Antarctica - should it be claimed or not?
Daistallia 2104
12-08-2005, 18:38
I haven't seen this topic discussed yet.
The land area of Anarctica between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west is the only land on Earth not claimed by any country. Outside of that area are a number of claims, which are not universally recognised.
Should nations, groups, or individuals be able to lay claim to areas of Antarctica?
Eastern Coast America
12-08-2005, 18:44
What are you gonna do with antarctica anyways?
Daistallia 2104
12-08-2005, 18:52
What are you gonna do with antarctica anyways?
For starters, there are possible (as yet unproven) deposits of valuable minerals (hydrocarbons, gold, iron ore, chromium, copper, nickel, platinum, and coal). There are also fishery rights.
And then there's the possibility of starting up a whole new colony or even nation on land that's never been claimed.
San haiti
12-08-2005, 18:54
It already has been claimed hasnt it? I thought many countries owned a small slice.
Warrigal
12-08-2005, 18:59
Antarctia should be donated (along with large amounts of funding) to someone who is willing to become an Evil Supervillain. Nothing unifies the nations of the world like an Evil Supervillain.
Daistallia 2104
12-08-2005, 19:00
It already has been claimed hasnt it?
Nope. See below.
I thought many countries owned a small slice.
Those claims are not recognised by most nations. And the area between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west is not claimed by anyone.
Also, article 4 of the 1961 Antarctic Treaty says the treaty "does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force", so officially no claims are recognised.
Its fun "claiming" antarctica in superpower 2, and getting in fights over it, heh...
Is Adam there? If so, I suggest we don't bother for fear of 2nd Impact, dun dun dun.... :D
Actually, I don't know. I wanted to found an anarchist commune on Antartica hidden from the rest of the world.
Free Soviets
12-08-2005, 19:27
personally, i like much of the antarctic treaty system as is. no military presence except for peaceful purposes, free exchange of science, cooperative projects, no bickering nation states (though, unfortunately, they are still involved in the place for practical reasons), and a recognition of "the intrinsic value of antarctica, including its wilderness and aesthetic values and its value as an area for the conduct of scientific research"