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Antarctica stands as a vague idea to the majority of Americans, even to those who are great travelers.It remains a frozen, enormous, dark vastness dotted by scientific outposts.This is a very special continent.All weapons of war have been prohibited by the various participating countries that have a scientific presence in Antarctica.

More than 163 years after being discovered in the early 1800’s by sealers, Antarctica is still a whole continent that is almost entirely unfamiliar to people.The continent covers as much territory as both the United States and Mexico.A huge glacier covers ninety-eight percent of the continent.The resources of this continent are virtually untapped by man since its discovery.Further resources about antarctica cruises are located there.

The ground beneath Antarctica’s icecap likely contains rich minerals, with the promise of oil offshore; its nearby water contains a profuse amount of krill, a crustacean that is rich in protein.Alone among the continents of the world, Antarctica is a land of peace.Having been peacefully governed for many years, we trust that present developments in the political arena will not have an adverse effect on that peacefulness in the years to come.

The world’s governments competed there in the 1920’s, 1930’s and a little bit in the 1940’s.Most of these nations concluded that waging a battle in the frigid and gloomy earth or turbulent waters of the continent was simply not cost effective.From a military standpoint, Antarctica is an inhospitable–some might even say hostile–environment in which to stage a conflict.The calm here was made formal with the signing of the Antarctic Treaty of 1859, although it was already a de facto reality.

This treaty was fairly short, but was signed by the twelve countries which had been party to the International Geophysical Year of 1957-1958.The most important international and national goal of pursuing science and how to function in the extremes of Antarctica on a peaceful basis was established during the first International Geophysical Year.Here is further info on Recommended Antarctica Cruises.

The continent of Antarctica was established as a military free zone by this Treaty.The support of scientific missions is the only allowed purpose of any military force present in Antarctica.It is illegal to hold any military maneuvers. Neither can any army detonate atomic weapons or store any radioactive materials or waste products.The Antarctic Treaty also provides for inspections that are unilateral and on-site, making it unique among our treaties for arms control.Scientific expeditions are permitted to travel to any section of the continent, such that, even with present unresolved territorial claims, there is no prohibition of anyone traveling to any portion of the continent or anywhere in the offshore waters.

To this point, the United Nations has had no direct involvement in Antarctica.The twelve countries who signed the treaty would rather the UN not become involved.These nations think they have developed a wonderful system to govern such things as protection of the environment, scientific exploration, and the sometimes divisive topic of resource management.

Some years ago, there were many who thought that Antarctica was destined to become a football in a showdown between the developing countries and the industrialized world.Recent political evolutions have proven interesting.A number of the significant industrializing nations, a few of them in the Latin America group, as well as China and India, have stated that they wish to sign on to the Antarctic Treaty.

A few Latin American countries have just signed on to the agreement as “acceding powers.”This means that while they agree with the terms of the treaty they are unable to cast a vote on related matters because they are not scientifically active in Antarctica.In this way, the industrializing nations do not remain outside the tent hurling rocks at it, but instead are included under the big tent.

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This entry was posted on Monday, May 31st, 2010 at 2:02 pm and is filed under Cruise Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.