SAVING THE BEAUTY OF WINTER & SAVING THE PLANET NOW

SEBASTIAN COPELAND

If you appreciate the special beauty of winter -- the glory of ice and snow, the brevity of days and the endlessly dark nights, with all of its particular forms of life and atmosphere -- there’s more to love in the Arctic than most other places on Earth. It is winter more than it is not there.

But winters are warming, putting the ultimate winter wonderland in danger, giving it the fight of its life.

Arctica: The Vanishing North, a new book, by award-winning photographer and environmental activist Sebastian Copeland, shows off the achingly beautiful landscapes and wildlife that cling to winter, as they cling to life itself.

Copeland is one of the leading authorities on the Arctic, having spent much of his life exploring and documenting the region. His book includes over 200 of his breathtaking photos, which testify both to the magnitude of beauty and importance of the North Pole.

Copeland’s mission is to raise awareness and inspire us all to turn the tide on climate change and stave off human encroachment. He lectures around the world at major forums such as the United Nations and The World Affairs Council. His award winning documentary, Into the Cold, moved millions.  

The SEDNA Foundation, founded by Copeland, asks us to learn about the dangers of drilling in Arctic sea-ice, and to raise our voices to stop it. A spill in the Arctic would have even more dire consequences than other places, given that oil would be entrapped in ice.

SEDNA points out that because the sea ice is basically a frozen sheet that floats on the surface of the ocean, it moves, shifts, and melts with changing winds, currents, tides and temperatures. These shifts can spread a spill over thousands, possibly millions of square miles.

The danger of a spill is real and fairly likely. The ice drift is an enormous energy force that can make oil platforms especially vulnerable. Independent estimations point to a 33-51% chance of a major spill per platform on the sea ice.

The water, air, polar bears, arctic foxes, fish, whales, and more are at risk in the Arctic, and that, of course, means we are all at risk, wherever we reside on the planet.