With the recently adopted 50-year ban on mining and oil drilling in Antarctica, environmentalists are rejoicing. However, some think the pact could backfire. Without the possibility of some return, many nations may conclude that Antarctic research isn't worth it. The United States has been a major player in Antarctica for decades. Although proof of a nation's interest in Antarctica was their research effort there, many nations, particularly Soviet Bloc, already find the research cost to be prohibitive and are cutting back.
With the recently adopted 50-year ban on mining and oil drilling in Antarctica, environmentalists are rejoicing. However, some think the pact could backfire. Without the possibility of some return, many nations may conclude that Antarctic research isn't worth it. The U.S. National Science Foundation says, "We've been living on a tripod --- geopolitics, future uses of Antarctica and research, now two of the three legs have been taken away from us." Although proof of a nation's interest in Antarctica was their research effort there, many nations, particularly Soviet Bloc, already find the research cost to be prohibitive and are cutting back.