The Antarctic Treaty

Paper Summary:

This research paper examines the Antarctic Treaty and what it has meant to the uninhabited continent. The paper goes over the current situation, as it has been outlined by the treaty, and examines how the United Nations is taking an active role in preserving the integrity of this region of the planet. A variety of issues that have arisen in Antarctica and what has been done to rectify them is examined as well as how tourism is affecting the environment and threatening the natural geography of the continent. In addition, the paper goes over the history of Antarctica and looks at how the continent was discovered and how the various land claims can into fruition.

From the Paper:

"The United Nations eventually decided that a treaty was needed in order to assure that the region would not become a battlefield, as a variety of different countries had laid claim to different areas, some of which overlapped. Therefore, one of the most important parts of this treaty is that there shall be no military involvement in the area, even if it is just for testing or for practicing military operations. Also, since changes in climate have already caused pieces of the continent to break off and more are expected to follow, there will be a new value placed up the resources of Antarctica in the future. This is because Antarctica has more fresh water than anywhere else in the world. With the world's depleting water resources becoming a global issues, it is important for the United Nations to keep control of this area, in order to prevent any violence from erupting in the future as a result of these valuable resources."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Antarctic Treaty". U.S. State Department: Bureau of Arms Control. Viewed 9 April 2006. http://www.state.gov/t/ac/trt/4700.htm
• "Massive Iceberg Peels off From Antarctic Ice Shelf". Science Daily. March 2000. Viewed 10 April 2006. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/03/000323082329.htm
• Rowe, Mark. "Tourism 'Threatens Antarctic'". London: Telegraph Group Limited. 11 Feb. 2006. Viewed 10 April, 2006. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2006/02/11/etnewsant.xml&sSheet=/travel/2006/02/11/ixtrvhome.html
• "Summary of Antarctica". Viewed 9 April 2006. http://classroomantarctica.aad.gov.au/materials/AntTreatySumm.pdf#search='antarctic%20treaty%20summary'

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