Protecting Antarctica With the Help of Treaties
The total continent of Antarctica, from its massive mountains to the seas replete with blue whales, emperor penguins and leopard seals, is, by means of international agreement, classified as a wilderness preserve. This accord took effect in 1998, and prohibits mining and oil drilling for at least fifty years anywhere within the boundaries of the world's most frigid and pristine ecosystem. Conserving the environment is a priority over developing it. The accord also bans a great number of potential dangers to its wildlife, such as dogs and pesticides.
The Antarctica Treaty's Environmental Protection Protocol covers this particular facet of protection. Many countries signed this accord in order to protect this one region on earth from commercial interests and development by industry. In 1991, the 26 biggest nations of the world approved the bill, including Brazil, the nations of Europe, China, India, Japan, Russia, Argentina, and the United States of America, among others.
The treaty stopped the arguing that was going on for more than 15 years about regulating the area. In addition to preventing all oil drilling and mining, the 35 scientific outposts on Antarctica are required to remove all garbage and clean up all dumps. It keeps tourists shops and scientific stations from discharging raw sewage into the surrounding waters.
Explorers from the likes of Norwegian Roald Amundsen, who was the first man to reach the South Pole in 1911, had to rely on sled dogs for their transportation. The accord, however, prohibits any dogs on the continent, as penguins and other native fowl have been killed by pets belonging to researchers. Soil that has not been sterilized, polystyrene packaging materials, and pesticides are also banned in Antarctica.
There is a sheet of ice covering the land that averages approximately one mile in thickness. The land is only seen near the shores where some plant life survive, like moss and grass. The ice on the continent accounts for 70% of the Earth's fresh water. The surrounding water is rich with whales, sea birds, seals and fish.
On this earth, Antarctica is considered to be one of the most fragile places. Any growth that occurs here happens very slowly due to the sub zero climate. Recovering from trauma can take years. Footprints, for example, can take as much as 10 years to disappear.
The first Antarctic Treaty was ratified in 1959, and made nuclear and military activities illegal in Antarctica. The treaty also proclaimed that no nation would own Antarctica and outlined the regulations for research. While no country may possess Antarctica, literally every square inch of the land is claimed by some country or the other.
Once scientists learned in the early 1980's that oil, coal, gold, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, uranium and more were present in and around Antarctica, environmental entities started to pressure their governments for regulation of land use. During the energy crisis of the 1970s, some companies began discussions on the feasibility of drilling in Antarctica. With technology advancement and increases in the price of oil, interest in these deposits will probably become more intense.
With laws enforced in 26 nations, each nation will be responsible for enforcing the rules individually. If a citizen from another country violate the treaty and its government does not intervene, other nations will then have to apply pressure to solve the problem. The story of Antarctica is very encouraging for the environmentalist movement.
The Antarctica Treaty's Environmental Protection Protocol covers this particular facet of protection. Many countries signed this accord in order to protect this one region on earth from commercial interests and development by industry. In 1991, the 26 biggest nations of the world approved the bill, including Brazil, the nations of Europe, China, India, Japan, Russia, Argentina, and the United States of America, among others.
The treaty stopped the arguing that was going on for more than 15 years about regulating the area. In addition to preventing all oil drilling and mining, the 35 scientific outposts on Antarctica are required to remove all garbage and clean up all dumps. It keeps tourists shops and scientific stations from discharging raw sewage into the surrounding waters.
Explorers from the likes of Norwegian Roald Amundsen, who was the first man to reach the South Pole in 1911, had to rely on sled dogs for their transportation. The accord, however, prohibits any dogs on the continent, as penguins and other native fowl have been killed by pets belonging to researchers. Soil that has not been sterilized, polystyrene packaging materials, and pesticides are also banned in Antarctica.
There is a sheet of ice covering the land that averages approximately one mile in thickness. The land is only seen near the shores where some plant life survive, like moss and grass. The ice on the continent accounts for 70% of the Earth's fresh water. The surrounding water is rich with whales, sea birds, seals and fish.
On this earth, Antarctica is considered to be one of the most fragile places. Any growth that occurs here happens very slowly due to the sub zero climate. Recovering from trauma can take years. Footprints, for example, can take as much as 10 years to disappear.
The first Antarctic Treaty was ratified in 1959, and made nuclear and military activities illegal in Antarctica. The treaty also proclaimed that no nation would own Antarctica and outlined the regulations for research. While no country may possess Antarctica, literally every square inch of the land is claimed by some country or the other.
Once scientists learned in the early 1980's that oil, coal, gold, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, uranium and more were present in and around Antarctica, environmental entities started to pressure their governments for regulation of land use. During the energy crisis of the 1970s, some companies began discussions on the feasibility of drilling in Antarctica. With technology advancement and increases in the price of oil, interest in these deposits will probably become more intense.
With laws enforced in 26 nations, each nation will be responsible for enforcing the rules individually. If a citizen from another country violate the treaty and its government does not intervene, other nations will then have to apply pressure to solve the problem. The story of Antarctica is very encouraging for the environmentalist movement.
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