From September 2001 till May 2002, the author studied within the Erasmus exchange program of the European Union two terms abroad at the University of Lapland (Lapin Yliopisto) in Rovaniemi/Finland. There he took part in the Arctic Studies Program (ASP). This is a very interdisciplinary program, offered by the Arctic Center (Arktinen Keskus) at the University of Lapland and covering many different topics. The ASP included lectures about the Arctic in general, about environmental issues, tourism, the Sami and indigenous people in general, social and economic development, politics and international relations and as well international law.
In this book, the essays and papers the author wrote and the presentations he hold within the ASP, are published. For this reason, the present book is a very interdisciplinary one, covering various topics concerning the arctic regions. The articles are divided into four subject areas: “Excursion to the North Calotte”, “The Sami and indigenous people in general”, “Environmental systems, economic development and sociology” and “Global Climate Change Debate”. “The collection of essays and papers written within in the Arctic Studies Program” is closed by the full timetables for both terms, given in the Annex. --- Von September 2001 bis Mai 2002, der Autor studierte zwei Semester an der University of Lapland (Lapin Yliopisto) in Rovaniemi/Finnland. Hier absolvierte er das Arctic Studies Program (ASP). Dies ist ein sehr interdisziplinäres Studienprogramm, welches Vorlesungen und Seminare zu den unterschiedlichsten Wissenschaftsbereichen beinhaltet. Themen waren u. a. die Arktischen Regionen ganz grundsätzlich, die Sami und die Ureinwohner im Allgemeinen, die wirtschaftliche und soziale Entwicklung, Umweltthemen, Tourismus und internationales Recht. In diesem Buch sind verschiedene Studienarbeiten und Referate, welche der Autor im Rahmen des ASP verfasst hat, veröffentlicht. Das vorliegende Buch ist daher ein sehr interdisziplinäres. Die darin enthaltenen Aufsätze sind in vier thematische Bereiche gegliedert. Im Anhang des Buches findet man die vollständigen „Stundenpläne“ für beide Semester des ASP.
Table of Contents
Part A Excursion the North Calotte
The Glacial Landscape of Northern Scandinavia and the main vegetation zones of Finnish Lapland
The Northern Society of Lapland: Impressions and Evaluations
Sámi and their Culture
Part B The Sámi and indigenous people in general
The Assimilation Process and how Indigenous Societies try to face it The Sami as an Example
The Sami Political Movement since the early 1970’s
Sami Culture and Modernisation - The Occupation of Reindeer Herding as an Example -
The Definition of Indigenous People
The Definition of "Indigenous People" - Are they like a normal minority? -
Part C Environmental systems, economic development and sociology
Changing land use and the causing feedbacks in the Arctic region
Reindeer Herding vs. other Land Uses - A general overview about the Disturbances to Reindeer Herding -
Facing Problems of Reindeer Herding - Environmental changes, human disturbances, economic pressures and the future of Reindeer Herding -
Part D Global Climate Change Debate
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Ozone Depletion and UV Radiation
Air Pollution in the Arctic Region and its Impacts on Forests
Global Climate Change, Boreal Forests and Indigenous Communities
Objectives and Topics
This work compiles various academic essays and papers authored during the Arctic Studies Program (ASP) at the University of Lapland. It explores the interdisciplinary challenges facing the Arctic region, focusing primarily on the socio-political situation of the Sámi, the impacts of modern environmental pressures on traditional livelihoods like reindeer herding, and the broader global climate change debate as perceived from a Northern perspective.
- The historical and ongoing assimilation processes affecting indigenous societies.
- The socio-economic and environmental challenges currently threatening reindeer herding.
- The definition and legal status of indigenous peoples in international law.
- The impacts of pollution and climate change on Arctic ecosystems and forest health.
- Political mobilization and self-determination efforts of the Sámi people.
