Objective

While following in the footsteps of Robert E. Peary and other explorers from the 19th and 20th centuries, visit, explore and document all of Peary's historic hut camps, depots and cairn locations in Canada and Greenland.

The expedition will utilize a sophisticated communication network and on-trail equipment to engage the imaginations of people throughout the world via dynamic expedition websites. The site will provide daily and weekly reports of the team's progress through images, journal entries, video and audio updates. This information and expedition will be used as a platform to support direct action campaigns against global warming and pollution.

The purpose of the Peary Centennial Expedition is twofold:

1. Develop the 'Not Cool' campaign. We will illustrate the link between global warming and the excesses in the lifestyles of developed countries. In addition the campaign will bring to light the contamination by Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) of marine mammals and its effect on the Inuit. Integrate the 'Not Cool' campaign into all facets of the project, i.e. expedition related websites, blogs, e-newsletters and pre- and post-expedition multimedia presentations.

Produce an illustrated story bood for children, publish a photographic journal, as well as a three-part documentary film on the Polar Inuit as we live and travel together by dog team. The books and film will bring to light a 'Culture on the Edge,' which will describe how global warming and airborne toxins (PCBs and heavy metals) are undermining Inuit culture.

http://nsidc.org/news/inthenews/

A Proposal for an International Arctic Treaty

2. Lay the foundation for an International Arctic Treaty for the preservation and protection of the indigenous peoples and marine life in the Arctic Ocean and within the Arctic Circle.

Polar explorer Robert E. Peary, while standing at the North Pole having battled frigid temperatures and thick pressured ice nearly 100 years ago, would have never imagined that the sea ice underneath his feet would be melting away in 130 years time.

Scientists predict an ice-free Arctic in summer as early as 2030, and global warming has caused recent as well as long-term catastrophic change to our climate. Yet governments and companies have remained blindly focused on new Arctic shipping lanes to extract from the ocean's floor the very thing that is causing the rise in global temperatures - fossil fuels.

The thawing Arctic ice sheet is opening the door for the exploitation of billions of tons of gas and oil, valuable minerals and new untapped fishing stocks. The governments of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Russia, Sweden and the United States are all rushing north to stake a claim.

It was very sad to see that not one of the countries, despite global warming's most current attacks on our planet and commercial fishing's pillaging of our oceans, has spoken of preservation.

"Time is very short. These Arctic states need, while the sea ice is still capable of protecting this great and delicate eco-system, to come together in a treaty as stewards for all mankind in the protection of the indigenous peoples marine animals living within the Arctic Circle."

—— Lonnie Dupre

The governments of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Russia, Sweden and the United States of America.

Recognizing that it is in the interest of all mankind that the Arctic Ocean shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord;

Acknowledging the substantial contributions to scientific knowledge resulting from international cooperation in scientific investigation within the Arctic Ocean;

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/21/business/arctic.php
http://www.cfr.org/publication/14007

  White dash line represents the extent of sea ice in summer of 1978.
Solid white area represents the extent of sea ice in summer of 2005
  Orange dotted line represents the area within the proposed Arctic Treaty

The provisions of the proposed Arctic Treaty shall apply to the whole of the Arctic Ocean including the 200 nautical miles 'Exclusive Economic Zone' and continental shelves of each country. This does not include the first 24 nautical miles out (north) from the coastline of each country in accordance to 'Territorial' and 'Contiguous Zones' as spelled out in the United Nations Law of the Sea.

The proposed Treaty would include measures regarding:
(a) use of the Arctic Ocean for peaceful purposes only;
(b) facilitation of scientific research in the Arctic Ocean;
(c) facilitation of international scientific cooperation in the Arctic Ocean;
(d) ban on all oil, gas, and mineral exploration and commercial fishing;
and
(e) preservation and conservation of living resources in the Arctic Ocean


http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=510