“The POLAR RUSH”

Patron of the project
Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the Commission and Commissioner of industry and entrepreneurship

“The POLAR RUSH” is a project established by Brussels based journalist of relevant nationalities who aim at increasing the awareness of the Arctic region and its challenges, possibilities and the future. During a 40 days expedition these journalists will deliver news around the globe and serve as a portal for their colleagues.

Project proposal

What
Everyday blog during 40 days expedition
Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pintrest, etc)
Photography
News stories
Articles
Editorials
Op-eds
Columnists
Books
Short documentary film (10 min) (with focus on industry)
Long documentary film (60 min) (with focus on people)

When Pre-production (Research and Development):
January-July 2013

Production:
40 days expedition - July-August 2013

Post-production:
August-December 2013

How
Collaboration between journalists from:
Greenland, Iceland, Germany, Norway, Italy, USA, Denmark, China and Russia.

Awaiting respond:
Sweden, Canada, Finland, South Korea, France, Spain, Scotland,

Why
To get to know the Arctic as it is, not in the alarming way we get to know it through the international media. Knowing that the Arctic is melting and the PolarRush will begin. What is the story?

According to the International media the most powerful players are already drawing the map. What information do we have? What do we need to know?

Our mission:
Who are the people in the Arctic region?
What are they thinking?
How will the PolarRush impact their lives?
What impact will the PolarRush impose on our future?

Who is already there?
What challenges and possibilities are waiting?
Who, how and when are these actors playing?

How do the people of the Arctic region react to it?
How does the Arctic Council react to it?
How does the European Union react to it?
How do the Americans react to it?
What's the plan?

WHO

Production team:
Kolfinna Baldvinsdottir, Vice-president of Press Club Brussels Europe (EU)
Marzio Mian, co-editor of Io Donna Corriere della sera (IT)
Michael Oneal, journalist for Chicago tribunal (USA)
Thidrik Emilsson, freelance photographer and cameraman (BE)
Alessandro Cosmelli, freelance photographer (US)
Espen Evensen, journalist (Social Media) (NO)

List of journalists:
Vilborg Einarsdottir, director of Arctic First (IS)
Hlin Danielsdottir, creative director of Arctic First (IS)
Inga Hansen, journalist for Greenland Times (GR)
Jakob Holm Madsen, journalist of Infomedia.dk (DK)
Joachim Weideman, manager of Deutsche Press Agentur (DE)
Li Xin, freelance journalist (China)
Maria Laura Franciosi, ANSA (IT)
Kolfinna Baldvinsdottir, journalist (EU)
Marzio Mian, co-editor of Io Donna Corriere della sera (IT)
Michael Oneal, journalist for Chicago tribunal (USA)
Espen Evensen, journalist (NO)
Still to continue...

DETAILS:

In collaboration of journalists from the Arctic region (and wider), we will get to know people, social political situation, industrial planning, environmental issues and peoples' reflections on their future.

During our travsels we will keep up blogs that describe all of our movements, whom we have met, where and how and not least, why. We meet people, journalists, politicians, decision-makers, industrialists, businessmen, miners, whalers, fishermen and desperate housewives.

During the travels all of these influential people, each and everyone for their particular country will deliver news/blogs/reports across Europe in their vernacular languages, sharing their experience and encounters with the locals.

In the end, each and everyone goes back home to their original country to deliver their books, blogs, articles, photos, films etc. Part of the project will be delivered to the European Union, with an exposition at the EU parliament.

The object will be to:
Facing the new reality of the region in a realistic way - and not the common alarming way - illustrating the various opportunities awaiting Europe and other powerful opponents.

We will ask questions about new social scenes, commercial, geo-political, shipping routes and not to mention defence and security, asking questions about the European Union's interests and environmental changes, in competition with other big powers such as China and Russia.

END RESULTS
Blog: Mian, Baldvinsdottir, Hansen, Madsen, Weiderman, Xin, Evensen, Oneal,
Photography: Cossmoti (book), Emilsson and Evensen (Photo journalists)
Book: Mian, Baldvinsdottir, Hansen
Short film: Arctic first, Oneal, Mian, Emilsson, Baldvinsdottir
Longer film: Everyone!

DELIVERY
Blogs and social media: Across Europe
Articles: Across Europe
Photos + books of photography: International and across Europe
Conferences: Organised in the capital of Europe and its member states and relevant international assemblies with all supporting materials.
Short film: To the EU Commission, EU institutions.
Long film: To the EU Commission and European film festivals

Contact:
PolarRush 2013
Kolfinna@PolarRush.com
+32 485 117776