The Foundation’s activity triggers countless conversations on the topic of current environmental issues and consequences of human behaviour. The conversations let us identify numerous concepts which tend to be taken for granted when, in fact, many of us have no clue what they actually mean. It is these concepts that we clarify in articles published under the general heading And there you have it!
Our texts are easy to follow and contain many specific examples and images, which make it easier to notice direct links between the topics in question and our daily lives. We hope they will let you consolidate and expand what you already know about the natural and the man-made environment and, by doing so, make your everyday choices more conscious and ecologically sound.
Additionally, published under the same heading are articles about the regions in which we operate. They do not deal directly with the subject matter of our projects, but instead help to clarify the environmental, geographical and historical context in which the projects are executed. The texts are also a great source of practical information, which you’re bound to find useful when planning your own travels.
The oases of Antarctica
When we think of an oasis, the first image that comes to mind is usually that of a lush green area amidst the endless sands of a desert, with camels quenching their thirst at a spring and caravan drivers dozing in the shade. Oases provide refuge from the heat and
The walrus – a one-of-its-kind polar record holder. Part three of the Arctic Champions League
As aptly pointed out by the Polish Nobel prize-winning poet Wisława Szymborska, humanity has adopted a number of aesthetic and moral resolutions with regard to nature. And while those of a moral kind are slowly being retracted, the aesthetic ones prove a lot harder to eliminate. The comment was made
The magnificent nine. An overview of the Earth’s famous and not-so-famous poles
Even a child knows that poles are the points at the Earth’s very top and very bottom. The thing is, though, that the Earth is spherical and spheres, by definition, do not have tops or bottoms. Besides, a closer inspection makes it quite clear that there are no fewer than
Pocket-sized polar survivor, or a few words about the snow bunting. Part two of the Arctic Champions League
With the end of March upon us, spring is already in full swing. Unless, that is, you happen to be in Svalbard, which is still white, empty and downright wintry. The islands will finally come to life when the peace and quiet of polar winter gives way to the commotion
Small great moss campion. Part one of the Arctic Champions League
It’s no mean feat to survive in the Arctic. There are some, however, who have brought the skill to perfection. In the course of evolution, northern species have developed a whole range of ingenious mechanisms and abilities, which help them thrive despite the cold and the dark. The adaptational virtuosity
Does size matter? Or mega-problems with macro- and microplastics
They’re everywhere. From carpets beneath our feet, through contact lenses in our eyes, to planes above our heads. Synthetic materials, although synthetic, have become perfectly natural, and the growing piles of plastic waste are just another element of our world. But discarded plastic accumulates not only in areas with thousands
Knocking on (drift)wood, or a few facts about trapper cabins in Svalbard
Trapper cabins have been an integral part of Svalbard’s scenery for more than two hundred years. Over time, they’ve changed hands and character, undergone alterations and renovations, while those which were already beyond repair became a source of material for the construction of new cabins, thus going through partial reincarnation.
Nothing more than mountains and pointed peaks, or how Svalbard was discovered and what came out of it
The archipelago was probably known of already by the Vikings. Brief mentions of “cold shores” in the area, which is now instantly associated with Svalbard, appeared for the first time in 12th-century Nordic sagas. The thing is, though, that no evidence has ever been found to confirm that the Vikings
Too much of a good thing, or the reasons behind our problems with plastic
Plastic is such an obvious element of today’s world that hardly anyone wonders what it actually is and why the negative consequences of its overuse can now be felt even in the most remote corners of the globe. Let us therefore shed some much needed light on the issue. Plastic