Whaling nations laid claim to massive territories across the continent of Antarctica

Whaling nations laid claim to massive territories across the continent of Antarctica. On the Peninsula, three nations claims overlie each other. Making the Peninsula shared by Britain, Argentina, and Chile. Similarly, Norway, Australia, France, and New Zealand also see some of this territory as rightfully theirs. In 1940, Nazi Germany claimed their own piece of the pie by dropping swastika-etched stakes from planes across huge pieces of Antarctica, when nationalism was in full swing. With the exception whaling, the world left Antarctica alone, so it could fight a second World War, and then a Cold War after that. However, incited by astral occurrences, Antarctica began to draw the attention of scientists in the mid part of the century.

chanel bags saks

The celestial event was the peak of sunspot activity in 1957-1958. This International Geophysical Year is marked by increased interest by scientist and governments around the globe exploring Antarctica because of its one of a kind view of the southern hole in the Earth's magnetic field. The wanted to be able to see how the barrage of solar radiation affected the continent. In all, 67 countries sent scientists to set up research bases across Antarctica. This was such a successful cooperative effort, that the Antarctic Treaty, among the most remarkable international pacts ever created, was negotiated.

chanel earrings cc

The treaty was fully enforced in 1959 and it was agreed by all signing countries that Antarctica would not be used for any wartime efforts. There would be no more nuclear testing, dumping of radioactive waste, or explosions. If the military was there, it was only to provide logistical assistance. There would be no further talk of territorial claim staking.

nike shoes store

An amazing example of this, is that the treaty was signed at the height of the Cold War, and those countries involved in that struggle did not insert their internal strife into the treaty. This also included not taking sides with their allies if their allies lost land because of the deal. They did reserve the right to be able to change their minds if they so chose in the future. This cleaver act made smaller countries follow their lead and did not press their territorial claims either. In the decades that followed, nations and business organizations started to desire the natural resources thought to be in Antarctica. This interest caused a new industry for the dormant Antarctica because a lot of people wanted to visit the bases set up around the peninsula and the islands off of the Antarctic coastline. Tourism proliferated throughout the summer months when approximately 5,000 people would brave the 3 day cruise to see what was going on with their southernmost neighbor. Bases were opened on King George Island throughout the 1960s and 70s by Chile, Great Britain, Poland, Italy, Argentina, the United States and Soviet Union, with Peru, Brazil, China, Uruguay, and South Korea joining them in the 1980s. True, most of these bases were established to conduct scientific experiments, but it was also a sign of political prowess for a lot of countries. In other words the bases also allowed each country to create "squatters rights." Things began to change in the late 80's though. More people became aware of the exploitation of the area and tried to preserve what was left. So now the Antarctic joins with the oceans in being defined as communal property belonging to the entire world. The Halley Bay base in Antarctica, a British-run facility, showed us the first glimpses of the ozone layer depletion we were doing to the earth, increasing UV exposure exponentially. This discovery paved the way for an international accord that was signed in 1987. This agreement aimed to gradually eliminate those chemicals that have been found to degrade the ozone layer. This was to be done by the year 2000. This finding emphasized the importance of the Antarctic scientific headquarters. They have since been shown to be essential in keeping track of the "greenhouse" gasses that have been prevalent in the atmosphere for decades. The whaling industry was also encountering massive public outrage in the 1980's, leading to the idea of establishing Antarctica as a world park, and thereby protecting it further. Oil and gas exploration, mining and other permanent exploitation of Antarctica, was banned by 1991 through an agreement by the Antarctic Treaty nations, prompting heightened concern for the environment to be on an equal plain with science. Antarctica is important today as it was during it's hey-day because instead of being exploited and ruined in the name of wealth and greed, it's teaching us how those very things that marked progress are creating a very unstable world. Hopefully, through the studies conducted we will be able to learn how to reverse some of those issues and challenges we will face in the future.