Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
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ofpermanentparticipants rganizationsrepresent—o ingindigenouscultures,traditions,andwaysoflife. These members, four of which are represented in Alaska,bringacompellingandinvaluableperspectivetopolicymakingintheNorth. Buttheydon'tspeakforthestateofAlaska,nordo theyrepresentlocalgovernmentorthepublicatlarge. Thisisahugegapinregardtoaligninginterests,and thedisconnectbetweenstatesovereigntyissuesand federaloversightshouldbeanincentivetoconsider newapproaches.TheU.S.isanArcticnationbecause AlaskaisanArcticstate.Alaska'sinterestsandrole need to be clearly defined and incorporated into decisionmaking.TheAlaskalegislatureformedthe AlaskaArcticPolicyCommissionin2012,toarticulateAlaska'sprioritiesandgoals.Alaskansrecognize thefutureofconnectivityismarine,notland-based, andtheneedforanArcticpolicythatincludespeople,shipping,minerals,security,infrastructure,and research. Twoformaleffortscurrentlyunderway henewly —t formed Alaska Arctic Policy Commissionand the PacifcNorthwestEconomicRegionArcticCaucus — giveAlaskaforumstosetandactonprioritiesaswe beginlookingnorth.ThePacifcNorthwestEconomic RegionArcticCaucus,abodycomprisedofthegovernmentsofAlaska,theYukonandNorthwestTerritories,aswellastheprivatesector,providesaplatformforactivelyadvocatingforstateandterritorial action items. In addition, at press time, the eight Arctic nations are prepared to sign the Arctic Marine Oil PreparednessandResponseinstrument. criticalconversationsthatcannotbediscussedelsewhere.Thistypeofengagementbuildsrelationships, facilitatessoftdiplomacy,andsupportscreativeideas. The intentional and organized interaction among a diversearrayofactors:local,tribal,federalandstate government;theprivatesector;academia;indigenous andenvironmentalorganizations;andabroaderindependentsector,resultsinresponsibledecisionmaking onabroadscale. Mr. Jacob Adams, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation board member, receives the Robert O. Anderson Sustainable Arctic Award from the Institute of the North, for his lifetime commitment to responsible development in the Arctic. Photo courtesy of Mr. Oscar Avellaneda. The Role of Educational Institutions and the Independent Sector Itisclearthatnoteveryonecanbeatthetablewhen deciding policies that affect sovereign nations, nor shouldtheybe.However,inaregionasdynamic and changing as the Arctic, processes are in place toincorporatemultiplevoices. For example, Alaska's universities collaborate withotherinstitutionstoresearchclimatechange, engineering, permafrost, oil spill response, and energydevelopmentintheArctic.Thisresource includes a commitment to workforce development, science and engineering, and culturally competent learning. In addition, the independent sector, including groupssuchastheInstituteoftheNorth,isthe connectivetissueoftheArctic.Stakeholdershold www.uscg.mil/proceedings A small boat harbor in Greenland. Photo courtesy of Mr. Nils Andreassen. Summer 2013 Proceedings 15