Download October 26, 2011 Today`s Events The House will continue to

October 26, 2011
Today's Events
The House will continue to consider land conveyance legislation and begin
consideration on legislation to repeal a contractor withholding provision. The Senate is
not in session.
National Ocean Policy, today. The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a
hearing on the National Ocean Policy. Witnesses include Council on Environmental
Quality Chairwoman Nancy Sutley and Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Jane Lubchenco, among others. A link to a recording we be
provided here.
Media Review
Boehner Calls for Tougher Line on Russia. Speaker John Boehner
(R-Ohio) on Tuesday accused Russia of trying "to restore Soviet-style
power and influence" and called on the Obama administration to take a
tougher line with the former Cold War foe. In a rare foreign-policy
address, Boehner warned about the consequences of Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin's expected return to the presidency, suggesting the U.S.
should reconsider its policy of a "reset" with Russia. The Hill
Coca-Cola Turns Can White to Help Polar Bears. CocaCola Co. is turning its red cans white to help draw attention to a campaign
to protect polar bears and their habitats. Coca-Cola is giving $2 million to
the World Wildlife Fund to support its work on polar bear protection. The
two organizations are encouraging consumers to donate $1 and the
beverage maker has agreed to give another $1 million to match these
contributions. Business Week
Narwhals to be Tracked Via Satellite. Scientists will use satellites to monitor a pod
of narwhals in Nunavut moving toward its wintering ground. Earlier tracking programs
show the animals move into south Baffin Bay this time of year. That has
conservationists concerned because of resource exploration going on in the area. CBC
News
Russia Launches Oil Link to Feed China
Pipeline.Russia, the world's biggest crude producer, has
launched an oil pipeline that will facilitate the steady
supply of 300,000 barrels per day to energy-hungry
China and speed up development of new Arctic crude
deposits. The 430 km (270 mile) Purpe-Samotlor
pipeline, part of a future trunk going North, will also help
top Russian producer Rosneft develop its largest new
field, Vankor, to reach an expected output of 500,000
barrels per day (bpd) in 2013. Reuters
Polar Bear Management Needs More Traditional Knowledge Input: NTI:
Traditional Inuit knowledge could fill the gaps left by science. Polar bear
management across the circumpolar world needs to build in more traditional Inuit
knowledge: that's the message from a Canadian delegation member attending an
international meeting on polar bear management taking place in Iqaluit this week.
Canadian delegate Gabriel Nirlungayuk, the director of wildlife at Nunavut Tunngavik
Inc., who met with officials from Denmark (Greenland), Norway, the United States and
Russia Oct. 24, says many of these countries base their polar bear management
systems on science alone - rather than tapping into the knowledge of Inuit
hunters.Nunatsiaq Online
Rep. Don Young Fights for Alaskan Native Hunters and
Craftsmen. The House Natural Resources Committee held a legislative
hearing today on H.R. 2714, a bill sponsored by Alaskan Congressman
Don Young. If passed, H.R. 2714, would permit the interstate sale of
sea otter pelts and the export of handicrafts, garments, and art made
from such pelts of the Southcentral or Southeast Alaska northern sea
otter stocks that are taken for subsistence purposes. In parts of Alaska
such as Southeast and Southcentral Alaska, the sea otter population has
grown so large that it is having a harmful effect on other species.
