DO YOU REALIZE THAT ANTARCTICA’S ICONIC TREASURES COULD DISAPPEAR WITHOUT OUR HELP?

Remember reading with fascination the success and demise of Sir Robert Scott when he reached the South Pole? And the triumph of Sir Ernest Shackleton when, after his ship ‘Endurance’ was broken up by Antarctica’s formidable ice, he rescued all his crew from certain death?

Today there is considerable interest worldwide, to visit the Huts of these heroic explorers on site. Especially as it's so easy to travel to Antarctica.

However, to protect the huts, much preservation work needs to be done. $16 million’s worth, to be exact. New Zealand Government and the Antarctica Heritage Trust have contributed $7 million, and Prime Minister Helen Clark has asked British Prime Minister Tony Blair to cough up the rest. But so far, no go.

But then, why should Britain cough up?
Could it be because British born Scott, for the first time ever, contributed a massive amount of scientific, meteorological, biological and geological information about Antarctica?

Or maybe because Anglo/Irish born Shackleton explored a vast area of Antarctica, and, against everything that Antarctic threw at him, ensured that his crew came home?

Does it matter that the beginning of the 20th century, Britain’s Most Heroic Age of Exploration was focussed on Antarctica?

On 1910 the world will be celebrating the centenary of Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition. There will be considerable attention on Antarctica; in particular Scott’s hut at Cape Evans, from where he and his team departed for their final, fateful journey.

What would happen if, in spite of the considerable preservation effects of the freezing Antarctica weather, Scott’s and Shackleton’s huts disintegrated to piles of rubble?

What would our children, and their children think? That Britain does not care about its heroes??? That Scott’s and Shackleton’s work was not valued? That role models are not important?

I feel so strongly about this - we must keep our heroes and historical icons alive for our children to benefit from in the future.

How can we make Britain sit up and listen?

Here are my suggestions – I am sure you have more!

Write to PM Tony Blair
Write to the World Monument fund – they are on the web
Write to the British High Commission.
Tell everybody – in fact, pass this message on!

Post your ideas on this site! Lets get action! Preserve the huts on Antarctica! Start now! Tell me what you are going do! We’ll get Britain on board yet …..