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Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/149372
Alaskan leaders listen to a presentation by the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy during the Norway policy tour, hosted by the Institute of the North. Photo courtesy of Mr. Nils Andreassen. Alaskans in the Forefront TheArcticisimportantonalllevels:locally,domestically,andinternationally.Americans,forexample, dependontheregionbecauseofitsstrategiclocation, energy,andnaturalresources.TheArcticisemergingasahottopicbecauseoftheperceivedtension inextractingresourcesinawaycompatiblewiththe peoplewholiveintheregion.Withtheincreasing opportunityfornewaccesstoresources,comesthe opportunitytodoitright. Alaskans have the opportunity to be the drivers behindthesocialandeconomicdevelopmentswithin theirregion,by: • takingadvantageoflearningopportunities; • drawingonscientifcandtraditionalknowledge, and moving forward in a sustainable way by managingforvariability; • representingtheregiontheyencompass—vast, abundant,anddiverseecosystemswithintactand connectedhabitats ndtheresourcestheysup—a port; • valuingfactual,long-termsolutions. TheArcticcannotbemanagedbasedonideologyor short-termgain.Thoseatthetablemustdemonstratea willingnesstoworkforthecommongood.Finally,the 16 Proceedings Summer 2013 Arcticischangingfast.Ifwetakeoureyesofftheproverbialball,wemaymissimportantopportunities. About the author: Mr. Nils Andreassen is the executive director of the Institute of the North, a nonproft educational organization based out of Anchorage that is charged with a mission to inform public policy and cultivate an engaged citizenry. For more information: The Institute of the North works on an array of critical issues with regard to Alaska's Arctic. Focus areas include: strengthening Alaska's position in the Circumpolar North; economic and resource development; and broadening awareness of Alaska's priorities. Its legacy work has focused on Arctic infrastructure development, including energy, aviation, telecommunications, and marine shipping. More information about the Institute of the North can be found at www.institutenorth.org. www.uscg.mil/proceedings