The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate International Relations with respect to Antarctica , Earth’s only continent without a native human population. For the purposes of the treaty system, Antarctica is defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of 60˚S latitude. The treaty, entering into force in 1961 and currently having 53 signatory nations, sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, establishes freedom of scientific investigation and bans military activity on that continent. The Antarctic Treaty was the nuclear first arms control agreement.
Click HERE, to dowload a pdf version of “CELEBRATING ANTARCTICA” The Antarctica Treaty in book form for young audiences, illustrated by school children from around the world! It is presented in English, French, Russian, Spanish (the 4 languages of the original Antarctic Treaty) plus 19 other languages including among others Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Turkish and most of the Arctic national languages.
Read the book by OUR SPACES Chairman, Dr. Paul Arthur Berkman : Science into Policy: Global Lessons from Antarctica reveals a unique model for integrating Earth system science with environmental and resource policies to balance economic, governmental, and societal interests. Since the International Geophysical Year in 1957-1958, scientific investigation has fostered international cooperation and the rational use of Antarctica for peaceful purposes only.
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Read the book by David W. H. Walton, “British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge”
This dramatically illustrated new book brings together an international group of leading Antarctic scientists to explain why the Antarctic is so central to understanding the history and potential fate of our planet. It introduces the beauty of the world’s greatest wilderness, its remarkable attributes and the global importance of the international science done there.
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Take a moment to watch these relevant movies
The signing of the Antarctica Treaty, with the participation of Our Spaces board member, Sylvia Earle
A typical day at McMurdo Station
Song for Antarctica, written and sung by Ellen Watt
Images by Leslie Amaral