7 June: Second Day

On the second day of the conference, the meeting on environmental issues (CEP VIII) continued, as did the negotiations on Liability. It is still too early to say how these complicated issues will be resolved here in Stockholm. On day two, the Swedish Antarctic Secretariat's reporter was given a presentation of the Magic Planet, met the head of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), and was shown the Swedish TL6 tracked polar vehicle.

"The most important environmental issue in Antarctica at the moment, as I see it, is to control the dramatically increasing influx of tourists to the continent, by prohibiting permanent tourist sites on land, for example. Also as a matter of urgency, a regulatory framework must be created for how bioprospecting can be conducted - and for ensuring that the rules that already exist for specially protected areas really are observed."

This is the view of James Barnes, head of ASOC, an umbrella organisation for international environmental organisations, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, which focus on protecting the unique environment in Antarctica. ASOC has been in existence since 1978 and, according to Mr Barnes, won its greatest victory in 1989 when it succeeded in getting France and Australia to block a new convention on environmentally threatening mineral extraction in Antarctica.

"This in turn led to the countries within the Antarctic Treaty opening the door to new environmental solutions, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was established," says Mr Barnes. At the same time, NGOs were given the opportunity to send formal delegations to the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
"So now we don't have to demonstrate outside anymore," says Mr Barnes with a satisfied smile.

"The idea behind the Magic Planet was to create a tool for teaching about the earth in a clearer and more effective way," says Máire Hanley, fingering the luminous globe that she is currently promoting worldwide.

A smart projector illuminates it from the inside so that the whole earth is seen on the outside in different ways depending on the data (usually satellite pictures) that has been entered into the associated software. It can show climate change, the ice situation at the poles, ocean currents, earthquakes, etc.

"It's most popular with NASA. They've bought 20 and also use them for showing data from the moon, Mars and other planets," explains Ms Hanley, and continues:
"But the globe is also used in museums and research institutions around the world."

Georgios Makridis is Greece's only delegate in Stockholm. He is trying to follow the negotiations both in the Committee for Environmental Protection and on Liability.
"I'm rather torn between the two," he admits, but nevertheless seems pleased to be at the conference.

"The most important issue for Greece is to establish a research station in Antarctica so that we also have the right to make decisions in the Antarctic Treaty," says Mr Makridis. According to Mr Makridis, the objective is to find cooperation partners who already have experience of Antarctica and open a research station in collaboration with them.

Why, then, is Greece so interested in becoming a full member of Antarctic cooperation? Mr Makridis gives two reasons:
"Greece has a great commercial fleet with thousands of ships on the world's oceans, ships that run the risk of causing pollution in different ways. The Greek government wants, therefore, to have a part in developing environmental rules within the Antarctic Treaty alongside, for example, EU legislation to ensure the prevention of accidents and emissions in the best way at national level."

Mr Makridis also points out that it is important for Greece to maintain its historical position as a scientific nation.
"We have many clever geophysicists, geologists and mathematicians who are interested in taking part in different projects in Antarctica," he says.

In conclusion, Mr Makridis says he sees Sweden as an inspirational example as regards environmental protection.
"You only have to step outside to feel it in the air here. You're good at restricting your emissions, I think," says Mr Makridis.

The TL6 is a civilian version of a Swedish military tracked vehicle. It is manufactured in Skellefteå and is specially designed to cope with the logistics in Antarctica - in extreme cold.

"Ordinary metal can become as fragile as china at minus 50 and the systems for fuel and other vital fluids must also be carefully adapted," says Roland Bergström from the company in Skellefteå.

"Several countries have bought TL6. Chile, for example, used it in a successful expedition at the beginning of the year," he continues. The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat has three vehicles.