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Antarctica

Sir,—The Antarctic “club” is not slow to laud the success of the 1959 treaty in promoting internationaal co-operation and exchange of scientific information and in “freezing” the insoluble problem of territorial sovereignty. There is nothing more calculated to destroy this harmony than mineral exploitation. Yet instead of strengthening the treaty to prohibit

such activity, which . would also counter the concern of non-treaty nations to obtain a share of the spoils through the United Nations, the powers are working hard to prepare for it. Our deputy permanent representative weakly tells the United Nations (“The Press,” December 18), “The New Zealand Government does not seek to promote or encourage the extraction of resources from Antarctica.” We should actively oppose it. Do we not profess great concern for the fragile Antarctic environment? There is one way only to safeguard the enormous scientific and wilderness values, and that is to maintain the status quo. — Yours, etc., ERIC BENNETT, Wellington. December 22, 1985.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19851228.2.84.2

Bibliographic details

Press, 28 December 1985, Page 12

Word Count
159

Antarctica Press, 28 December 1985, Page 12

Antarctica Press, 28 December 1985, Page 12