The Antarctic Treaty:
The Antarctic Treaty was made when most of the countries in the world made a claim for Antarctica. It says that the countries can not damage Antarctica, but can use it for science.
The Treaty has 14 Articles which are summarized as follows:
No military use shall be made of Antarctica, though military personnel and equipment may be used for peaceful purposes.
There will be complete freedom of scientific investigation.
Antarctic Treaty Nations will exchange plans for their scientific programmes, scientific data will be freely available and scientists will be exchanged between expeditions where practical.
No activities under the Treaty will affect claims to sovereignty of any part of Antarctica made by any nation. All territorial claims are put aside for the duration of the Treaty.
Nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal are banned from Antarctica.
The Treaty applies to all land and ice shelves south of 60° South, but not to the seas.
All Antarctic stations and all ships and aircraft supplying Antarctica shall be open to inspectors from any Treaty nation.
Observers and exchange scientists shall be under the jurisdiction of their own country regardless of which national station they may visit. National laws do not apply to stations or areas, but only to the citizens of those countries.
Treaty nations will meet to consider ways of furthering the principles and objectives of the Treaty. Attendance at these meetings shall be limited to those countries that are engaged in substantial scientific research activity in Antarctica. Unanimous approval will be necessary for any new measures to become effective (i.e. everyone has to agree).
All Treaty Nations will try to ensure that no one carries out any activity in Antarctica that is against the Treaty.
Any dispute by Treaty Nations, if not settled by agreement, shall be determined by the International Court of Justice.
The Treaty may be modified at any time by unanimous agreement. After 30 years any consultative Party may call for a conference to review the operation of the Treaty. The Treaty may be modified at this conference by a majority decision.
The Treaty must be legally ratified (agreed to) by any nation wishing to join. Any member of the United Nations may join as well as any other country invited to do so by the Treaty Nations. All notices and records are deposited with the Archives of the United States of America.
The Treaty has 14 Articles which are summarized as follows:
No military use shall be made of Antarctica, though military personnel and equipment may be used for peaceful purposes.
There will be complete freedom of scientific investigation.
Antarctic Treaty Nations will exchange plans for their scientific programmes, scientific data will be freely available and scientists will be exchanged between expeditions where practical.
No activities under the Treaty will affect claims to sovereignty of any part of Antarctica made by any nation. All territorial claims are put aside for the duration of the Treaty.
Nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal are banned from Antarctica.
The Treaty applies to all land and ice shelves south of 60° South, but not to the seas.
All Antarctic stations and all ships and aircraft supplying Antarctica shall be open to inspectors from any Treaty nation.
Observers and exchange scientists shall be under the jurisdiction of their own country regardless of which national station they may visit. National laws do not apply to stations or areas, but only to the citizens of those countries.
Treaty nations will meet to consider ways of furthering the principles and objectives of the Treaty. Attendance at these meetings shall be limited to those countries that are engaged in substantial scientific research activity in Antarctica. Unanimous approval will be necessary for any new measures to become effective (i.e. everyone has to agree).
All Treaty Nations will try to ensure that no one carries out any activity in Antarctica that is against the Treaty.
Any dispute by Treaty Nations, if not settled by agreement, shall be determined by the International Court of Justice.
The Treaty may be modified at any time by unanimous agreement. After 30 years any consultative Party may call for a conference to review the operation of the Treaty. The Treaty may be modified at this conference by a majority decision.
The Treaty must be legally ratified (agreed to) by any nation wishing to join. Any member of the United Nations may join as well as any other country invited to do so by the Treaty Nations. All notices and records are deposited with the Archives of the United States of America.