The Fight For Antarctica
By Advisor. Filed in Florida |
Of all the planets regions, Antarctica is the most inaccessible and the most desolate. Because it was deemed unable to support much human activity, it was decided by all nations that it should be shared. However the realization by many nations that their resources might eventually run out has led many to look at Antarctica as a future source.
Less attention is now being paid to the land of ice, penguins and seals and more attention is paid towards the land of oil, coal and iron reserves. The international cooperation of scientific research in the region could well be replaced by the more nationalistic activity of natural resource acquirement, leading to confrontation.
So far, places such as the United Says Antarctic base the scientists have only experienced a tranquil environment of sharing and cooperation between nations. They speak of people bound by the hostile environment, an explorer spirit, and a love for science, working together through cold and hot wars. antarctic travel
Next to the McMurdo headquarters of the National Science Foundation, which runs U.S. Antarctica activities, is a small, flag-encircled park dedicated to Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd and his idealistic dream. Richard Evelyn Byrd was the first to ever fly over the South Pole and led five Antarctic expeditions. He saw Antarctica as a place that should set an example of international scientific cooperation and of a region where nations can live together in peace. But as people become more dependent on energy and more reliant on the minerals within the Earth, are his noble ideals apt to survive?
The full potential of the Antarctic as a region of mineral resource isn’t yet known, but there is growing interest over its potential. Politics is now playing a greater role in the situation of the Antarctic. Perhaps, under the full depth of the ice that covers 98 percent of the area and under the deep, icy seas there is a large source of essential minerals and oil. antarctica vacations
Oil reserves and minerals have been discovered in abundance in other regions of the planet which resemble the Antarctic geologically. U.S. small scale exploratory off shore drilling has proven that hydrocarbons are prone to be deposited in the region. Coal deposits in big quantities have already been discovered with lead, gold, uranium, tin, chromium, nickel, titanium and cobalt already found in high concentrations.
Until recently, the harsh environment of Antarctica made exploitation economically unthinkable. This is changing with rising prices and new technology. And environmentalists and Antarctic scientists are worried.
There’s also worldwide concern amongst environmentalists because Antarctica is one of the few remaining unpolluted sanctuaries on the planet. The Sierra club and the International Institute for Environment and Development are aware of the likelihood of a conflict between the exploitation of the region and the environment.
They want to see studies carried out to assess the dangers to the environment caused by the exploitation of the region at the same time as any exploration which is needed to confirm exactly the resources the region holds. But they’re concerned that the exploration will eventually lead to the exploitation. Oil development causes the most concern because of fears about spills. The majority of the animals, including seals and birds that live in the Antarctic, could be severely affected. In colder climates oil doesn’t easily break up and degrades at a slower rate, so an oil spill there would be extremely damaging, more so than anywhere else.
Antarctica became a scientific preserve following the landmark treaty in 1959 which controls a lot of the activities that go on in the region.The treaty involved 12 nations who now ensure no military activity can take place nor the disposal of nuclear waste. The treaty also sidesteps land claims, some of which overlap. Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, Great Britain claim territory.
