| the other continents on Earth is as cold or | | | | hydrocarbon deposits has already been hinted at |
| inaccessible like Antarctica. It was agreed that | | | | from offshore scientific drilling by the United |
| Antarctica could quite easily be shared. With the | | | | States. The presence of coal on land has been |
| levels of the planet's natural resources running | | | | confirmed with other metals and minerals including |
| low, more countries are now looking for additional | | | | lead, cobalt, nickel, uranium, titanium, tin, gold and |
| resources. | | | | chromium. |
| Now the Antarctica is being looked at as a region | | | | Exploitation of the Antarctic has always been |
| with potential oil, coal and iron reserves and not | | | | uneconomical due to the environmental conditions |
| one of just ice, penguins and whales. There is the | | | | but this has now changed. Both environmentalists |
| danger that resource exploitation will change the | | | | and the Antarctic's scientific community have |
| continent from being a region of international | | | | becoming increasingly worried because exploiting |
| cooperation and scientific research to one of | | | | the region has become more feasible due to the |
| confrontation. | | | | advanced technology and the increase in value of |
| So far, places such as the United States Antarctic | | | | the materials. |
| base the scientists have only experienced a | | | | Environmental groups worldwide are also |
| tranquil environment of sharing and cooperation | | | | concerned because Antarctica is one of the only |
| between nations. They speak of people bound by | | | | remaining regions of the Earth that is unpolluted |
| the hostile environment, an explorer spirit, and a | | | | and untouched. The commercial mineral |
| love for science, working together through cold | | | | exploitation will most certainly cause great |
| and hot wars. | | | | damage to the environment and environment |
| Located near the Mc Murdo headquarters of the | | | | groups including the International Institute for |
| National Science Foundation responsible for the | | | | Environment and Development and the Sierra club |
| U.S. Antarctica activities there is a park, encircled | | | | are well aware of this conflict. |
| by flags, which is dedicated to the Admiral Richard | | | | They would like to see full assessments of the |
| Evelyn Byrd and his dream. Admiral Byrd led five | | | | environmental damage that will occur if the |
| Antarctic expeditions and was the first man to fly | | | | exploitation of the minerals takes place alongside |
| over the South Pole. He saw Antarctica as a place | | | | studies to determine exactly what mineral |
| that should set an example of international | | | | resources are available. But they worry that the |
| scientific cooperation and of a region where | | | | facts of the exploration will speed up the decision |
| nations can live together in peace. His sentiments | | | | to exploit the region. Oil is the biggest worry |
| are indeed noble, but are they realistic now that | | | | because of the chances of a spill. Seals and bird |
| they world is becoming starved of energy and | | | | life in the Antarctic is clustered along the coast |
| minerals? | | | | and may be easily affected. More damage could |
| There is a now lot more interest over the | | | | be caused by an oil spill in the Antarctic than |
| Antarctic as a region as mineral resources but its | | | | elsewhere because the rate that oil degrades and |
| full potential is not yet known. Politics is now | | | | breaks up is a lot slower at colder temperatures. |
| playing a greater role in the situation of the | | | | Most of what goes on in, and about, Antarctica is |
| Antarctic. There's a good chance that large | | | | tied to a landmark 1959 treaty that set the |
| quantities of undisturbed oil reserves and essential | | | | continent aside as a scientific preserve. Thanks to |
| minerals exist under the frozen ice and the | | | | the 12 nations who signed the treaty and Poland |
| treacherous icy seas. | | | | which joined later, the region has remained free |
| Areas in and around Antarctica geologically | | | | from militarization and nuclear weapons testing. |
| resemble parts of other continents where oil, gas | | | | The land claims in the Antarctic by different |
| and minerals exist in abundance. The existence of | | | | nations have been side-stepped by the treaty. |