The motives of several countries are being questioned over concerns for Antarctica's abundant mineral wealth.
Antarctica has been the world's science lab since 1959, open to all but owned by no-one.
But some countries are being accused of establishing science bases as a guise to strip the icy land of its minerals.
"Mining is banned for the next 40 years but you know there'll be pressure to have that lifted," marine biologist Bob Zuur said.
Mining in the pristine icy environment is banned until 2048 under the Antarctic Treaty.
The only way to get a say in what happens on the ice is to sign that treaty as well as setting up a scientific base.
The bases are sprinkled all around Antarctica, and soon there will be more with New Zealand's Scott Base about to get a neighbour - South Korea.
And according to Zuur, it is all getting a bit overcrowded.
"Argentina's got 14 research stations around the continent. Do we really need to have that much going on?"
Some academics feel these stations are being set-up not only for science, but also to stake a claim on the ice if the treaty collapses or to start mining when the ban ends.
With news that Antarctica could have the world's third-largest oil reserves, critics say some countries are showing their true colours.
A policy paper recently warned "Australia needs to increase its presence" in case it wants to claim the oil.
A Russian report two years ago revealed its plans for "complex investigations of the Antarctic mineral, hydrocarbon and other natural resources".
And some claim China's station is at such a high altitude, there's no obvious scientific purpose for it being there.
McMurdo is just one of three stations the United States runs in Antarctica all year round. In the summer they will step up their programme even more by opening additional field stations across the continent, including one at the South Pole.
New Zealand and other countries had claims on slices of Antarctica before the treaty was signed in 1959. But those claims are now frozen.
The Kiwi claim borders the Ross Sea where the oil reserves are believed to be. However, if any country ever challenged New Zealand for its piece, the country would not really be able to defend it.
"A country like Australia spends $150 million on its Antarctic operations; New Zealand spends about $25 million. New Zealand would have to significantly up its investment," said Lou Sanson from Antarctica New Zealand.
New Zealand remains utterly committed to the treaty but it is not likely to protect the country's claim on the ice if the world decides to stop sharing Antarctica.
Thank You ~~ :/ tvnz.co.nz
Antarctica has been the world's science lab since 1959, open to all but owned by no-one.
But some countries are being accused of establishing science bases as a guise to strip the icy land of its minerals.
"Mining is banned for the next 40 years but you know there'll be pressure to have that lifted," marine biologist Bob Zuur said.
Mining in the pristine icy environment is banned until 2048 under the Antarctic Treaty.
The only way to get a say in what happens on the ice is to sign that treaty as well as setting up a scientific base.
The bases are sprinkled all around Antarctica, and soon there will be more with New Zealand's Scott Base about to get a neighbour - South Korea.
And according to Zuur, it is all getting a bit overcrowded.
"Argentina's got 14 research stations around the continent. Do we really need to have that much going on?"
Some academics feel these stations are being set-up not only for science, but also to stake a claim on the ice if the treaty collapses or to start mining when the ban ends.
With news that Antarctica could have the world's third-largest oil reserves, critics say some countries are showing their true colours.
A policy paper recently warned "Australia needs to increase its presence" in case it wants to claim the oil.
A Russian report two years ago revealed its plans for "complex investigations of the Antarctic mineral, hydrocarbon and other natural resources".
And some claim China's station is at such a high altitude, there's no obvious scientific purpose for it being there.
McMurdo is just one of three stations the United States runs in Antarctica all year round. In the summer they will step up their programme even more by opening additional field stations across the continent, including one at the South Pole.
New Zealand and other countries had claims on slices of Antarctica before the treaty was signed in 1959. But those claims are now frozen.
The Kiwi claim borders the Ross Sea where the oil reserves are believed to be. However, if any country ever challenged New Zealand for its piece, the country would not really be able to defend it.
"A country like Australia spends $150 million on its Antarctic operations; New Zealand spends about $25 million. New Zealand would have to significantly up its investment," said Lou Sanson from Antarctica New Zealand.
New Zealand remains utterly committed to the treaty but it is not likely to protect the country's claim on the ice if the world decides to stop sharing Antarctica.
Thank You ~~ :/ tvnz.co.nz
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