Delegates Fail To Reach Agreeement To Protect Antarctica - Reuters

[hatrack]

EDINBURGH - Antarctic Treaty countries failed on Friday to agree on tighter environmental measures to protect the continent amid a boom in tourism.

The growing number of tourists landing in Antarctica, mainly from cruise ships, has raised fears over the impact it could have on the continent's fragile ecology. Another major issue is the size and type of vessels operating in dangerous southern waters and the potential for an environmental and human disaster if a large ship should sink in Antarctic seas.

Some delegates said there had been a lively debate during the annual 10-day meeting of the treaty nations, but the United States and some other nations had been unwilling to adopt new environmental measures without further study.

French diplomat Michel Trinquier, who chaired the tourism committee, told Reuters at the end of the session the environmental issues had come up suddenly without the usual documentation ahead of the 45-nation gathering. He said however he expected the issues to be discussed at the next treaty conference in New Delhi next year.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/36994/story.htm

[phantom power]

1. Maybe we should encourage tourism.

In 100 years, Antarctica might be the only habitable land mass on planet earth. A little ghetto for us refugees from the former biosphere.