Scientists meet on Greenpeace

Press, 13 April 1988, Page 5

Scientists meet on Greenpeace

The environmental group, Greenpeace, this week hosted a meeting of scientists from four countries working in Antarctica.

The conference between scientific staff from four research stations was held on board trie MV Greenpeace moored in Maxwell Bay, | King George Island, last Sunday. Representatives from China, the Soviet .'Union, the Republic of Korea and the German Democratic Republic attended a meeting described by a Greenpeace spokeswoman, Dr Maj De Poorter as “a unique occasion in the history of Antarctica.”

i The delegates were welcomed by I the Greenpeace’s captain and attended a dinner. The afternoon was described as a “great success” by

Greenpeace personnel. “There has been much talk of international cooperation in Antarctica but! our experience in Maxwell Bay where six nations have research bases, is that there is only a small amount of cooperation in research or logistics. Hopefully, in bringing together the representatives of four countries we will contribute to a greater degree of co-operation.” | ; ! Representatives from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay had also been I invited to the meeting but had declined. “In one case, the base commander had received instructions from ! his Foreign Ministry prohibiting formal contact with the Greenpeace expedition. We feel that this is a petty attitude to take,” said Dr De Poorter.