What's New

• 13 June 08
  NASA Aircraft Examine Impact of Forest Fires on Arctic Climate
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the summer fire season heats up, NASA aircraft are set to follow the trail of smoke plumes from some of Earth's northernmost forest fires, examining their contribution to arctic pollution and implications for climate change. [More].
  

• 14 May 08
  U.S. adds Polar Bears to List of Threatened Species
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today announced that he is accepting the recommendation of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The listing is based on the best available science, which shows that loss of sea ice threatens and will likely continue to threaten polar bear habitat. This loss of habitat puts polar bears at risk of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future, the standard established by the ESA for designating a threatened species. [More].
  The proposed ESA special 4(d) rule is available at - http://www.doi.gov/issues/polar_bears.html - for a 60 day public comment period.
  

  
  

• 08 May 08
  Minister Baird and Secretary Kempthorne Hold Bilateral Meeting
  OTTAWA — Canada's Minister of the Environment, John Baird, held a bilateral meeting earlier today with U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. The Minister and Secretary were also joined by the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Mary Simon, as well as a number of officials from both countries.
  
  "Today's bilateral meeting included a number of cross-border issues, including the recent announcement by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) on the status of the polar bear, and other important issues that cross the 49th parallel," said Minister Baird. [More].

• On November 29 there was a Video WebCast on: Native American Traditions, Oral History and the Indian Wars of the American West. In commemoration of National American Indian Heritage Month, Dennis Zotigh and Peter Cozzens looked at Native American traditions and the climactic struggles between Native Americans and the white man in the American West. View the webcast.

• Internet Tools & Curriculum Design for Young Learners of English: Technology and Classroom Activities: USINFO webchat covered new ways to teach younger learners
  On June 14, English as a Second Language (ESL) expert Judie Haynes discussed new ways to motivate students and make language learning fun. Transcript.

• “The United States, Climate Change, and the Arctic”
  The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada and The Center for U.S. Studies and the International Geopolitical Center of the Raoul-Dandurand Chair of Strategic and Diplomatic Studies at the University of Québec at Montréal (UQAM) hosted an online webchat at the at the International Conference, “The United States, Climate Change, and the Arctic”. Montréal, Québec, April 19 – 20, 2007.

• CRS Report : Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): Legislative Actions Through the 109th Congress Updated April 9, 2007.
• CRS Report : Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): New Directions in the 110th Congress. February 8, 2007.

• "Ask the Ambassador" Live Web Chat -- Friday, February 16, 2 pm EST (1900 GMT).
  Ambassador David H. Wilkins was available live to answer questions on this "Ask the Ambassador" web chat. The Ambassador invited Canadians to engage with him on a dialog on issues of concern to Canadians "North of Sixty". Transcript of web chat.

• Traveling Tales: On a plane between Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik recently, U.S. Consulate Calgary public affairs representative Betty Rice began talking with Alana Mero, from Aurora College. Ms. Mero spoke eloquently about the cooperation between U.S. and Canadian rescue teams who put aside questions of nationalism or borders to help Canadians and Americans in need. At our request, Ms. Mero has graciously contributed this article as a guest writer for the U.S. North of 60 Virtual Presence Posts. July 06.
• Ambassador Wilkins' Inaugural Visit to the NWT, May 06.
• Hay River Rotary Assists Children of New Orleans. 16 November 05.
• American Artists Participate in Great Northern Arts Festival. 15-24 July 05.
• In July 2005, the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa donated three Scholastic Book collections to libraries in the Northwest Territories.
• U.S. Embassy Supports the Centre for Indigenous Theatre's 2005 Summer School North in Yellowknife, July 05.
• American and Canadian scientists explain NASA's THEMIS project to Northern audiences. Videoconference Sheds Light on Aurora Borealis Study, 18 July 05.

• Ecole Sir John Franklin High School Students take part in an on-line dialogue with former U.S. Ambassador Cellucci. 9 March 05.
• Former Ambassador Paul Cellucci formally launched the "North of 60: U.S. Virtual Presence Posts in Canada" at the Embassy of the United States of America in Ottawa, 2 March 05.