Look at Us, Wailed the Salmon Industry. That Did Not Go as Planned. Comment: The aquaculture industry is announcing a new area of investment. The production of meaningless slogans will be replaced with animal welfare. That could turn out to be a very challenging shift.
Finally, a Dream Summer in the North Commentary: What a summer we have had in the North. President Joe Biden realized he was unfit as a presidential candidate and sent Kamala Harris in his place. That could have great significance to the Arctic and the High North.
No, Mr MoD. Producing Weapons Is Not an Industrial Fairytale Commentary: Fairytales are made-up stories set in a magical universe, according to the Great Norwegian Encyclopedia. The term gains a whole new meaning in the mouth of Norwegian MoD Bjørn Arild Gram (Centre).
Report From a ‘Spy Nest’ - Sans the Cowardly Mask of Anonymity Commentary: There are strict requirements for the use of anonymous sources in journalism. Even when the attacks are directed at people with Russian passports. Hiding behind the cowardly mask of anonymity does not absolve you of that responsibility.
Just Hours Before Trump's Conviction, We Put Our Fate In His Hands Commentary: Only hours before the US' likely next president was convicted in a historic trial in New York, the Norwegian parliament had opened eight new military bases for American forces and law enforcement. The timing is accidental, but the consequences could be dramatic.
The Story of How Green, Arctic Energy Becomes AI in Israel Commentary: Are you one of many wondering where the clean, green surplus energy in the North goes? I will give you part of the answer. It is dispatched via a closed mine north of the Arctic Circle and ultimately becomes artificial intelligence (AI) in Israel.
The Paradox of The Blue Economy The Blue Economy offers enormous opportunities for growth. However, significant challenges can occur along the way, such as labor shortage, gender inequality, and issues about the attractiveness of the Blue Economy jobs for new generations. This creates a paradox – great potential in talks and plans versus difficulties in practice.
Can a Rambling Democracy Denier and Sex Offender Ensure Our Freedom? (Commentary) Imagine a head of state who believes Vladimir Putin to be intelligent, who refuses to support Ukraine, and who does not believe in democracy as a form of governance, in addition to having to pay NOK 50 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
Another BRICS in the Wall – Or How Walls Are Replacing Cooperation in the Arctic A mere month before Norway is due to take over the Arctic Council, 15 Russian diplomats are expelled from Norway. At the same time, another powerful international alliance is slowly, but systematically moving into the Arctic.
An Ensemble of the Less Fortunate Super-Rich (Commentary) It is hard to be rich in Norway today. Very hard. Or as one of our richest described it on national TV the other day: "We have become a pariah caste. We are being bullied."
The History of Bestiality (Commentary) A worn-out copy of the book trilogyMoment of Freedomlies on my desk. The main character, a court officer, concludes quite early in the first book that “the world reveals itself with terrible clarity as the mixture of latrine and torture chamber that it is”.
Hot Conflict in Cold Surroundings? Svalbard’s Strategic Impact After Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine "Should Norway fear the Russian aggression on Svalbard?" asks researcher Turid Austin Wæhler at UiT-The Arctic University of Norway.
Change Is the New Normal, Humans Are the Only Constant (Commentary) Reykjavik: Next year, Norway will take over the Arctic Council leadership after Russia. That is to say, the plan is for Norway to take over this prestigious, international position. Perhaps it will not go like that after all. Resistance to giving the Arctic Council life without Russian participation could make the transition very demanding, if not impossible.
When the Arctic Conversation is Replaced By Loaded Weapons (Commentary) Anchorage, Longyearbyen, Reykjavik: Fall is slowly transitioning to winter in the Arctic, but the cold which accompanies this wonderful season is different this time. The wind from the north is mild compared to the gust that hits us from Moscow and sends shivers down our spines.
Does Anyone Remember the Dinosaurs “Walkman” and “Stencil Machines”? Or “Disarmament”? (Commentary) Once upon a time, we used walkmans and stencil machines. The words have long since disappeared out of our language and live a lonely and abandoned life in the dictionary. Now, the terms have been accompanied by a new, linguistic dinosaur: disarmament.
What If Putin Could Dance Instead? (Commentary) The world is not threatened by dancing prime ministers. Barely by female heads of government. The threat arises from aging men, excited and inspired only by their own mirror image.
The Arctic Fox and the Turkish Wolf Negotiating; Is the “North” Important for the Turkish Foreign Policy?
Svalbard: While Temperatures Rise, Relations Between People Grow Cold Commentary: Climate changes make the Arctic dangerously hot. On a human level, politician-made changes make relations between people cooler than before. The Norwegian neo-nationalism in Svalbard stirs surprisingly little debate.
In Germany, You are Arrested. In Norway, You are Rewarded. “Here’s the deal!” Commentary: German police raided Germany’s largest bank just the other day, based on suspicion of greenwashing. Here in Norway, the state pays for greenwashing industry.
The War Kills the Climate and Starves People to Death Commentary: Russia and Putin’s war against Ukraine is a kind of madness that hits the world far beyond the reach of their respective missiles. The war leads to large-scale militarization of the Arctic, as well as to extreme famine further south. The former without opposition, the latter without any solution.
High North Tour 2022: Deep in the Finnish Forests, People Feel Fear (Commentary) Ivalo, Finland: The Mayor of Inari, Toni K Leine, nods with recognition when I tell him that I have met people on this tour who fear that the war will hit Finland too. “However, most of them are not really afraid, but rather very worried.”
In Our Chase for Short-Term Profits, We Sacrifice Our Ideals Commentary: As a nation, we are at odds with our primary ideals. We chase political action rules that are contrary to our political visions because we constantly chase short-term profits, politically as well as economically.