Excerpt from the Book
The Glacial Landscape of Northern Scandinavia and the main vegetation zones of Finnish Lapland
Around 10,000 years ago the last ice-age came to an end, the temperature rose and a global warming started. During the Weichselian glaciation, Scandinavia was laying under a big sheet of ice, which had a thickness up to 3,000 m. Also Carelia and other parts of north-western Russia, the Baltic Region, northern Poland and north-eastern parts of Germany were covered by the ice. The centre of this sheet were situated in parts of northern and central Scandinavia.
A ice-sheet means a glacier, which has an continental size, e.g. nowadays the Greenland ice-sheet, and is not influenced by the underlying topography. Only on his ends, the glacier will be follow the topography, containing a lot of sediments, taking rock parts, e.g. from the ground, with him and forming moraines, if he is staying at the same point for several years. In the centre of the sheet, the glacier flows very slow and you will have a very dry climate.
For this reason northern Scandinavia was more formed by the melting water that arose by the retreating ice, than by the ice laying over the landmass. But melting water could and can also be found on the ground of the glacier, where it flews in tunnels under the ice.
Western parts of Finnish Lapland, for example the region of the Pallas-Ounastunturi National Park, were laying under the centre of the Scandinavian ice-sheet and so only very little formed directly by the ice. For this reason, in the area of the national park you will find a very old bedrock, which was formed about over 2.000 millions years ago (Johansson, 1998). Since this time the bedrock had been eroded. In the last two million years, during the several ice-ages, the hills were only rounded. During the period of the retreating ice after the last ice-age, named the Weichselian, about 10.000 years ago, meltwater formed ice-dammed lakes.
Summary of Chapters
Part A: Excursion the North Calotte: Provides an introduction to the geomorphology of Northern Scandinavia and evaluates the social situation in Lapland.
Part B: The Sámi and indigenous people in general: Examines historical assimilation, the evolution of Sámi political movements, and the legal frameworks defining indigenous identity.
Part C: Environmental systems, economic development and sociology: Analyzes the impacts of changing land use and the specific environmental and economic pressures facing reindeer herding.
Part D: Global Climate Change Debate: Discusses persistent organic pollutants, ozone depletion, air pollution, and the broader implications of climate change for boreal forests and indigenous communities.
Keywords
Sámi, Reindeer Herding, Arctic Studies, Indigenous Rights, Assimilation, Land Use, Climate Change, Persistent Organic Pollutants, Ozone Depletion, Boreal Forests, Biodiversity, Self-Determination, Lapland, Ecology, Environmental Policy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
This book is a collection of academic essays and papers written during the Arctic Studies Program, focusing on the interdisciplinary issues affecting the Arctic, particularly the Sámi culture and environmental impacts.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The main themes include the history and rights of the Sámi, the evolution of their political movements, the ecological and economic stressors on reindeer herding, and the global environmental debates concerning pollution and climate change in the Arctic.
What is the ultimate goal of the research presented?
The goal is to analyze the socio-political and environmental transformations in the Arctic and to highlight how indigenous societies are adapting to these changes while fighting for their rights and cultural preservation.
Which scientific methods are primarily utilized in the research?
The work employs literature-based analysis, interdisciplinary observation, and a review of environmental/political case studies to synthesize the complex interactions between human activities and Arctic ecosystems.
What content is addressed in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the physical landscape of the North Calotte, the history of Sámi assimilation and organization, the economic pressures on traditional reindeer herding, and scientific discussions on global climate change and transboundary air pollution.
How can this collection be characterized by keywords?
The work is defined by terms such as Sámi culture, reindeer herding, indigenous rights, environmental impacts, climate change, and Arctic governance.
How does the author view the future of reindeer herding?
The author concludes that while reindeer herding faces significant challenges from market pressure and industrial land use, it is unlikely to disappear entirely if protected property rights are established and local traditional knowledge is respected.
What role do Sami parliaments play according to this text?
The parliaments serve as vital political vehicles for the Sámi to influence national politics, protect their interests, and represent their demands for self-determination and land rights in the three Nordic countries.
- Quote paper
- Dipl. Geogr. Christian Momberger (Author), 2002, Arctic Regions, the Sámi and Global Climate Change Debate, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/114799
