| the regions of the Earth, Antarctica is the most | | | | hydrocarbon deposits are present. The presence |
| desolate the most inaccessible. It is the only | | | | of coal on land has been confirmed with other |
| region on Earth that all nations agreed they could | | | | metals and minerals including lead, cobalt, nickel, |
| share. But now, as man consumes more and | | | | uranium, titanium, tin, gold and chromium. |
| more of the resources of his globe, he is turning | | | | Until now the extreme nature of the environment |
| new eyes to this ancient continent. | | | | has made the exploitation of the Antarctic an |
| What was seen as a land of penguins, whales and | | | | expensive and impossible task. Both |
| lots of ice is now seen as a source of oil, iron and | | | | environmentalists and the Antarctic's scientific |
| coal. There is the worry that the region will see a | | | | community have becoming increasingly worried |
| move away from the peaceful international | | | | because exploiting the region has become more |
| cooperation of scientific study towards | | | | feasible due to the advanced technology and the |
| international conflict over the natural resources. | | | | increase in value of the materials. |
| The scientists based in research centers in the | | | | Antarctica is now one of the very few areas on |
| Antarctic have praised the decades of | | | | Earth that have managed to stay unpolluted and |
| international cooperation and sharing in bases such | | | | untouched and this makes the exploitation of |
| as the main U.S Antarctic facility. The challenges | | | | minerals there even more of a concern for |
| of the environment are said to bring people closer | | | | environment groups worldwide. The exploitation of |
| together, along with their common interest for | | | | the region will certainly conflict with the |
| the science that they undertake. | | | | environment and the International Institute for |
| Next to the McMurdo headquarters of the National | | | | Environment and Development and the Sierra |
| Science Foundation, which runs U.S. Antarctica | | | | group are both aware of the prospects of this |
| activities, is a small, flag-encircled park dedicated | | | | happening. |
| to Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd and his idealistic | | | | The organizations believe some exploration of the |
| dream. He was the first to ever fly over the | | | | mineral deposits is needed to assess what |
| South Pole and led five expeditions in the | | | | resources there are but these explorations must |
| Antarctic. His vision was that the Antarctic could | | | | include an assessment of the environmental |
| be an example of successful international | | | | damage that any exploitation will cause. What |
| cooperation and a region where different nations | | | | worries them is that any fact finding exploration |
| could live together peacefully with the common | | | | will encourage nations to exploit the area. Oil is the |
| goal of scientific research. His vision was a noble | | | | biggest worry because of the chances of a spill. |
| one, but how realistic is it now that the world is | | | | Much of Antarctica's wildlife is concentrated along |
| becoming starved of minerals and energy? | | | | the coasts and could be seriously affected. Oil |
| The full potential of the Antarctic as a region of | | | | spills in Antarctica could cause more damage than |
| mineral resource is not yet known, but there is | | | | elsewhere because in colder climates oil degrades |
| growing interest over its potential. Before, | | | | at a much slower rate. |
| Antarctica was just an issue for the scientists to | | | | Many of the activities that go on in the Antarctic |
| deal with but now politicians have started to get | | | | is controlled by the 1959 treaty that made the |
| involved. People are convinced that oil and | | | | continent a scientific preserve. All of the twelve |
| deposits of minerals exist beneath the | | | | nations that originally signed the 1959 treaty, and |
| treacherous ice and the surrounding dark seas. | | | | also Poland who later joined, have allowed the |
| Areas in and around Antarctica geologically | | | | Antarctic to remain free from nuclear weapon |
| resemble parts of other continents where oil, gas | | | | testing and nuclear waste. Great Britain, Australia, |
| and minerals exist in abundance. Some offshore | | | | Argentina, New Zealand, France, Norway and Chile |
| exploratory drilling by the United States has | | | | all have territory claims in Antarctica but the treat |
| provided results that indicate a high possibility that | | | | managed to side step these land claims. |