Persistent Pesticides – pesticides that do not break down chemically or break down very slowly and remain in the environment after a growing season.
Pesticide – any chemical used for killing insects, weeds, etc.
Phenols – the organic compounds that are by-products of petroleum refining, tanning, and textile, dye, and resin manufacturing. Low concentrations cause taste and odour problems in water; higher concentrations can kill aquatic life and humans.
Phobia – a fear or an anxiety that exceeds the normal proportions or that has no basis in reality. Some specific phobias related to the Arctic world are listed below: Achulophobia – darkness; Acrophobia – heights; Antropophobia – Man; Auroraphobia – Northern Lights; Cheimaphobia – cold; Chinophobia – snow; Crystallophobia – crystals; Cynophobia – dogs; Doraphobia – fur; Hodophobia – travel; Homichlophobia – fog; Kristallophobia – ice; Misophobia – contamination; Ornithophobia – birds; Peniaphobia – poverty; Pteronophobia – feathers; Sitophobia – food; Thalassophobia – sea; Toxiphobia – poison; Xenophobia – foreigners; Zoophobia – animals.
Photosynthesis – the manufacture by plants of carbohydrates and oxygen from carbon dioxide mediated by chlorophyll in the presence of sunlight.
Phyla – division. Biological classification.
Pipeline – a line of pipes for carrying oil, gas, water etc.
Pituffik – the Greenlandic place name for Thule Air Base (TAB). The meaning of the word is “the place to have the dogs”. Before the arrival of the Americans, the Inughuit of the nearby village Uummannaq placed their dogs at Pituffik in the summer time. Inughuit.
Plantae – plants. Biological classification.
Plebiscite – an expression of the people’s will by direct ballot on a political issue, as in choosing between independent nationhood and affiliation with another nation.
Plutocracy – a government composed of the wealthy class. Government.
Pod – a small herd of seals or whales. A group of whales in family with each other is also called a pod.
Polar Bear Capital of the World – the little town Churchill at the western shore of Hudson Bay, Canada is called so, because more than thousand bears every fall passes through the town. The Polar Bear High Season is in October and November, where tourists crowd the town.
Polar Bear Treaty Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears.
Polar Eskimos – also called the Thule Inuit. Inughuit.
Polar front – also called the Arctic front, which is a zone of transition between polar and tropical air masses. Its average position during the winter is at about 30° N. and during the summer at about 60° N.
Polar lightsAurora borealis.
Polar night – the night lasting 24 hours in the Arctic and Antarctic. At the polar circles, the length of the time when the sun is below the horizon varies from 20 hours at the to 179 days at the Poles.
Polar Seafood Greenland A/S – is the largest of the private companies operating within the fishing industry. The company has around 400 employees in Greenland and another 200 outside the country.
Pollutant Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP).
Pollution – in general, the presence of a substance in the environment that because of its chemical composition or quantity prevents the functioning of natural processes and produces undesirable environmental and health effects. Pollution has been defined as the man-made or man-induced alteration of the physical, biological, chemical, and radiological integrity of water and other media.
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) – a viscous liquid in various industrial processes and discharged in industrial wastes as a pollutant.
Polyglot – people being multilingual.
Polygyny – men having more than one wife at the time.
Polynya – areas of open water in the sea ice or pack ice.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – a tough, environmentally indestructible plastic that releases hydrochloric acid when burned.
POP Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP).
Population dynamics – the process of turnover and growth or decrease in a population.
Porpoise – a dolphin or any of several other small whales. Cetaceans.
Pound net – a fishing net used to catch cod.
PPs – Permanent Participants of the Arctic Council are the following Arctic Indigenous organisations: AAI, AIA, GCI, ICC, RAIPON and SC. Arctic Council (AC).
Prawn Arthropoda.
Precipitation – the amount of rain, hail or snow fall.
Predator – animals that are living by hunting and preying on other animals for their own food supply. The polar bear is the world’s largest land predator and in the top of the food chain in the Arctic.
Premier – the first in importance or rank. The Premier of Greenland is the head of the Home Rule Government.
Preservation – keeping something in its present state.
President – the highest executive officer of a company, society, club, university, etc. The President is the chief executive of republics having no Prime Minister. In countries with parliamentary governments, the President is the formal Head of State, with little or no executive power.
Prey – an animal hunted or killed for food, either by other animals or by humans.
