Polar bear stories and advocacy with Ismaele Tortella and Samuel Llobet

Have you ever wonder how a protected species, as iconic as the polar bear, can end up stuffed in souvenir shops in Tromsø?

Norway continues to import polar bears killed in Canada. Between 2012 and 2021, Norway imported 185 polar bear hides, 144 for commercial purposes, 37 as hunting trophies and 4 for personal use.

In 2028, governments will gather at CITES COP21. Polar bears will only be considered for stronger protection if a country submits a proposal to uplist them to Appendix I, which would ban all international commercial trade. Norway is best placed to submit a proposal to protect polar bears from international commercial trade.

The program for tonight:

PART 1 (19:00-20:15) - Ismaele Tortella and Samuel Llobet will share their audiovisual work of their journey through the Arctic to meet the polar bear. A sensorial journey that transformed their understanding of this animal through a connection to their fascinating environment, contrasting our cultural imaginary and expectations. A one-way trip!

PART 2 (20:15-20:30) - We wrote a letter to the Minister for Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, to encourage Norway to submit a proposal to uplist the polar bear from Appendix 2 to Append 1, which would automatically ban all international commercial trade. You will be invited to sign the letter, and seal the envelope. The letters will be posted the next day.

Storgata Camping is supporting this event by providing the venue free of charge.

We are also strongly recommending everyone to watch Trade Secret (2025) by Abraham Joffe: a gripping exposé of the polar bear fur trade, revealing how conservation, politics and commercial interests collide in ways the public was never meant to see.