnowChange has partners in Bolivia, Nepal, Ghana and New Zealand.

Report on the Snow Change project realization in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Information from its regional coordinator, Vladimir Vasiliev
(more…)

Tagged with: Arctic • Climate change • climate changes • Environment • Evenk • Finland • Iengra • Indigenous Peoples • Indigenous Peoples of the Russian North • Kolyma • NGO • North Siberia • Northern Forum • Northern Siberia • Reindeer • reindeer herders • research project • Russia • Science • Siberia • snow change • snow report • Yakutia • Yukagir

Videos: Enjoy the fragile beauty of the Arctic & the North Pole

On 05.13.10, In Climate, Environment, Natures, Science, Travel, Videos, By Bolot

Two Arctic/North Pole scientific expeditions. Take your time and enjoy the Arctic! This beauty is fragile. Climate changes and global warming, you know, do gain ground.

Video #1: Jean-Louis Etienne’s Generali Arctic Observer

A famous French Arctic explorer Jean-Louis Etienne’s The North Pole balloon crossing from Spitsbergen to Siberia’s Yakutia in April of 2010. Check out the Generali Arctic Observer expedition website. More info on his landing and rescue operation in Siberia’s Yakutia, north from the village of Batagai, Verkhoyansky region, at eYakutia.com.

Video #2: North Pole + Nuclear Icebreaker Yamal + Magic of Arctic Ice

From Russia’s Chukotka via the North Pole to Scandinavia by the Russian nuclear powered ice-breaker “Yamal”. You may also want to go to the North Pole. Hurry up! The Arctic is melting fast. It sounds like a joke, but, unfortunately, it is not.

If you can recommend more videos with the awesome Arctic views, please, share. Leave your links in comments.

Tagged with: Arctic • balloon • Batagai • Chukotka • cold • expedition • France • Generali Arctic Observer • global worming • Greenland • ice • Jean-Louis Etienne • Kisilyakh • melting • North • North Pole • Norway • nuclear ice-braker • Polar ice • Polo Norte • Russia • Sakha Republic • Scandinavia • Science • Siberia • snow • Spitzberg • USA • Verkhoyansky • Yakutia • Yamal

Greenland: Silent Snow – The Project

On 04.24.10, In Climate, Education, Environment, Events, Lives, Music, Natures, Projects, Science, documentary, By Bolot

Heroes of the Silent Snow documentary

I am really thankful to the destiny for giving me opportunity to get acquanted with Galya Morell, a New York based educator, who appeared eventually to be my best channel to many Arctic environment alert projects. Today, with her help, I learned about another fantastic Greenland project called “Silent Snow.”

“This morning Silent Snow – a must see documentary featuring the Uummannaq Music protagonists – was introduced to a forum of distinguished delegates and ambassadors at the UN. Thank you to Moki Kokoris who made it possible. Hopefully, this will lead to some concrete results,” wrote Galya Morell in her last status update on the Uummannaq Music facebook fan page on April 23, 2010.

So what is this project about? Before clicking the link “More”, please, know that I am very open-minded and extremely interested in any inspiring helpful Arctic-related projects. If you run some of them or are aware of some great initiatives, I beg you to share such info with me via our Cold United FB fan page or directly via the contact form.

(more…)

Tagged with: documentary • Environment • Galya Morell • global environmental system • Greenland • inuit • pollution • Silent Snow Project • Uummannaq Music