Prime Meridian – the imaginary circle on the earth’s surface that reaches from the North Pole to the South Pole, and divides the Earth into the western and eastern hemispheres. The Prime meridian is the 0 longitude, from where all other longitudes are measured. It passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. The Prime meridian is also used for determining the time throughout the world. It is referred to as Universal time (UT), civil time, Zulu and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Prime Minister – the chief executive and head of the government in parliamentary governments.
Projectile point – the sharp tip of a weapon attached to a spear, dart or arrow shaft or handle.
Protected area – an area dedicated primarily to protection and enjoyment of natural or cultural heritage, to maintenance of biodiversity, and/or to maintenance of life-support systems.
Protection of the Marine Environment in the Arctic (PAME) – was originally a part of the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS) established at the ministerial meeting in Nuuk, Greenland in 1993. To day PAME is one of the six working groups under the Arctic Council (AC), with the mandate to address policy and non-emergency pollution prevention and control measures related to the protection of the Arctic marine environment from both land and sea-based activities., which includes a coordinated action program and guidelines complementing existing legal arrangements.
Protection stock – IWC category (PS). There shall not be any commercial whaling on PS.
Protocol – a signed document containing a record of the points on which agreement has been reached by negotiating parties preliminary to a final treaty
Qaanaaq – the administrative town (77.29N, 69.12W) in the municipality of Qaanaaq, formerly named Avanersuaq in Northwest Greenland. Some times Qaanaaq is referred to as “Thule” or “Ny Thule”. The town was established in 1953-54 after the indigenous peoples Inughuit were forced away from their settlement Uummannaq nearby Thule Air Base (TAB). The main occupation is hunting. The approximate population of the municipality is 800, hereof approx. 600 in the town, and the rest in the villages of Savissivik, Moriusaq, Qeqertat, Qeqertarsuaq, and Siorapaluk. Inughuit.
Qajaq – the Greenlandic word for kayak, which is an Inuit boat made of sealskins stretched over a frame of wood to cover it completely except for an opening in the middle for the paddler. At the Bering Strait kayaks may have openings for two or more paddlers. Other indigenous people than the Inuit also use the kayak, though less developed.
Qallunaaq – in the Greenlandic language it means the “white man” or a “Dane”. Sometimes qallunaaq is used in a broader sense for “stranger” or “foreigner”.The similar Canadian Inuktitut name for the “white man” is kabloona.
Qallunaat Nunaat – the Greenlandic name for Denmark.
Qaqortoq – a town in Southwest Greenland (60.43N, 46.03W) and a municipality (8,500 square kilometres). Qaqortoq is the Greenlandic word for “white”. The approximate population of the municipality 3,200 persons hereof are 3,000 living in the town, and the remaining in the villages of Saarloq and Eqalugaarsuit, and several small farming settlements. Established as the Danish colony of Julianehaab in 1775.
Qasigiannguit – a town (68.49N, 51.05W) and municipality (13,000 square kilometres) in West Greenland. Qasigiannguit is Greenlandic for “small harbour seals”. The total population of the municipality is approximately 1,250, hereof 1,175 in the town and the remaining in the village of Ikamiut. Established as the Danish colony of Christianshaab in 1734.
Qeqertaq – the Greenlandic word for island, which is often to be found in place names, like Qeqertarsuaq, which means a large orbig island.
Qeqertarsuaq – a town (69.14N, 53.31W) on the island of Qeqertarsuaq (Disko), and a municipality (15,000 square kilometres) in West Greenland. Qeqertarsuaq is the Greenlandic word for “ big or large island”. The population of the municipality counts approximately 1,000, hereof 980 in the town, and the remaining in the village of Kangerluk. Established as the Danish colony of Godhavn in 1782.
Qujanaq – ”Thank you” in Greenlandic.
R
Race – previously used to describe biologically distinct groups of persons who were alleged to have characteristics of an unalterable nature. To day it is scientifically discredited to talk about races.
Racism – a set of beliefs, ideologies and social processes that discriminate against others on the basis of their supposed membership of another “race”.
Radioactive Waste – any waste that emits energy as rays, waves, streams or energetic particles. Radioactive materials are often mixed with hazardous waste, from nuclear reactors, research institutions, or hospitals.
