A Soft Start

Together with her father, she will cross Spitsbergen, Svalbard, from the north to the south. That is a feat that even experienced polar explorers struggle to accomplish. 

"The most important thing is being together with daddy, but I really hope I get to see polar bears along the way,” says Mina. Her father, Alexander Read, says the same. "The most important thing is that we do it together and create memories."

Speaking of Svalbard, read about a new research center on the archipelago, which will include the closed-down mining city of Svea as one of its centers for field work. (Norwegian only)

We continue on the same track, where we meet Siv Gyda Aanes (40), who is passionate about swimming in the ocean year-round. It has become an Arctic trend, which aims for physical and mental well-being.

The Arctic football team Bodø/Glimt barges on, with ripple effects far beyond the field. "Bodø/Glimt has turned the periphery into the center in a way," says sports sociologist Mads Skauge. (Norwegian only)

I can attest to that. The phone rings almost 24/7 from journalists and others who want analyses of the security situation in the North. Therefore, it was very freeing to go live on the air on the radio channel 'Sport Nation' in New Zealand to talk about Bodø/Glimt, which in turn became a comment.

We recently participated in a conference in Myre, Northern Norway, to talk and learn more about the world-famous cod fisheries that take place off our coast. Among others, we met 19-year-old Trygve Angell, who works aboard the trawler 'Sørkapp' and is very happy with his profession. (Norwegian only)

The industry is struggling with lower quotas and climate change, but also with what it believes to be extensive crime regarding its turnover. I quote Eirik Sørdahl, a senior figure in the fishing industry, in a comment: "Get the crooks convicted, for heaven’s sake!"

We also ask whether the war in the Middle East leads to the increased export of sanctioned Arctic gas from Russia.

New emission measures for the waters outside of Norway and Canada entered into force on March 1st, but will likely not have the greatest effect.

New threats from Russia against NATO in the Arctic look like old threats on the same matter, say researchers we have talked to.

Read about all this and more at High North News this week.

Best,

Editor and Commentator Arne O. Holm