Key Benefits:
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DRAFT RESOLUTION NO. 169 /X
RECOMMENDS RATIFICATION OF THE ANTARCTIC TREATY
Antarctica, by some nicknamed 'the last frontier', is a continent
extremely rich in natural resources, specifically marine, but
also minerals, bearer of a delicate ecosystem that supports a
invaluable biodiversity heritage and plays an important one
role in regulating the climate of the planet, serving as a refrigeration system
of the Earth through the heated exchanges processed at the level of the oceans and the
atmosphere.
Initially subscribed to by twelve countries (UK-UK, South Africa,
Belgium, Japan, United States of America, Norway, France, New Zealand,
Russia, Argentina, Australia and Chile), the "Antarctic Treaty", in force since
1961, was born out of the will to consecrate the Antarctic continent, or Antarctica,
at the south pole, exclusively for peaceful purposes, to free scientific research, to the
defence of the environment and nature and promotion of cooperation
international.
Recognizing the superior interest of all mankind in preserving
the whole region south of the parallel 60, whether from international conflicts or from the
saque and the overexploitation of its resources and its destruction, the text of the
said Treaty expressly prohibited all activities of a nature
military, as well as the carrying out of weapons tests, nuclear explosions
or the dumping of radioactive waste, taking on its signatories the wish
of halting equally the race to the exploitation of mineral resources that it would take,
not only to the degradation of the largest reserve (almost 90%) of freshwater of the planet,
consisting of polar ice, as it would represent the death of a valuable and
sensitive ecosystem and all the wildlife there existing.
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At the moment it is already 45 countries that subscribe to it, 16 of which are
our partners in the European Union, participating in this worldwide weirdship that
is to keep Antarctica a truly international continent, without owners
nor do you gentlemen, a space of freedom, devoted to research and sharing of
knowledge, for what they meet regularly at the Consultative Meetings of the
Members of the Antarctic Treaty, where recommendations are adopted and
deferred attachments to the original text, maintaining the Treaty, as well as the principles
in it established, alive and in operation.
However, it will never be too much to strengthen the aforementioned Treaty at a time
in which the pressure and human footprint on the planet worsened, fruit of
human societies with productive and developmental models
excessively dependent on mineral resources and mainly
fossil energy, existing the real danger of, in the vorging of exploitation
unsustainable of planetary resources, no region of the globe to be spared.
The importance and potential of scientific research in Antarctica, to
in addition to the obvious advantages it brings in terms of the evolution of the
current knowledge as well as the windows of opportunity that opens
also to our country and to our researchers to participate in the adventure of the
research and the preservation of that continent, takes on yet a special
interest in the relief it presents in the area of the study of history and of the
evolution of the climate of our planet (climatology), increasingly in the order of the
day by the pressing need to keep up with topical mutations
known for the phenomenon of climate change and global warming
of the planet.
In effect, Antarctica was, for example, and still is, eyewitness to
one of the most well-known phenomena, that of the "hole in the ozone layer", today
happy and seemingly in recession in the face of the measures taken in consequence
of the Montreal Protocol (1987) through which it has banned production and
consumption of a set of the main gases responsible for its
destruction. Every year, in every Polar Spring (which takes place between
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September and November), by virtue of the climatic particularities of the whole
polar region, assists to the maximum extent of the "ozone layer hole",
that is, at the maximum periodic reduction in the concentration of ozone on the high
atmosphere on the poles, responsible for the increase in radiation exposure
ultraviolet that can cause diseases in the skin (cancer), affect vision and
immunological system.
The regions of the poles have been presented of the most sensitive to
climate change, there by meeting the ones that have suffered the most from the
global warming, visible in the degelos of the polar calotes in Alaska, in the
Siberia and in several zones of Antarctica. Despite the importance we already know
having the south pole in the regulation of world climate, the truth is that knowledge
that the scientific community has about that phenomenon and how it
works and affects the ecosystems and consequently to all of us, it is still
very incomplete and needs to be deepened.
It is thus fully justified in the interest that researchers
Portuguese have demonstrated by that region and it must be accompanied
of a formal institutional involvement of Portugal taking on the will in
take part more actively in the conservation and study of that continent
recognizing the key role it plays at the level of global climate
that to all the peoples of all countries and to all living beings affects.
Portugal has already been, since July 17, 2006, associate member of the Committee
Scientific for Research in Antarctica-SCAR (Scientific Committee for
Antarctic Research): Interdisciplinary committee belonging to the Council
International for Science-which allows our country to develop
research programmes in Antarctica, facilitating further cooperation
international in this area. The SCAR, is responsible, in addition to promoting and
coordinate scientific research in Antarctica, for providing advice
purpose and independent of the Consultative Meetings of the Members of the
Treated, as well as other organizations, making recommendations
specifically in the case of the conservation and safeguarding of the environment.
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We are approaching the next International Polar Year (API),
event of biennial duration (2007-2008), significant moment that must
be harnessed to express more clearly the commitment of Portugal to
participate in this worldwide desiccation of protecting and studying the Antarctic continent,
as indeed has been championed by the main drivers of the idea, the
set of researchers constituting the Portuguese Committee incarregue of
promote the API and have been calling for membership on the part of our country to
Treated Antarctic.
Thus:
-Considering the importance for the future, to cope with the problem of
climate change, the study and knowledge of the regulatory role
fundamental played by Antarctica in the climate of our planet;
-Considering the need and the interest to deepen the involvement of
Portugal and the national scientific community in research activities and
research in development or to develop in that region;
-Considering the upcoming International Polar Year 2007-2008, which will
be commemorated also in our country for what already exists a Committee
National recognized by the Government;
-Considering that it matters to promote the safeguarding of natural wealth,
environmental and biodiversity, keeping Antarctica free from the saque to its
resources, pollution, military or nuclear activities;
-Whereas Portugal must communicate from the original spirit of the treaty, from
promotion of peace, cooperation and free and shared scientific research
and of the promotion of the conservation of natural heritage and the environment:
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The Assembly of the Republic deliberates, in the terms of the nº5 of the Artº.166º
of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, recommend to the Government that
sign the Antarctic Treaty of 1961.
Palace of S. Bento, December 13, 2006.
The Members of "The Greens",
Francisco Madeira Lopes Heloísa Apollonia