Radioactivity – the phenomenon, exhibited by and being a property of certain elements, of spontaneously emitting radiations resulting from changes in the nuclei of atoms of the element. At the ten-year anniversary of AEPS in Rovaniemi, Finland, governments and the permanent participants decided to approach the WSSD (Preparing for Johannesburg 2002 – An Initial Arctic Message): “Long lived radio nuclides from emissions of radioactivity in the past, in and outside the Arctic region, can still be measured in the Arctic. Of great concern are the potential consequences of accidents in nuclear power plants, in handling and storage of nuclear weapons, in the decommissioning of nuclear submarines and in disposal of spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive waste from submarines and vessels. A nuclear accident would have particularly severe consequences in the Arctic because of the vulnerability of the food chains to radioactive contamination. Protection of the Arctic environment requires rigorous adherence by all states to relevant international conventions and guidance on radiation protection, nuclear safety, radioactive waste management and emergency preparedness and response to minimize the probability and consequences of accidents.”
Radon – a colourless naturally occurring, radioactive, inert gas formed by radioactive decay of radium atoms in soil or rocks.
RAIPON Russian Association of Small Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation (RAIPON).
RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR).
Range – the portion of the earth in which a given species is found.
Ratify – to approve, confirm or to give official sanction to a formal document such as a treaty. In most countries, the government might need to hold a vote in the parliament before a treaty negotiated with another country can be ratified.
Reciprocity – a relationship between two parties in which there is mutual giving and taking.
Recognising – to acknowledge that something is valid or entitled to consideration. Example: “Recognizing that wild fauna and flora in their many beautiful and varied forms are an irreplaceable part of the natural systems of the earth which must be protected for this and the generations to come”.
Recommendation – is to advise. Often used in agreements, conventions, etc. Example: “where appropriate, make recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the present Convention.”
Red Data Book IUCN Red Data Book.
Renewable resources – are water, soil, forest, and wildlife, etc. Resource.
Reserve – an area or land set aside by the Canadian authorities in the 19th century for the use and occupancy of an Indian group or Band. Much of this land was later taken from the indigenous peoples again. Until the 1970s the remaining reserves were administered and controlled by government.
Resource – anything that is used directly by people. A renewable resource can renew itself (or be renewed) at a constant level, either because it recycles quite rapidly, like water, or because it is alive and can propagate itself or be propagated, like organisms and ecosystems. A non-renewable resource is one whose consumption necessarily involves its depletion, like oil and gas.
Restoration – returning a degraded ecosystem or population back to its original condition.
Restriction – limitation. Often used in environmental conventions. Example: “for the purpose of preventing or restricting exploitation”.
RF – Russian Federation.
Rio + 10 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development Agenda 21.
Rio Summit United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
River Basin – the land area drained by a river and its tributaries.
Royal Greenland A/S – is the largest company of its kind in the kingdom, with around 2,200 employees, hereof approx. 1.100 in Greenland and 500 in Denmark. The company’s chief products are prawns, Greenland halibut and cod, but it also produces a large number of other fish products, with a product range that numbers some 3,000 different items. In addition to a number of production sites in Greenland, Royal Greenland owns several plants in Denmark and a series of subsidiaries abroad.
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) – is the first animal welfare society in the world, founded in 1824, in England. According to RSPCA, it will by all lawful means, prevent cruelty, promote kindness to and alleviate suffering of animals. RSPCA have no indigenous peoples’ policy, but the organisation is member of the Fur Free Alliance (FFA), which is an international coalition of animal protection organisations working to bring an end to the exploitation and killing of animals for their fur. RSPCAstatement 07.12.07: “Don’t let an animal sneak into your wardrobe!” David Bowles: “The mass slaughter and trade in seal fur is horrific!”“RSPCA is lobbying the IWC to call a halt to commercial and so-called 'scientific' whaling operations.” No statements have been identified on Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling.
RSPCA Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
Russian Association of Small Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation (RAIPON) – the organisation is representing 40 different indigenous peoples of the North, Far East and Siberia of the Russian Federation. RAIPON was established during the first Congress of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and Far East, held in Moscow, March 1990. RAIPON is a non-governmental organisation formed on territorial and territorial-ethnic principles and comprising more than thirty regional ethnic associations of indigenous peoples of the North. Its main purpose is to protect the interests and lawful rights of the peoples it represents, including their right to land, natural resources, and self-government in accordance with international standards and Russian legislation, and their right to resolve their own social and economic problems. RAIPON also provides assistance in cultural development and education, promotes international exchange and co-operation, and organises humanitarian aid.
Russianize – to subordinate and force to adhere to the Russian culture, ideology or the like. Indigenous peoples of the Arctic have also known this phenomenon in connection with their meeting with foreign colonisers. Assimilation.
