STORY: Guardians of the Arctic
SHOOTING TIME: June 20-28, 2024
DATELINE: July 7, 2024
LENGTH: 0:08:34
LOCATION: SVALBARD, Norway
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of landscape of the Arctic
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HU ZHENGYI, Manager of China's Arctic Yellow River Station
3. various of landscape of the Arctic
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HU ZHENGYI, Manager of China's Arctic Yellow River Station
5. various of Ny-Alesund
6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHAO HONGYING, Chinese researcher at Yellow River Station
7. SOUNDBITE (English): KIM HOLMEN, Special Advisor of Norwegian Polar Institute
8. SOUNDBITE (English): EARL SULLIVAN LESER, Senior Operations Engineer of Kertverket, Norwegian Mapping Authority
9. SOUNDBITE (English): SOLVEIG ROTI DAHL, Advisor of Kings Bay management company in Ny-Alesund
10. various of landscape of the Arctic and Ny-Alesund
11. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHAO HONGYING, Chinese researcher at Yellow River Station
12. SOUNDBITE (English): KIM HOLMEN, Special Advisor of Norwegian Polar Institute
13. various of Arctic Yellow River Station
14. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HU ZHENGYI, Manager of China's Arctic Yellow River Station
15. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): WU XIAOHAN, Chinese researcher at Yellow River Station
16. various of Ny-Alesund and Roald Amundsen
17. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HU ZHENGYI, Manager of China's Arctic Yellow River Station
18. various of Arctic Yellow River Station
19. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): WU XIAOHAN, Chinese researcher at Yellow River Station
20. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHAO HONGYING, Chinese researcher at Yellow River Station
21. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HU ZHENGYI, Manager of China's Arctic Yellow River Station
22. SOUNDBITE (English): EARL SULLIVAN LESER, Senior Operations Engineer of Kertverket, Norwegian Mapping Authority
23. SOUNDBITE (English): KIM HOLMEN, Special Advisor of Norwegian Polar Institute
24. various of landscape of the Arctic

STORYLINE:

In the Arctic Circle, which begins at 66 degrees and 34 minutes north of the Equator, ice covers most of the ocean for the majority of the year.

The natural environment here, however, has been undergoing rapid change. In Norway's Svalbard archipelago, Chinese scientists study the dynamic environment while fostering friendship with international colleagues.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HU ZHENGYI, Manager of China's Arctic Yellow River Station
"In the field of scientific research, the Arctic is at the forefront of science and technology and is a sensitive area in responding to global climate change. During our expeditions here, the first lesson we learn is to embrace humility and revere nature."

Hu Zhengyi is the manager of China's Arctic Yellow River Station. Hu, together with dozens of other researchers, has been working since April to carry out nine scientific research and operational projects at the Yellow River Station.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HU ZHENGYI, Manager of China's Arctic Yellow River Station
"Our Yellow River Station is located in Ny-Alesund, situated on the Svalbard archipelago. This place is at 78 degrees, 56 minutes north latitude, approximately 1,231 kilometers from the North Pole. It is one of humans' northernmost settlements on Earth, and a sacred place in the hearts of polar researchers like us."

Summer is the liveliest season for Ny-Alesund town. Scientists from around the world gather in this northern sanctuary to explore mysteries of the planet.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHAO HONGYING, Chinese researcher at Yellow River Station
"On this expedition to the polar region, my main objective is to detect and trace microplastics in the ocean and atmosphere. The polar region acts as an amplifier of the human impact on the environment. If microplastics can be detected in such a fragile environment, it indicates that these additives pose potential risks to marine life, environmental changes, and human health."

SOUNDBITE (English): KIM HOLMEN, Special Advisor of Norwegian Polar Institute
"I have been working in Ny-Alesund for 35 years. I came here because this was where climate change was happening fastest and the most. And I believe that by studying climate here, we could learn about what is happening."

SOUNDBITE (English): EARL SULLIVAN LESER, Senior Operations Engineer of Kertverket, Norwegian Mapping Authority
"It's a very small community obviously. I think we're at maximum population now, around 100 and something people. And the people from all over the globe, and they'll work together to do science."

