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.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/149372
Food security, economic development, and U.S. Arctic policy. byMR.JIMSTOTTS President Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska Globalclimatechange,withitsresultinglossofsea ice,hasopenedupaccesstotheArcticOceanasnever before.Moreover,therateofglobalwarmingandthe paceofdevelopmentareaccelerating.Stakeholders havedifferentideasonhowtohandlethesechanges. Dependingonone'sperspective,thepaceofdevelopmentseemstobeeithertoofastortooslow;and,like mostcontentiousissues,thebestsolutionsmaylie somewhereinthemiddle. Thosewhopreferaslowapproachgenerallyemphasize: • theneedtocreatenewstandardsandtechnologies for development, • necessary robust management and oversight capabilitiesforindustry, • protectingbiodiversityandecosystems, • theneedsofArcticpeoplesandcommunities. Incontrast,thosepreferringafastapproachfocuson: • economicdevelopmentstandardsandtechnologiesthatarealreadysuffcient, • the stifling effects of excessive environmental oversightandover-regulation, • globalneedsoutweighinglocalconcerns, • a sense of urgency to begin development to respondtotheglobaleconomiccrisis. This can polarize stakeholders into different camps; and,unfortunately,theInuitandotherArcticindigenouspeoplesarecaughtinthemiddleofthisenvironmentaldiscussion. Environmental Stewardship The Inuit Future The Inuit Circumpolar Council TheInuitCircumpolarCouncil(ICC),aninternational organizationthatadvocatesonbehalfof160,000Inuit intheArcticregion,whichstretchesfromChukotka, Alaska, across Canada and into Greenland, has consultativestatuswiththeUnitedNationsandconsults onabroadrangeofArcticissues.Moreover,theICC isapermanentparticipanttotheArcticCouncil,the eight-nation intergovernmental organization that workstodevelopArcticpolicy. ICC'sprincipalgoalsinclude: • strengtheningunityamongtheInuitofthecircumpolarNorth; • promotingInuitrightsandinterestsonaninternational level; • developingandencouraginglong-termpoliciesto safeguardtheArcticenvironment; • seekingfullandactivepartnershipinthepolitical, economic, and social development of the circumpolarNorth. The ICC believes in sustainable development. For most of the world, this means having a balance betweeneconomicdevelopmentandenvironmental protection.FortheInuitCircumpolarCouncil,italso meanspreservingtheInuitcultureandsociety his —t isimportanttorememberinanydiscussionwithInuit aboutsustainabledevelopment.AsthefrstinhabitantsandstewardsoftheArctic,theInuithavethe responsibilityandrighttoensuretheprotectionof theirenvironmentandculture. continued on page 41 www.uscg.mil/proceedings Summer 2013 Proceedings 39