Everybody Knows Norway Borders on Russia, yet Some Know It Better than Others Commentary: First, we led them into a serious climate crisis. Then they were hit by a pandemic that none, despite warnings, had prepared us for. After that, Vladimir Putin sent his murder weapons into the European civilian population. This is the world in which we let our children grow up.
The High North Moved from Its Foreign Policy Cradle into A Municipal Care Home for the Elderly Commentary: One of the former Norwegian Solberg government’s most visible High North initiatives was the subsidizing of rich Norwegians who wanted to move to Bø municipality in Vesterålen in order to save taxes, as the local wealth tax was drastically cut. The other day, however, skiing legend Bjørn Dæhlie left this North Norwegian base to move both himself and his money to Switzerland. In return, we got PM Jonas Gahr Støre – with quite different visions for the High North.
When You are Done in the USA, Jonas, You are Welcome to the North Commentary: Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has visited the White House. Here, he met with an American president who, according to Norwegian daily VG, wanted to hear about Norway’s experience with having Russia as its neighbor. Next time Støre goes traveling, he should go to Finnmark.
It Looks like a Proposal from A «Work Do» at Downing Street #10 Commentary: There are political initiatives that are so poorly founded that one suspects they were created during one of the infamous working dinners at Downing Street #10 in London. Here, BYOB appears to be the norm for staff when new policies are to be shaped.
We Can Afford Most Things, but Our Hearts are Lukewarm Commentary: The question about whether or not to use Corona passes as access key to beer and loud music has triggered an important debate about democratic rights. As Europeans, we already have a golden pass that we take for granted.
Everybody Wants Something in the High North. But What Exactly Do They Want? (Commentary) Rome/Bodø: Everybody wants something with the High North, but do they really know what they want? Is it possible at all to find a pattern behind the pompous words embracing people and business in the Arctic? I have been traveling the north for some time now, and I doubt their will less than their abilities.
Nothing about Us without Us – Three Highlights from an Arctic Meeting Place Commentary: As early as 500 years ago, the poet and priest John Donne summarized the first post-pandemic Arctic conference, the Arctic Circle 2021 in Reykjavik:
The Arctic is Still One, Big Happy Family – but Three of the Children are Put to Shame (Commentary)Reykjavik, Iceland: He declared victory over the pandemic, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, when he was finally allowed to gather more than 1,300 Arctic attendees in the representative home of Reykjavik, the Harpa concert hall. Yet already during the Arctic Circle opening speech, a new and perhaps larger challenge emerged: How is the Arctic to win over the EU?
"The Backbone of Norwegian Rescue Preparedness Celebrates 50 Years" "The Joint Rescue Coordination Centres in Norway are currently celebrating their 50th anniversary. Few people are aware of the role the two main rescue centres in Bodø and Stavanger play in saving lives and health over a very large area of responsibility", says Odd Jarl Borch and Rune Elvegaard.
We Need More Foreign Policy, Not Regional Politics (Commentary) Slettnes Lighthouse, Gamvik, Finnmark: Northern Norway does not need more regional politics. We need more foreign policy. That is why the Center Party’s dive on recent polls for Northern Norway is a healthy sign.
The Political Face of the Pandemic Commentary: While Norway is on the brink of re-opening society after the pandemic, as if the term “after the pandemic” makes sense, other countries barely manage to count their dead. The overview over the number of deaths is not only a medical encyclopedia.
Why Do Businesses in the North Insist the Earth is Flat? Commentary: Economic theory indicates that the price of goods increases when there is a shortage. Not so in Northern Norway. There, the earth is still flat in some industries.
Removing the Wealth Tax is Not A Winning Issue in the High North Commentary: Making the question of wealth tax a winning issue in an election campaign otherwise focused on social inequality and climate is a daring move. Add a glaring lack of qualified workers, and you find some of the explanation for the Conservative’s distinct decline in Northern Norway.
Beyond the Pandemic, I Found a Brand New Company Town in the Arctic (Commentary) Kiruna/Vadsø: The door is ajar, while the pandemic ever so slowly loosens its iron fist around the wealthy part of the world. In poor countries, or in countries with both democratic and financial deficits, it continues its relentless search for new victims.
Arctic 2050: Mapping the Future of the Arctic Commentary: “Arctic 2050: Mapping the Future of the Arctic” side event presents views on business, social and environmental Arctic development.
Lack of Dialogue Increases the Distance Between North and South (COMMENTARY) Sortland, Norway: Secrecy is a vital part of any country’s defense and security policy. The level of secrecy is nevertheless also crucial for trust between authorities and the inhabitants of a country.
Stop inciting the ‘Cold War’ language in the Arctic "The Cold War framing of Arctic security issues must stop", says Dr Danita Catherine Burke of Centre for War Studies in Denmark.
An Arctic Success Story – Soon with Russia at the Helm Commentary: If, as a citizen in the Arctic, you were to feel lost and alone these days, there may be comfort in thinking about how you are an important part of one of the world’s most exciting international cooperation stories. When Russia assumes the chairmanship of the Arctic Council in May, it does so with a promise to bring cooperation closer to the people.
Joe Biden Brought Back Hope When Things Were Looking Gloomy Commentary: The inauguration of Joe Biden as the new president of the United States was a world event the consequences of which will take time to process. At the same time, it was a historic moment in which we were permitted to feel a quite personal sense of relief.
People, politics, and participation: What can we learn from the Barents region? "As images of American citizens storming Capitol Hill in the conviction that their rights, votes, and power have been “stolen”, this is more relevant than ever: Politics is nothing without the people", writes Ingrid A. Medby.
