New video supports Clyde River's battle against seismic testing

The international Youth Arctic Coalition is hoping a new video that brings together voices from across the world, will make people take notice ofClyde River's battle against seismic testing.

The Hamlet of Clyde River, its mayor, Jerry Natanine, and the local Nammautaq Hunters and Trappers Organization have filed a judicial review of last year's decision by the National Energy Board to allow foreign companies to use seismic testing to search for oil off Baffin Island.

• RELATED | Clyde River groups launch legal challenge to seismic testing

"It sets a precedent, an inspiring precedent, for youth who are taking on this struggle in other locations to feel that they are not alone," saysKassForman, the executive director of the Youth Arctic Coalition.

In the video, young people from Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Norway, Russia and other countries express their support for Clyde River's battle, in various languages.

Formansays the Youth Arctic Coalition approachedNatanineabout the project who supported the idea.

"There are international organizations that want to stand behind them, that want to support them," saysForman."And this should be a source of hope."

'It is immensely helpful'

This isn't the first international show of support for Inuit who oppose seismic testing. Last year, Greenpeace threw its support behind Clyde River andamassed thousands of signatures in an online petition.

"In a strictly legal sense, it doesn't affect it. The law is the law and the judges are there to apply the law," says NaderHasan, the lawyer representing the Clyde River group. "But from a broader perspective it is immensely helpful."

Formansaid he hopes the video shows that this is not just an Arctic- or Nunavut-based issue.

"The struggle that the community of Clyde River is facing against seismic surveying is one that is shared by some of our colleagues from Norway and other parts of the North as well."

The Youth Arctic Coalition is still collecting messages from young people onits Facebook page.