Alaska State Society | Washington, D.C. Event Photography

Happy Monday, Lovelies!

This weekend was awwwwesome but super-super busy!  Saturday, we hit up an estate sale, swimming lessons, an Alaska State Society event, picked up cornhole boards for our wedding, and then found a new estate auction.  We have a space at a design house, so be on the lookout for a new website for Oxido!

Everything feels like it is falling into place!

Today, I have pictures from the Alaska State Society event with Fran Ulmer, former lieutenant governor of the State of Alaska and current chair of the US Arctic Research Commission.  Fran Ulmer is the first person for whom I ever voted, and I’ve been a member of the Fran Ulmer fan club ever since.

John Farrell, executive director of the US Arctic Research Commission, addressed a few points as well.  He’s pretty cool, too!

Saturday’s event was packed!  I only caught the end of the event because of N’s swimming lessons, but several of the key points included:

- The Arctic is opening to international shipping as the ice cap melts.  Transit through the Arctic has the potential to drastically reduce transit times and costs between Asia and Europe and the East Coast of the US when compared to travel through the Panama Canal or around the southern tip of South America.  With little regulation, how will Alaska/ the United States ensure protection of Arctic waters as international shippers such as China and India transit the passage?

- The United States has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.  Other countries such as Russia and Canada have and are rushing to stake claim on Arctic seabeds.  Without being party to the Convention, the United States is not at the table to submit our own claims and/ or dispute other claims.

- Canada recently began chairing the Arctic Council—a sub-body of the United Nations.  In two years, the United States will chair the Arctic Council.  The United States and the State of Alaska are looking to design their Arctic policy statements as a result.

On a personal note, there is a difference between Arctic and arctic.  The Arctic is a place.  The “arctic” _____ is an adjective.  If you are talking about arctic policy, it’s frigid policy.  If you want to talk about Arctic policy, give me a call.

Enjoy photos from the Fran Ulmer event!