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Salmon v Copper in Alaska and Ancient Arts of Polynesian Seafarers

The Alaskan salmon fishing community shunning a proposal for the world鈥檚 biggest gold mine. Plus, Polynesian seafarers revive their ancient navigation skills.

Stephen Sackur visits Dillingham, a small town in Alaska, where many youngsters spend summer at camp, filleting fish in the local smokehouse. He finds that this traditional subsistence livelihood is now threatened by a proposal to build the world鈥檚 biggest copper and gold mine in the Bristol Bay catchment area. An ancient fishing community is locked in conflict with a mining industry promising a once-in-a-lifetime bonanza.

And, John Pickford visits the turquoise lagoons of Rarotonga where Polynesian seafarers, with their traditional wooden vessels, show off their ancient ocean-going navigation skills.

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11 minutes

Broadcast

  • Thu 25 Jul 2013 18:50GMT