ecopolis

Online Videos by ECOPOLIS

A video reportage by Luigi Politano about the journey of an italian group of activist to Rostock, in Germany, just before the G8.

There are few places in the world where there has never been war, where the environment is fully protected, and where scientific research has priority. But there is a whole continent like this – it is the land of the Antarctic Treaty parties call “… a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science”.

The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 by the twelve nations that had been active during the IGY (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and USSR). The Treaty, which applies to the area south of 60° South latitude, is surprisingly short, but remarkably effective. Through this agreement, the countries active in Antarctica consult on the uses of a whole continent, with a commitment that it should not become the scene or object of international discord.

Since entering into force on 23 June 1961, the Treaty has been recognised as one of the most successful international agreements. Problematic differences over territorial claims have been effectively set aside and as a disarmament regime it has been outstandingly successful. The Treaty parties remain firmly committed to a system that is still effective in protecting their essential Antarctic interests.

Environmental protection reached a new stage with the signing of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty in Madrid on 4 October 1991. The Protocol designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve, devoted to peace and science ”, and, together with the six Annexes, contains a comprehensive set of basic principles and detailed, mandatory rules applicable to human activities in Antarctica.

Francis Drake 810 km (500 miles) wide passage is the shortest crossing from Antarctica to the rest of the world’s land. The boundary between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is sometimes taken to be a line drawn from Cape Horn to Snow Island (260 km (161 miles) north of mainland Antarctica). Alternatively the meridian that passes through Cape Horn may be taken as the boundary. Both boundaries lie entirely within the Drake Passage.