Thomas Nilsen has been with the Norwegian Barents Secretariat for the last six years, including part-time writing for BarentsObserver. From 1992 till 2003 Nilsen worked for the Bellona Foundation’s Russian Studies group, based in Oslo. He is co-author of several reports and Working Papers related nuclear safety in Northwest Russia. Among the reports are “The Russian Northern fleet” (1996) – a comprehensive overview of radiation challenges related operational and retired subs and their storage facilities. BarentsObserver’s new editor has good knowledge about the Barents Region. Over the past twenty years he has made extensive visits to Russia, mainly within the northwest region, but also across Siberia several times. In 1990-91 Nilsen worked in the radio team setting up the first cross-border radio programs between Radio Pasvik in Norway and Radio Murmansk in Russia. He also wrote the first edition of the Norwegian-Russian ecological journal EcoNord published in 1991. Based in Murmansk, Nilsen also freelanced for several Nordic newspapers in 1992. Atle Staalesen, former editor and founder of BarentsObserver, will continue to write for the website as a correspondent in Oslo. Since the start in 2002, BarentsObserver is receiving an increasing number of users. With its special focus on cross-border cooperation, security, energy, environment and society, Barentsbserver reaches an audience that is especially interested in both the north and international cooperation with Russia.
