Antarctica - The South Pole Wilderness Continent. For years, Antarctica has been the only continent free of human habitation, with the exception of some scientific research bases. While some countries have made territorial claims for this land, in the past the nations of the world have kept this frozen land free of development. All countries have cooperated peacefully in a spirit of joint scientific pursuit.
This peaceful management of the planet's last undeveloped continent may not continue without vocal citizen action from environmentalists of all nations. In June 1988, the 20 countries doing research proposed that a new document, the Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities (CRAMRA), be allowed to replace the old 1959 Antarctic Treaty that prohibited mining and oil drilling.
The new CRAMRA plan horrified many environmentalists, who had hoped the idea of peaceful scientific cooperation could be extended, with the creation of a permanent "WORLD WILDERNESS PARK" status for the south pole continent - open and protected for all citizens of the planet. Greenpeace, with its own research base established on Antarctica, has set an important precedent for international environmental cooperation.
Conservationists are now asking individual countries to withdraw their support for CRAMRA, and back the world peace park idea instead. In May 1989, both Australia and France announced they no longer supported CRAMRA and would push for the world park protection plan. With strong international pressure, led at times by personal visits by Jacques-Yves Cousteau to world heads of state, a total of 12 countries have announced their opposition to mining/oil drilling in Antarctica, as of October 1990.
US environmentalists also pressured our politicians to support a world wilderness park for Antarctica. In November Congress passed HR 3977, the Antarctic Protection and Conservation Act. This law prohibits all Antarctic mineral resource activities by US citizens, and urges negotiation of new international agreements to indefinitely ban all Antarctic mining and provide other long term protection of Antarctica's complete environment. The final HR 3977 wording was not as strong as originally hoped for, because it only encourages (does not require) negotiations to ban mining and drilling. The bill was signed into law by President Bush, reflecting a partial change in his Administration's pro-development stance, perhaps reacting to the Antarctic protection groundswell.
In December 1990, Antarctic Treaty nations met in Santiago, Chile. While CRAMRA was not defeated decisively, important steps were taken to clean up some of the pollution generated at Antarctic research stations. As for the mining versus world peace park debate, a compromise was suggested for a 30 year moratorium on any proposed drilling. So the tide of opinion seems to be turning toward protection, but permanent protection is still not in place.
Please write President Bush, asking him to press for a complete, permanent ban on Antarctic mining and drilling in his international negotiations.
This frozen, wild continent must be protected to allow for scientific research so vital to the ecological balance of our planet. The ozone depletion problem was first verified here, with the discovery of the annual ozone hole. The layers of ice help scientists study our atmospheric pollution. Global warming research continues in Antarctica as well.
(Special thanks to Beth Marks, Sierra Club Antarctica Task Force, and to Neal Shapiro, Cousteau Society for contributing timely information to STP's Antarctica sections!) ***
