Last Wednesday marked the end of the International Polar Year (IPY 2007 – 2008), a year which saw 60 countries spending $1.2 billion on building knowledge around the polar ice caps, global climate systems, polar bears and equally important, the Arctic peoples.
Involving the Arctic communities was a key focal point of the 4th edition of the IPY, building on past efforts where “a typical Arctic family was 5: 2 parents, 2 children and 1 anthropologist” to include community education and research institutions as full partners.
Full partners that have been enthusiastically participating in activities ranging from climate monitoring to keeping track of local wildlife populations.
Now instead of helplessly watching the industrial world’s actions destroy their environment, Arctic communities, through efforts during the IPY, have been able to play active roles in developing knowledge that will dictate the world’s actions to address the urgent need to preserve our Polar regions.
Link: International Polar Year Celebrations
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