Exploring Antarctica's Resources and Treaties

First thing a lot of people say is, "Where's the edge?" Well, look at this

map where Antarctica is a 360-degree ice barrier that

holds the water in. These ice walls are real, and they stand

150 feet above the surface of the water.

Then you need to understand that there is no independent access to Antarctica.

Average people can only go there on a guided tour.

It has no towns, no cities, and no permanent residences.

What's past the 150-foot ice wall is anyone's guess.

How far the ice extends, how it terminates, and what exists beyond

it. The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 by 12

nations and more later on, states that Antarctica is for peaceful

purposes only. No military activities, just scientific

research and government exploration.

Expeditions by any party must be discussed in advance.

It's the longest and most successful treaty between nations.

The treaty also states that there are ships, stations,

and equipment to ensure

compliance of the treaty. Sounds like military activity to me.

We've found enough coal

within 180 miles of the South Pole

in a great, uh, range of mountains that's not covered

with snow, enough to supply the whole world for quite

a while.

Well-

Uh, that's, that's the coal. Now, there's evidence of, um, other, many other

minerals.

Uh, we're pretty sure there's oil.

Now, that coal shows the bottom of the world,

now by far the

coldest spot in the world. Where that coal is gets 100 below zero in the

winter.

Well-

It was once tropical.

So, uh, we think there's oil there, and there's evidence,

probably uranium there.

Is it any secret? Is there uranium there?

That would be the only thing that would be practical to, uh,

actually go after, I

suppose. Everything else would be economically, uh,

unfeasible, wouldn't it?

Well, as we recklessly expend our resources,

the time will come when

we can, we'll have to go after that stuff down there.

Well, um-

You know, I, I avoided what you said about a uranium.

I'm not sure about that.

I don't wanna have the world fighting over the Antarctic.

Admiral, is there a competition among other nations

to try to get information

about, uh, Antarctica and possibly to secure some of these

resources?

Well, uh, yes.

Uh, there now several nations very much

interested.

Russia is interested tremendously,

that I'm sure of.

Australia has an expedition down there.

The Argentine,

the Chile, New Zealand,

Britain, and so on. Now, you can understand those people down

there being, uh, interested because they live down there,

the New Zealanders, the

Argentinians, the Chileans,

and the Australians.

And so, uh, we,

uh, we don't do much about claiming anything.

Admiral, you, uh-

Do we-

... make it sound a little crowded.

Uh, uh, are, are, are there that many expeditions now there or en

route there? Ex-

Uh, well, you know,

as I said, it's the most peaceful place in the world,

but I don't think it will be

for long because of this intense interest on the part of, uh,

of other nations and this nation.

Well, Admiral