Between the abalone fishery being closed since 1996 and the sea otter predation of
many urchin and sea cucumber species, Alaska's economy has been impacted greatly
and has seen losses in excess of tens of millions of dollars. Congressman Don Young
President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts. President Obama
announced his intent to nominate several individuals for key Administration posts,
including: Bonnie Bassler to be a member of the National Science Board of the National
Science Foundation. The White House
Begich Announces New Staff. Bruce Scandling is returning to
Senator Mark Begich's office as its legislative director. He previously
severed as Senator Begich's legislative assistant on health
issues. Senator Mark Begich
Naval and Ocean Engineer to Lead NOAA Ocean Exploration
and Research Office. Tim Arcano, an ocean engineer with
extensive experience in naval submarine and submersible design
and engineering was selected as director of NOAA's Office of Ocean
Exploration and Research (OER). Arcano is slated to begin Nov. 7. OER provides
direction to NOAA and advises the U.S. Department of Commerce in the field of ocean
exploration, research, and advanced technology development. A key element of OER is
the Okeanos Explorer Program. It combines America's ship for ocean exploration,
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, with shore-based high-speed networks and
infrastructure for live communications, including HD video of the seafloor, to scientists
and other audiences ashore. It is the only federal program dedicated to systematic
telepresence-enabled exploration of the world ocean. NOAA
Legislative Action
H.R. 2714, to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the
transport, purchase and sale of pelts of, and handicrafts, garments and art produced
from, Southcentral and Southeast Alaska northern sea otters taken for subsistence
purposes (Young, introduced and referred to committee)
Future Events
White House Tribal Nations Conference, December 2, 2011. President Obama will
host the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of the Interior. As
part of President Obama's ongoing outreach to the American people, this conference
will provide leaders from the 565 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to interact
directly with the President and representatives from the highest levels of his
Administration. Each federally recognized tribe will be invited to send one
representative to the conference. This will be the third White House Tribal Nations
Conference for the Obama Administration, and continues to build upon the President's
commitment to strengthen the nation to nation relationship with Indian Country. The
White House
AGU Fall Meeting , December 5-9, 2011. The American Geophysical Union's
("AGU") Fall Meeting to connect with colleagues, broaden their knowledge base, and
embrace the joy of science. The groundbreaking research presented at this worldrenowned event is critical to advancing our understanding of the natural world and to
addressing the challenges society faces as they relate to our science. As an
organization, AGU works to unite Earth and space scientists who are dedicated to the
common goal: scientific discovery for the benefit of humanity. One of the most
important ways we do this is through the Fall Meeting - an event that embodies who
we are as a scientific organization and that is key to helping us achieve our
organizational mission, vision and goals.
Alaska Marine Science Symposium , January 16-20, 2012. The symposium was
first held in 2002 to connect scientists in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and beyond in
an effort to collaborate and communicate on research activities in the marine regions
off Alaska. There will be plenary and poster sessions featuring a broad spectrum of
ocean science on issues of climate, oceanography, lower trophic levels, the benthos,
fish and invertebrates, seabirds, marine mammals, local and traditional knowledge,
and socioeconomic research. There will also be speakers, workshops and special
sessions.
Arctic Science Summit Week 2012 , April 20-22, 2012. The summit will provide
opportunities for international coordination, collaboration and cooperation in all areas
of Arctic science. Side meetings organized by stakeholders in Arctic science and policy
are also expected. More information to follow.
From Knowledge to Action, April 22-27, 2012. The conference will bring together
over 2,000 Arctic and Antarctic researchers, policy and decision-makers, and a broad
range of interested parties from academia, industry, non-government, education and
circumpolar communities including indigenous peoples. The conference is hosted by the
Canadian IPY Program Office in partnership with the National Research Council of
Canada, among other groups. Each day of the conference will feature a program of
keynote speakers, plenary panel discussions, parallel science sessions, as well as
dedicated poster sessions. The conference-wide plenaries will explore themes related to
topics of polar change, global linkages, communities and health, ecosystem services,
infrastructure, resources and security. Other sessions will provide the opportunity to
present and discuss the application of research findings, policy implications and how to
take polar knowledge to action.
The Tenth International Conference on Permafrost, June 2012. The conference
will be held in Tyumen, Russia, and is organized and hosted by Russia. The last
conference was held in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 2008. Details to follow.
The Arctic Imperative Summit, July 29-August 1, 2012. The summit will be
hosted by Alaska Dispatch and will bring together leading voices in this conversation,
including residents from the small villages that comprise Alaska's coastal communities;
state, national and international leaders; the heads of shipping and industry; as well as
international policymakers and the news media. The goal of the summit is to sharpen
the focus on the policy and investment needs of Alaska's Arctic through a series of high
level meetings, presentations, investor roundtables and original research.
15th International Congress on Circumpolar Heath, August 5-10,
2012. Thisevent is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the American Society for Circumpolar Health, and the
International Union for Circumpolar Health. The forum will consider
community participatory research and indigenous research; women's
health, family health, and well-being; food security and nutrition; social
determinants of health; environmental and occupational health; infectious and chronic
diseases; climate change health impacts; health service delivery and infrastructure;
and behavioral health.
Arctic/Inuit/Connections: Learning from the Top of the World , October 2428, 2012. The 18th Inuit Studies Conference, hosted by the Smithsonian Institution,
will be held in Washington, DC. The conference will consider heritage museums and the
North; globalization: an Arctic story; power, governance and politics in the North; the
'"new" Arctic: social, cultural and climate change; and Inuit education, health,
language, and literature. For more information, please email Lauren Marr