Cape Farewell Youth Expedition 2007

Find out what Josef has been up to since the voyage.

Watch Josef’s last video report from the voyage.

Hey, ich bins wieder, diesmal aus Ny- Alesund!!! Ich hoffe euch zu Hause in Hamburg geht es gut, mir super!!! Das Wetter ist sehr durchwachsen, mal Sonne, mal Schnee, aber immer kalt. Die Sonnenuntergaenge hier sind echt schoen. Ich fuehle mich hier wie in einer anderen Welt, ohne Stress, Laerm und aehnliches…einfach toll… Gestern war ein cooler Tag. Er geban mit dem Untersuchen von Plantkon im Labor in Ny Alesund, wo ich viel neues erfahren habe…mehr seht ihr auf dem Video, das heut Abend reingestellt wird…wir hatten sehr viel Spass bei dem Untersuchen. Und nach dem Lunch sind wir SHOPPEN geggangen!!! Haha, hoert sich witzig an, aber hier ist wirklich ein grosser Shop, der noerdlichste der Welt. Da mussten wir natuerlich etwas kaufen, wie zum Bespiel Pullis, Caps und Postkarten. Dann wurde wieder ein bisschen geseglt. Wir segelten zu einem Gletscher, die sind so unglaublich schoen!!! Nur leider verschwinden sie mehr und mehr. Wir haben es jetzt schon sehr oft “live” miterlebt, wie ein grosser Teil des Gletschers abbricht, das ist unbeschreiblich. Er stuerzt ins Wasser, es gibt grosse Flutwellen, die Geraeusche sind angsteinfloessend. Auf dem Rueckweg von dem Gletscher haben wir eine Seerobbe gesehen, die auf einer Eisscholle sass. Wir konnten ganz dicht ranfahren und tolle Fotos machen(kommen bald in meinen Blog) Dann haben wir zwei Voegel bei einem Kampf, oder einer Paarung, wir waren uns nicht ganz sicher….:D beobachtet, und ganz viele Hirsche auf einem Feld gesehen!
Sonst ist hier auch alles super: Am Montag hatten wir eine grosse Party weil Suba Geburtstag hatte! Wir hatten so viel Spass! Alle sind so nett, wir verstehen uns super toll und haben auch schon Adressen ausgetauscht. Ich will hier gar nicht mehr weg!!!
Naja, morgen gehts dann auch schon wieder zurueck nach Longyearbyen, von da dann nach Oslo und London. Und dann wieder zu euch nach Hamburg!!!
Ich freu mich aber auch schon darauf, euch alle wieder zu sehen!!!!:D
Also bis bald in Hamburg, hab euch lieb xxxx
Franzi
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Join Josef’s Live Arctic QA

Tues 18th Sept, 10.30am GMT (11.30am UK)
We hope you enjoyed Josef’s video diary broadcast direct from Longyearbyen. Josef will be online live from the Arctic until 11am GMT (12noon UK) to hear your responses and to answer any more questions. The live QA will take place on this page, just follow the instructions below and use the comment box to join in.
Click to read the full post >

Tues 18th Sept, 10am GMT (11am UK)
Watch Josef’s video diary, direct from Ny-Alesund, Svalbard as the crew gets ready to sail on the Noorderlicht. (Duration: 1:02 mins)

Thank you for all your initial questions! If you are a pupil at Parkview School join Josef online for a quick QA at 10.30am GMT (11.30am UK). Follow the link below!
Click to read the full post >

Hello all,

It’s been a few days since I last blogged so this may be a long one.

On Wednesday we flew from London Heathrow to Stockholm which was exciting because it was my first ever flight. Then, on Thursday morning (very early on Thursday morning) we flew from Stockholm to Oslo then Oslo to Longyearbyen.

In Longyearbyen we had a short tour of the mining town before going to the museum. There were many opportunities for taking photos of the surrounding scenery although I didn’t have long because we were going to the Norwegian youth club. There I met Andreas and Daniel- two Norwegian (Svalbardian) boys who both had an extremely good understanding of English. We ate pizza and played pool and talked about their life in the arctic

On Thursday we went to the school to do a workshop with the local children. Firstly however, we sat through a long presentation by Daniel about life in Svalbardian and also the annual reindeer hunt that the school children participate in. We then ate soup and bread made by the children. Afterwards, we did  a movement piece with the children about climate change. We then had an hour to walk around Longyearbyen. Later we boarded the Noorderlicht (which was a lot smaller than I was led to believe). I was on first watch  for three hours with Hayley and Doriana. We sailed to Trigghamna (Norwegian for “safe harbor”).

Today, we went onshore for a little walk. Amongst other things, we saw a dead reindeer, a dead arctic fox and bits of dead whale. It was very interesting and exciting to be walking amongst such a different environment to what I’m used to. About 20 minutes after we came back we saw a polar bear walking onshore. It was really cool seeing this big and powerful animal walking where we had just been.

Anyhooo, that’s it for now. Bye.

P.S.

Please note that the mobile phones don’t work up here so I may not contact anyone until the end of the voyages

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Hello all.
It is now 2 days after the official launch of the youth expedition and my last full day in my home country so this should be my final message before I set off into the wilderness on an expedition of a lifetime.

Sunday’s launch was very exciting as it involved a very fast dinghy ride around the Thames after a lot of planning and rehearsing of some performances we had to give to everyone present at the launch. Yesterday (Monday) was the day we used for planning art projects and for doing some interviews with T4 (which i found very nerve-racking). Today we are discussing our science projects and practising blogging for when we are actually on the boat.

So, I hope to hear from you soon. A video of mine will be uploaded on tuesday the 18th and will be available from 11:00 (UK time) and 30 minutes later I will be available to answer questions/take comments.

Thank you for your time,
Jozef Tkocz

Watch the first clip from Josef at Southbank Centre, London (from Tuesday 11 September), find out how you can follow him during the expedition and read the initial questions posted on the website. (Duration: 45 secs)
Click to read the full post >

“Climate change is destroying ecosystems up in the arctic” Click to watch a short introduction to the projects Josef wants to explore in the Arctic. (Duration: 1:08 mins)

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Josef
Parkview Community School, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, UK

Science Project
Josef wants to investigate how plankton populations have changed. He will take plankton samples and compare his results with data taken 25 years ago. Plankton are a good indicator of key changes to the ocean and the Arctic Food Chain

Art Project
He plans to compose a piece of music to convey his feelings based on what he learns and experiences whilst in the Artic.