Human health and wellbeing of Arctic populations were discussed at a recent international scientific and practical conference on Prevention and Management of Emergencies under the auspices of the Arctic Council’s Working Group on Emergency Prevention, and Preparedness and Response (EPPR). The conference took place in Anadyr, Chukotka, in August 2009, and was hosted by EMERCOM (Ministry of Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters). At the conference it was pointed out that northern residents and especially the Indigenous Peoples’ health and wellbeing are being challenged by climate and environmental changes and by man-made and natural disasters as well as by increased economic development. PCB and DDT are accumulated in the Arctic and constitute a risk for human health and wellbeing. PCB’s and DDT are found in abandoned barrels and substances buried in the ground that get released as permafrost thaws. This situation calls for new issues to be included in emergency planning, Mr. V. Chashchin from Northwest Centre of Science Hygiene and Public Health explained. Introduction of new diseases, such as vector borne diseases from invasive species (e.g. ticks), is of concern as are other risks introduced to the northern areas due to climate change and global warming. Sound and quick emergency responses to these challenges are important if human health and wellbeing are not to be undermined – such was the general message proceeding from the EPPR event.

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At the recent EPPR meeting held in Anadyr, Chukotka, August 17-21, Larisa Abryutina, member of the Executive Committee of RAIPON, presented a list of issues that in her view need to be addressed with regard to the safety of the population and human health and well being in the Russian North. According to Ms. Abryutina, these issues include: •    Communication of threats and dangerous situations to indigenous populations; •    Raising public awareness of prevention, preparedness and response to potential emergency situations; •    Reconstruction of mobile medical units operating in regions of the North; •    Re-establish network of local weather stations to monitor changes in the environment, for example risks of floods, strong winds and wild forest fires, and communicate it to indigenous communities. •    Transparency of economic development projects that take place in the North, for example results of impact assessment etc. should be communicated to impacted communities and peoples; •    Cooperation between authorities and indigenous peoples organizations. Indigenous peoples are not prepared for threats they do not know about (for example nuclear devices placed on their traditional hunting and fishing grounds and reindeer pasture areas) which renders communication and cooperation all the more crucial. Ms. L. Abryutina explained that restoration of traditional industries of people of the North would have a positive impact on ecological, political, economic and social security. Overall, the meeting highlighted the need for increased cooperation among authorities and institutions in Russia and in other Arctic states. In terms of emergency prevention and preparedness, it was made clear that increased participation of Indigenous Peoples and other residents of the Arctic mark out a definite way forward. The entire Emergency Preparedness, Prevention, and Response/Arctic Rescue event, organized and hosted by the Russian Federation Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, was presented as an international scientific and practical conference on ”Emergency prevention and the coordination of emergency responses in Arctic conditions including consequences for the environment”. The conference took place in the city of Anadyr, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russian Federation August 17-21, 2009. It was attended by representatives of Russian ministries, agencies, departments, institutions, representatives of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East (RAIPON) and the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat (IPS).

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The problem of disaster management of radiation in the Arctic was among the themes when EPPR (Arctic Council Working Group on Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response) gathered in Anadyr, Chukotka, in August. Radiation hazardous materials are being used all over the Russian Arctic, in nuclear power plants and other hazardous facilities as well as in nuclear powered icebreakers and transport ships. Besides, RITEG’s (radioisotope thermoelectric generators) for navigation at sea and other devices used for civilian and scientific purposes, are installed about the Russian Arctic. Many of these devices are old and have not been properly maintained for years due to remoteness and costliness. Although the removal of these old nuclear devices and replacing them with solar and wind powered navigation devices has begun. it is a slow and troublesome process. Even though these devices (RITEG’s) are placed in uninhabited areas, they do pose a potential threat to local people – especially indigenous peoples who travel long distances to reach their hunting and fishing grounds or herding their reindeer. It is an open question how well informed indigenous peoples in the North are of the threat these devices pose and how people should behave when near these devices. At the meeting, Vice-Governor E. Danilyuk of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug stressed that the considerable number of RITEG devices placed in Chukotka have not been maintained for years and that no one knows their actual state. Vice-Governor Danilyuk expressed his concern for the fact that local people may unhindered approach these devices. Therefore there is an urgent need for informing local communities about the risks and threats represented by the RITEGs - and not only in Chukotka but all across the Russian Arctic. Mitigating the unsustainable situation demands close cooperation – on national as well as international levels - between different institutions, and among other things calls for setting up centres for local awareness training.

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”Isen Braender”, (The Ice is Burning), is the name of an exhibition that was officially opened on Friday, September 4, by Tryggvi Felixson of the Nordic Council of Ministers. In his speech, Mr. Felixson touched upon the main topic of the exhibition, the unique adaptation of animal species to the harsh, yet vulnerable Arctic nature and the ways in which these species are likely to be affected by climate changes.

Apart from taxidermy specimens of musk ox, polar bear, ring seal, and a variety of seabirds, the exhibition is made up of various audio-visual, partly interactive, projections of informative material such as film documentaries and long-term TV weather forecasts. The burning ice exhibition is a warm up to COP15 initiatives that are to take place in and around the warehouse on the North Atlantic Quay. The Greenland Government Representation is preparing an exhibition entitled ”In the Eye of Climate Change”, whereas an ”Arctic Venue” event are being arranged by the Danish Energy Agency. The latter two events are scheduled to open on December 11 and 12, respectively, in the weekend separating the two COP15 weeks. Both aim at comprising elements contributed by Arctic Indigenous Peoples that so far have not been specified.