SOUNDBITE (English): SOLVEIG ROTI DAHL, Advisor of Kings Bay management company in Ny-Alesund
"(People) from all the institutions and from all over the world, and everybody contributes, and that's a good sign, and it's a symbol of Ny-Alesund."

The polar regions are pristine areas of the Earth, closely linked to the fate of humanity. However, today, against the backdrop of global warming and the dramatic increase in human activity, the polar ecological environment is facing unprecedented challenges.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHAO HONGYING, Chinese researcher at Yellow River Station
"We can see that in 1922, the glacier on the Svalbard archipelago was still very thick. By 2002, in the same location, this glacier had almost completely melted. Compared to pre-industrial levels, global temperatures in 2024 are believed to have risen by about 1.5 degrees Celsius, while the Northern Hemisphere experienced a nearly 2-degree increase. And on the Svalbard archipelago, over the past thirty years, the average winter temperature has risen by nearly 10 degrees."

SOUNDBITE (English): KIM HOLMEN, Special Advisor of Norwegian Polar Institute
"Global environmental questions like climate change, pollutants... many things are common problems, common interests, and we need to help each other to understand. And Ny-Alesund is a very special place in the world where we are able to work together on these very important questions for humankind."

Ny-Alesund used to be a coal mining settlement. Since the 1960s, scientific research has been the main activity here. The town is now home to scientists from over 10 countries, including members of China's Arctic Yellow River Station.

Established in 2004, the Yellow River Station is China's first Arctic scientific research station. The facility supports scientific monitoring and research in glaciology, terrestrial ecology, marine ecology, space physics, and atmospheric studies.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HU ZHENGYI, Manager of China's Arctic Yellow River Station
"Twenty years ago, the establishment of the Yellow River Station marked a new chapter in China's polar scientific research endeavors, providing favorable conditions for Chinese polar scientists to conduct Arctic research. The current research at the Yellow River Station primarily includes glacier operational observations, marine ecological observations, terrestrial ecological monitoring, and space environment observations. These are also the main tasks for our 2024 expedition to the Yellow River Station."

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): WU XIAOHAN, Chinese researcher at Yellow River Station
"The year before last, when my mentor went to the Yellow River Station, they once went to the lakeside to place sampling devices. The wind and snow were so intense that it was nearly impossible for an adult male to stand upright. It was extremely dangerous for them to reach the lakeside. Another researcher had to hold onto my mentor's feet to prevent them from being blown away while placing the sampling devices."

Around 50 meters from the Yellow River Station is a monument to famous Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who chose Ny-Alesund as a starting point for his expeditions to the North Pole a century ago.

The work of Amundsen and his contemporaries marked a turning point for polar exploration, as it shifted from conquering extremes and breaking records, to a focus on systematic scientific inquiry.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HU ZHENGYI, Manager of China's Arctic Yellow River Station
"Almost every team member who comes to the Arctic for scientific research pays tribute to Amundsen. This is something everyone does. It might be hard to imagine that in the Arctic, a place farthest from the hustle and bustle of the world, the spirit of mutual support transcends nationalities and races. For instance, in this region, where polar bears only know how to push doors but not pull them, all the doors of the houses are designed to open by pulling rather than pushing. Furthermore, to ensure everyone can seek refuge promptly when encountering a polar bear, all doors remain unlocked."

Exploring the polar regions requires human wisdom and courage. Over the past two decades, the Yellow River Station has supported more than 250 scientific research projects and hosted nearly 700 expedition members.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): WU XIAOHAN, Chinese researcher at Yellow River Station
"I hope to contribute in the future to promoting the development of our (polar) research endeavors."

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHAO HONGYING, Chinese researcher at Yellow River Station
Each generation carries its own responsibilities. Through polar research, we hope to explore the mysteries of nature and find a path to harmonious coexistence with our planet.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HU ZHENGYI, Manager of China's Arctic Yellow River Station
"We will continue to strive forward, in the Earth's northernmost region, for the future of humanity and for ourselves."

SOUNDBITE (English): EARL SULLIVAN LESER, Senior Operations Engineer of Kertverket, Norwegian Mapping Authority
"We have many different nationalities working towards that common understanding."

SOUNDBITE (English): KIM HOLMEN, Special Advisor of Norwegian Polar Institute
"The research that we do together in Ny-Alesund is essential for humankind."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Svalbard, Norway.
(XHTV)