Polar evening over Southeast Greenland

Friday 16 September at 19.00

The Ishavsmuseet is once again inviting you to a new round of polar evenings next Friday. This time we're going to southeast Greenland, and it's John Giæver who's taking us on a trip.

John Giæver Jr. is the son of the legendary trapper and author John Giæver Sr., who wintered for many years in Greenland.

The first time Giæver Jr. was in Greenland, he was 15 years old and a crew member of the "Polarbjørn". When it sank in the Greenland ice sheet in 1957, John Giæver Jr. was mustered out as a crew member. This was his third trip as a crew member on a summer trip with the "Polarbjørn", even though he was only 17 years old this trip.

In recent years, John has followed in his father's footsteps on several trips to Greenland and Antarctica.

John Giæver has drawn full houses at the Ishavsmuseet during previous visits with lectures. This time it is about Southeast Greenland.

In the summer of 2013, he was on the earlier rescue cruiser M/S "Hagbart Waage" on a five-week trip to Southeast Greenland.

In the early 30s, the situation in Greenland escalated and Norwegians, including from Brandal, occupied parts of East Greenland. Peter S. Brandal equipped his own expedition in 1932. The idea was to occupy land there before Denmark did and exclude Norwegians from fishing. This led to Denmark complaining about the occupation to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which ruled against Norway on 5 April 1933.

During the occupation, a number of Norwegian radio and meteorological stations were established, including Brandalsbu, Finnsbu and Torgilsbu.

John Giæver, a brilliant speaker, will show films and tell about the historic trip with "Hagbart Waage", in the same direction, to look for traces of the old trapping stations in the Skjoldungen - Prins Christiansund area. This historic trip to the area, in 2013, took place 80 years after the judgment in The Hague.

After Giæver's lecture, steak a'la Lindstrøm will be served in the museum's café. Registration is required for those who want to have dinner and reminisce throughout the evening.