Antarctica Scenery 2010 - 2011

No country owns Antarctica, but seven nations have claimed slices of the continent. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 and came into force in 1961. It covers the area south of 60 degrees South, including all ice shelves which accounts for 10% of the earth’s surface. Antarctica is to be used for peaceful purposes only and all scientific information must be shared. All vessels and scientific stations must be open for inspection at any time. Nuclear explosions and disposal of nuclear waste are prohibited. The original treaty document was covered on 4-1/2 pages!

In 1992 the Antarctic Treaty parties adopted a “Protocol on Environmental Protection.” This stipulates that all human activities must be planned on the basis of prior environmental impact assessments. Regulations on waste disposal, pollution and wildlife conservation have been drawn up and introduces an indefinite ban on mineral exploitation.

MEMBERS: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela.

There are 48 nations involved in the treaty and they operate by consensus.