by Darien Watkins

Created on: June 26, 2008

Absolutely. I think its a smart board game move by Britain. Anyone with common sense and knowledge of basic world history knows that the colonization of the continent of Antarctica is inevitable, and around the corner. Britain knows this, and is making a preemptive move. We have to remember that Britain is an island country considerably smaller than our own (US), with populations increasing at low rates compared to the rest of the world, but still is increasing, though that is not going to be my main arguing point.

Anyone with a license to drive a motor vehicle knows the insanity of increasing oil and hence gas prices in not only the economy of the US, but of Britain as well, who is a valued trading partner of the US. Where better to drill for oil than Antarctica, a huge continent which was home to massive populations of ancient animals and plants. Gas is a 'fossil fuel', meaning it comes from these dead animals. Using these fun facts that I just mentioned, you should be able to come to the conclusion that the continent houses vasts quantities of oil. But you can't just go drilling on land thats not yours and keep environmentalists off your back, so Britain would have to declare the land theirs before setting up stations.

Drilling stations would not be the only things that Britain would be installing. How about military advantage. The British navy still holds itself as the premier force on the sea, and with some shore on the Antarctic continent, it could be unstoppable, thought I wouldnt want to be one of those sailors that would be stationed there.

The last point I'll mention is climate change. Global warming is real, ice caps are melting, and in the near future, land could well be livable on Antarctica for future generations. We're talking about a major shift in power if Britain is able to grab up most of the continent with massive quantities of hidden natural resources. I guess I would compare it to the 'discovery' of the Americas in the 15th century by Europeans, except Antarctica does not have indigenous peoples to steal it from.

Now I'll answer the question while turning off my logic. No. Britain declare land on the continent, as it is the world's last frontier, free from the damage of industrialization by man. There still is room for lots of discovery, and understanding of our world. As a natural scientist, I feel it is the last 'pure' place on the planet.

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