| Antarctica is the coldest and most desolate region | | | | deposited in the region. Deposits of coal have |
| of Earth. It is the only region on Earth that all | | | | already been confirmed with other minerals and |
| nations agreed they could share. However, as our | | | | metals such as titanium, uranium, gold, copper, |
| natural resources start to run out, more nations | | | | lead, cobalt, nickel and chromium. |
| are now looking at Antarctica as an additional | | | | The extreme conditions of the region has meant |
| source of natural resources. | | | | the exploitation of the region has laid beyond the |
| The Antarctica is slowly losing its reputation as | | | | acceptable, until now that is. The new technology |
| the land of seals, ice, and penguins; and is gaining a | | | | available today has made exploitation of the |
| new status as a region of iron, coal and of | | | | region easier and because the prices of the |
| course, oil. Confrontations over the natural | | | | minerals have risen considerably it has become |
| resources could well start to replace the peaceful | | | | more economical to exploit the region and this has |
| cooperation that has been achieved in the area of | | | | brought concern to the scientists. |
| scientific research. | | | | Antarctica is now one of the very few areas on |
| The U.S Antarctic research base has experienced | | | | Earth that have managed to stay unpolluted and |
| decades of tranquil international cooperation and | | | | untouched and this makes the exploitation of |
| sharing. It is said that people often feel bound by | | | | minerals there even more of a concern for |
| the fact that they all face the challenges of such | | | | environment groups worldwide. The commercial |
| a hostile environment and their passion for their | | | | interests will most certainly cause damage to the |
| work, working together whilst the rest of the | | | | environment and environmental organizations like |
| world experiences conflict and disagreements. | | | | the International Institute for Environment and |
| There is a park dedicated to the work and vision | | | | Development and also the Sierra Club are hoping |
| of Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd near the | | | | the damage from this conflict can be minimal. |
| headquarters of the National Science Foundation | | | | They point out that there must be some |
| which controls the activities of U.S Antarctica. | | | | exploration and studies to see what resources are |
| Byrd has led five Antarctic expeditions and was | | | | in Antarctica and to assess the environmental |
| the first to fly over the South Pole. His vision for | | | | impact of exploiting them. What worries them is |
| Antarctica is a continent of peace, as nations | | | | that any fact finding exploration will encourage |
| work together for the cause of science, and set | | | | nations to exploit the area. Drilling oil raises the |
| an example of international cooperation. But are | | | | biggest concerns because of the possible oil spills. |
| such noble ideas likely to remain as the world | | | | A lot of Antarctica's animal life is found near the |
| becomes more dependent on the Earth's minerals | | | | coast and is likely to be affected. The colder |
| and the need for energy increases? | | | | climate would cause the oil to not break up or |
| There amount of interest in the region as a | | | | degrade as quickly as in warmer areas so any spill |
| source of minerals is growing, but the full potential | | | | is likely to be more damaging in the Antarctic than |
| of the mineral deposits in the Antarctic is not yet | | | | anywhere else. |
| known. The situation has changed from being a | | | | A lot of the current activity in the Antarctic is tied |
| scientific issue to a political one. People are | | | | to the 1959 landmark treaty that designated the |
| convinced that oil and deposits of minerals exist | | | | continent as a scientific preserve. The treaty has |
| beneath the treacherous ice and the surrounding | | | | meant that the region is now free from nuclear |
| dark seas. | | | | weapons testing and radioactive waste. Great |
| Antarctica and the surrounding region are similar | | | | Britain, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, France, |
| geologically to other regions of the Earth where | | | | Norway and Chile all have territory claims in |
| oil, minerals and gas are found in abundance. U.S. | | | | Antarctica but the treat managed to side step |
| small scale exploratory off shore drilling has | | | | these land claims. |
| proven that hydrocarbons are likely to be | | | | |