 | 
11-26-2007, 06:26 AM
|  | Administrator | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Republic of Texas
Posts: 22,165
Rep Power: 369 | | | Misgivings Rise Along With Antarctican Tourism
Quote:
By IAN AUSTEN
Published: November 26, 2007
OTTAWA, Nov. 25 — From its beginning until its demise, the Explorer was an Antarctic pioneer. Launched in 1969 under the name Lindblad Explorer, it was the first ship built specifically to ferry tourists to Antarctica. When it disappeared beneath the polar region’s waters last week, it became the first commercial passenger ship to sink there.
The Explorer sank about 600 miles from South America.
But with the rapid rise of ship tourism in Antarctica — perhaps the last major ungoverned territory on earth — the sinking was not unanticipated. Both the United States and Britain warned a conference of Antarctic treaty nations in May that the tourism situation in the region was a potential disaster in the making.
The treaty countries, the United States said in a paper presented at the meeting, “should take a hard look at tourism issues now, especially those related to vessel safety, and not await more serious events to spur them to action.”
More than 35,000 tourists are expected to visit Antarctica this spring and summer, compared with just 6,750 during 1992-93, according to the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. And rather than just ships like the Explorer that carry 100 passengers, the flotilla has included such behemoths of the cruise ship industry as the Golden Princess, which arrived with 2,500 passengers and 1,200 crew members last season.
By IAN AUSTEN
Published: November 26, 2007
OTTAWA, Nov. 25 — From its beginning until its demise, the Explorer was an Antarctic pioneer. Launched in 1969 under the name Lindblad Explorer, it was the first ship built specifically to ferry tourists to Antarctica. When it disappeared beneath the polar region’s waters last week, it became the first commercial passenger ship to sink there.
Skip to next paragraph
Related
Dot Earth: Splendor, and Danger, at the Ends of the Earth (November 23, 2007)
The New York Times
The Explorer sank about 600 miles from South America.
But with the rapid rise of ship tourism in Antarctica — perhaps the last major ungoverned territory on earth — the sinking was not unanticipated. Both the United States and Britain warned a conference of Antarctic treaty nations in May that the tourism situation in the region was a potential disaster in the making.
The treaty countries, the United States said in a paper presented at the meeting, “should take a hard look at tourism issues now, especially those related to vessel safety, and not await more serious events to spur them to action.”
More than 35,000 tourists are expected to visit Antarctica this spring and summer, compared with just 6,750 during 1992-93, according to the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. And rather than just ships like the Explorer that carry 100 passengers, the flotilla has included such behemoths of the cruise ship industry as the Golden Princess, which arrived with 2,500 passengers and 1,200 crew members last season.
By IAN AUSTEN
Published: November 26, 2007
OTTAWA, Nov. 25 — From its beginning until its demise, the Explorer was an Antarctic pioneer. Launched in 1969 under the name Lindblad Explorer, it was the first ship built specifically to ferry tourists to Antarctica. When it disappeared beneath the polar region’s waters last week, it became the first commercial passenger ship to sink there.
Skip to next paragraph
Related
Dot Earth: Splendor, and Danger, at the Ends of the Earth (November 23, 2007)
The New York Times
The Explorer sank about 600 miles from South America.
But with the rapid rise of ship tourism in Antarctica — perhaps the last major ungoverned territory on earth — the sinking was not unanticipated. Both the United States and Britain warned a conference of Antarctic treaty nations in May that the tourism situation in the region was a potential disaster in the making.
The treaty countries, the United States said in a paper presented at the meeting, “should take a hard look at tourism issues now, especially those related to vessel safety, and not await more serious events to spur them to action.”
More than 35,000 tourists are expected to visit Antarctica this spring and summer, compared with just 6,750 during 1992-93, according to the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. And rather than just ships like the Explorer that carry 100 passengers, the flotilla has included such behemoths of the cruise ship industry as the Golden Princess, which arrived with 2,500 passengers and 1,200 crew members last season.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/26/wo...rssnyt&emc=rss | Seems to me people that want to spend their hard-earned money visiting a giant ice cube have more than an issue or two.  
__________________
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” - Edmund Burke |
Login to remove all ads
11-26-2007, 06:36 AM
| | 1-20-09 | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Other Side of Paradise
Posts: 13,588
Rep Power: 350 | | Quote:
Originally Posted by GunnyL  Seems to me people that want to spend their hard-earned money visiting a giant ice cube have more than an issue or two. | Heh... well, I wouldn't want to do it. But to each his own!
__________________ "Trust none of what you hear And less of what you see" Springsteen
When the Founding Fathers protected our right to free speech, I think that meant we were supposed to use it.
Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi was the world's most unhinged lunatic. He's now dead. So that moves Ann Coulter up to first place - David Letterman
O, when she is angry she is keen and shrewd; / She was a vixen when she went to school, / And though she be but little, she is fierce. — Shakespeare
51 days left http://www.backwardsbush.com/ |
11-26-2007, 09:54 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,636
Rep Power: 166 | | Quote:
Originally Posted by jillian Heh... well, I wouldn't want to do it. But to each his own! | I spend money on virtual games and stuff in virtual games. It brings me pleasure, though it is a sight less dangerous then taking a trip to Antarctica. Ohh and I suspect in a year I spend a lot less than such a trip would cost as well ).
__________________
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd. Indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.
-Bertrand Russell
Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable
-Laurence J. Peters
I never said that you had no right to have an opinion. I just said that it was, in fact, worth nothing.
-Maineman ( on 12 June 2007) |
11-26-2007, 03:38 PM
| | 1-20-09 | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Other Side of Paradise
Posts: 13,588
Rep Power: 350 | | Quote:
Originally Posted by RetiredGySgt I spend money on virtual games and stuff in virtual games. It brings me pleasure, though it is a sight less dangerous then taking a trip to Antarctica. Ohh and I suspect in a year I spend a lot less than such a trip would cost as well ). | If I'm going to spend money on a vacation, it's going to be to someplace I can tour and see interesting things or someplace with a nice beach.
My play money? Shoes, CD's, clothes... lol...
__________________ "Trust none of what you hear And less of what you see" Springsteen
When the Founding Fathers protected our right to free speech, I think that meant we were supposed to use it.
Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi was the world's most unhinged lunatic. He's now dead. So that moves Ann Coulter up to first place - David Letterman
O, when she is angry she is keen and shrewd; / She was a vixen when she went to school, / And though she be but little, she is fierce. — Shakespeare
51 days left http://www.backwardsbush.com/ | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | | |
|
