Canada Week continues with additional events Feb. 16-17

For more than 20 years, UAA has been hosting activities and lectures about our neighbors to the east during its annual Canada Week. This year's festivities kick off on Feb. 8 and run through Feb. 17. UAA presents a series of free events that will help educate the community about Canada and celebrate our similarities and differences.

 

Lecture, "Arctic sovereignty: local to global perspectives," by John Streicker, a member of the Green Party of Canada's cabinet as the advocate for Arctic and Northern Affairs

Today, Feb. 8, 4:30 p.m.
Professional Studies Building, Room 166

As Arctic sea-ice retreats due to climate change, it ironically makes offshore gas and oil reserves more accessible. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates these to be 22 percent to 23 percent of the global reserve. This has effectively created a rush in the Arctic.

New fishing grounds, shorter marine transport routes, indigenous rights, critical habitat and the service that the Arctic provides regulating the planet's temperature have elevated the Arctic to geopolitical interest. It all makes for some interesting saber-rattling over Arctic sovereignty. This talk explores the issue from the local to global perspective.

Lecture, "Community adaptation to climate change in the North," by John Streicker, a member of the Green Party of Canada's cabinet as the advocate for Arctic and Northern Affairs

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 4:30 p.m.
Student Union Den

Communities across the North are on the front line of climate change. Temperature is warming, summer Arctic sea-ice is melting out, the shoulder seasons are extending and more change is projected. This talk explores the responses of communities to climate change. Both ad-hoc and planned adaptation are considered, with the example of ongoing work in Whitehorse.

 

Panel discussion, "The Olympics and national identity"

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 5:30 p.m.
Student Union Den

 

Lecture, "Climate change in the Arctic: Yukon and Canadian political responses," by John Streicker, a member of the Green Party of Canada's cabinet as the advocate for Arctic and Northern Affairs

Wednesday, Feb. 10, Noon-1 p.m.
Rasmuson Hall, Room 110

Arctic climate change is happening faster than elsewhere on the planet -- typically at a rate of 2 to 3 times the global average. However, across North America, the issue has become heavily politicized. As a result, the government response over time can be characterized as cautious, unfocussed and so far unsuccessful (if success is addressing climate change). This is true for Canada, although the regional governments of the north have been more resolved on the issue.

This talk explores the landscape of political responses to climate change in Canada and the North. What are the political barriers to the issue and how are they being dealt with? Where we have been and where we are likely to go.

 

Olympic hockey game viewing, "Canada vs. Norway"

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 3:30 p.m.
Student Union Den

 

Learn to Curl!

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 3:45 p.m.
Wells Fargo ice rink

All events are free and open to the public. Canada Week at UAA is sponsored by the International Studies Program, with the help of generous funding from the Elizabeth Tower Endowment in Canadian Studies and the Canadian Government.

For more information about UAA's Canada Week, please visit http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/intl/canwk.cfm, or call (909) 786-4327.