S
Saami Council (SC) is representing Saami people in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The Saami Council is a non-governmental organisation, with Saami membership organisations from Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. Since its foundation in 1956 the Saami Council has actively dealt with Saami policy tasks. For this reasons the Saami Council is one of the indigenous peoples’ organisations, which have existed longest. The primary aim of the Saami Council is the promotion of Saami rights and interests in the four countries where the Saami are living, to consolidate the feeling of affinity among the Saami people, to attain recognition for the Saami as a nation and to maintain the economic, social and cultural rights of the Saami in the legislation of the four states. This objective can be achieved through agreements between these states and the bodies representing the Saami people, the Saami parliaments. Saami Council renders opinions and makes proposals on questions concerning Saami people rights, language and culture and especially on issues concerning Saami in different countries.
Sacred sites – to most indigenous peoples, their land is full of sacred sites whose preservation is essential to their continuation as a distinct people. In the Arctic many sites are tied to the traditional livelihood as reindeer herders, fishermen and hunters. Other sacred sites reflect their ancestral relationship to the land through reverence of grandmother and grandfather spirits. Other sites again represent nature spirits of seas, rivers, trees and mountains, whose veneration may aid in safe travel or successful hunting. Increasing exploitation of natural resources is among the threats of the sacred sites. A case study on sacred sites has been performed by CAFF, Arctic Council: The Conservation Value of Sacred Sites of Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic: A Case Study in Northern Russia—Report on the State of Sacred Sites and Sanctuaries.
Sacrificing – the offering of animals, plants or material possessions to a god or goddess.
Salinity – the percentage of salt in water or soil.
Salvage – the utilization of waste materials.
Sanctuary – a place of protection. In a religious understanding, it is a sacred place around the altar, as well as it in the Middle Ages it became a place where religious law breakers had a right to seek asylum. An animal sanctuary is a place where animals are brought to and where they are protected. Usually sanctuaries are not open to the public. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) established its first sanctuary in the Antarctic in 1938. In 1979 the Indian Ocean Sanctuary was established by the IWC, and in 1994 the Southern Ocean Sanctuary was established as another area in which commercial whaling is prohibited.
SAO – Senior Arctic Officials. Arctic Council (AC).
Sassat – the Greenlandic word for a swimming pool-sized whales’ breathing hole in the solid sea ice.
SC Saami Council (SC).
SCPAR Standing Committee Of Parliamentarians Of The Arctic Region (SCPAR).
Scrimshaw – carved or often engraved articles especially of sperm whale teeth, walrus tusk and the like. Whalers often made scrimshaw as a leisure occupation. The Yupik and Chukchi people of Chukotka are well known scrimshaw artists.
Scurvy – a disease caused by a diet-lacking vitamin C. Scurvy is often referred to as “the curse of the Arctic region”. It was a very common disease among sailors in earlier times. Inuit did not get scurvy because they ate raw whale skin, which is rich in Vitamin C.
Sea ice – is ice that flows on the surface of the sea in Polar Regions. Sea ice contains no salt because salt is excluded and returned to the sea in the crystallisation process.
Sea ice extent – the ocean area that is covered by ice at any given time. Maximum extent occurs in the late winter and early spring while minimum extent occurs in late the summer and early fall.
Sea of Okhotsk – a sea between Kamchatka Peninsula in the west, Sakhalin Island in the east and Kurilskiye Ostrova in the south. The sea is about 940.000 km2. Greatest depth is around 350 m.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society – an animal rights organisation founded as a breakaway group from Greenpeace in 1977 by Captain Paul Watson. The mandate of the organisation was marine mammal protection and conservation with an immediate goal of shutting down illegal whaling and sealing operations. The organisation’s first ship was called Sea Shepherd, and its first mission in 1979 was to the ice floes of New Foundland, Canada to interfere with the annual killing of baby harp seals known as whitecoats. The organisation has several ships today known as Neptune’s Navy. The organisation has been accused for criminal activities by sinking whaling ships in Iceland.
Seal Skin Directive – a directive issued by the EEC in 1983. EEC forbids with this directive import of sealskin into the membership countries. Skins from Greenlandic and Canadian Indigenous hunt are exempt from the directive. But the directive and the many anti sealskin campaigns by IFAW and others have destroyed the whole sealskin market. “Despite an exemption being made for Inuit, after the importation of seal products was banned by the EU in 1983, the entire seal market collapsed. After the collapse of the seal market, suicide rates in Inuit communities increased by an average of 400 %. IFAW has responded to the devastation brought upon our communities by playing a key role in the impending European import ban on certain wildlife from entering the European Union, which may take effect early this year. This would cause further undeniable damage to our communities.”(ITC & ICC, 1996 to IUCN). IFAW.