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## Nachricht vom 12.08.98, erstellt von greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org
## weitergeleitet durch Klaus Merkle
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ALASKA NATIVES PROVIDE PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF THE IMPACTS OF
GLOBAL WARMING

11 August 1998

Washington, DC - Decreased sea ice extent and thickness, the
earlier onset of Spring and the influx of insects and other
animals from the south are some of the changes which Alaska
Natives have identified in personal testimonies on the impacts
of climate change, compiled in a Greenpeace report released
today.

While the world last month sweltered through the hottest month
since records began a century ago, the Western Arctic is warming
at a rate approximately 3-5 times the global average. Alaska
Natives and climate scientists agree that the Arctic is already
experiencing the impacts of global warming.

"Traditional activities, such as hunting, fishing and gathering
of plants, are crucial to Alaskan Native peoples' way of life.
Even subtle changes in temperature over the long term can affect
our ability to live as our parents and grandparents have-we need
a healthy environment to fully preserve our traditional values,
culture and spirituality," said Art Ivanoff, Chair of the non-
profit organization Arctic Network and a resident of Unalakleet,
Alaska.

Alaska Natives joined Greenpeace and Arctic Network to release
the report "Answers from the Ice Edge", the product of a two-
year testimonies project which relies upon traditional
knowledge-a foundation that includes thousands of years of
observation and living on the land. The report then compares
this record with Western science, such as the findings of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

"The result of this testimonies project is a startling clear
convergence between the Western, peer-reviewed science of
climate change and the traditional knowledge of Alaska Native
peoples in the report," said Kalee Kreider, US Director of
Greenpeace's Global Warming Campaign.

People from the Bering and Chukchi Sea villages of Savoonga,
Gambell, Wales, Deering, Kotzebue, Point Lay and Wainwright,
participated in this the first ever documentation of testimonies
from Arctic peoples about the impacts of global warming on their
families, communities and way of life.

"The speakers today put a human face to the science of global
warming," said Kalee Kreider. "Despite all of the evidence of
global warming and its impact on Alaska and other parts of the
world, the Clinton Administration decided last week to open a
huge swath of Alaskan wilderness known as the National Petroleum
Reserve to new oil development."

The report documents a host of observed changes in Arctic
communities-from decreased sea ice extent and thickness to
earlier onset of Spring to the influx of insects and other
animals from the south. According, to John Kulowiyi, Sr. an
Elder and whaling captain who lives in Savoonga, "When I was
younger, we used to go out on the ice. It was real solid. But as
the years go by the ice started getting thinner and thinner."

"Greenpeace understands and recognizes that traditional food
gathering activities are a vital part of the lives of Alaska
Native people," said Kalee Kreider, "and the more oil we burn,
the more global warming threatens Arctic communities. That's not
a trade-off we are prepared to accept."

The Greenpeace vessel m/v Arctic Sunrise is continuing its 1998
Expedition to the Western Arctic and has just concluded its
second year of work on the testimonies project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
- In Washington, DC: Kalee Kreider +1 202 319 2414 (office) +1
202 256 1207 (mobile)
- Andrew Davies +1 202 319 2432
- In Alaska: Dan Ritzman +1 907 277 8234
- Margie Gibson, Arctic Network +1 907 272 2452
- Photo, Video and Copies of the Report "Answers from the Ice
Edge" are available upon request.
- The report "Answers from the Ice Edge" is downloadable in
Adobe Acrobat format at the location:
http://www.greenpeace.org/~climate/arctic/reports/testimonies.