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https://theconversation.com/dead-dogs-leaking-oil-drums-batteries-antarcticas-abandoned-waste-gets-funding-boost-to-kickstart-the-clean-up-177711>
"This week the federal government announced A$804.4 million over ten years to
bolster Australia’s scientific and strategic presence in Antarctica. Of this,
$14.3 million is for cleaning up legacy waste from the continent – the
abandoned waste and contamination accumulated from over a century of human
visitors.
That there’s legacy waste in Antarctica may come as a surprise to some people,
as we often think of Antarctica as a pristine wilderness. However, I’ve seen
legacy waste first hand when I was in Antarctica over the 2017-2018 summer,
researching how this waste impacts local environments.
One study site, for example, was Australia’s Wilkes station, a research station
abandoned in 1969 after being buried in snow and ice. A 2013 study estimated
its tip site contains 20,000 cubic metres of waste, including leaking oil
drums, batteries, dead dogs, building material, and food.
Australia’s responsibility for its historical waste in Antarctica is both a
moral and legal imperative. This funding announcement will hopefully be the
start of a renewed push to clean up this once pristine frontier."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
