Alarmist article by Charlie Bird is full of self-contradiction and misinformation

Take me to where the Arctic wild things are

Layers of clothing were key, and down-filled trousers and overalls essential. And it was cold, very, very cold.
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We set out with warnings that the weather was to turn much colder.
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The latest reports say the Arctic is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the Earth. And the proof is all there to be seen. Japetee showed me glaciers disappearing at an extraordinary rate and cracks in the sea ice appearing months before they should. We travelled under a blistering sun where the temperature was 10 to 15 degrees warmer than it should be. The Inuits' very existence is threatened by these changes, as is the Arctic wildlife and the polar bear which depends on the sea ice -- now melting rapidly -- for hunting and survival.

But my journey did not end in Canada. The next stage was to the North Pole itself to see what is happening to the Arctic all the way to its northernmost point. Last year and the preceding one were record years for melt in the Arctic Ocean. Some reports suggested the Arctic Ocean itself completely melted by 2013. And so, in northern Siberia I boarded the world's most powerful ice-breaker. Called the 50 Years of Victory, she could smash through polar ice sheets 9.2ft thick with ease and was powered by two nuclear reactors.

It took five days to reach the Pole and I was among a group of people from all over the world, some of whom had paid more than US$20,000 to Quark Expeditions for the privilege. We were well looked after and at the Pole there was even a barbecue on the polar ice. Considering the pain and suffering experienced by past explorers, I wasn't sure how I felt about steak and shrimp kebabs at 90° north! There was also the chance to swim at the Pole itself and, against my better judgement, I braved it. All I can say is that vodka was on hand and extremely welcome! They say you should never meet your heroes and maybe that extends to visiting those places you've built up in your mind over decades. But for me, the Arctic surpassed every expectation, while the changes taking place there are a cause for great alarm and should be an early warning for everyone concerned about the next few decades on planet earth.