German Research Station, Neumayer Station III
19 February 2009
Our Host, Prof Karin Lochte,
Dr Hartwig Gernandt, expedition leader and head of AWI Logistics Department,
National and International Participating Researchers and Scientists from
Germany, France, Norway, The Netherlands and Russia,
The Director-General from my department,
Mr Valentine from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT),
South Africa,
Ladies and gentlemen
This is the 50th year since South Africa first assumed her responsibilities
in terms of the Antarctic Treaty. On 1 December 1959, South Africa was amongst
the original 12 signatories to this historic pact.
Six months earlier, mid-way through 1959, Norway had announced its intention
to evacuate its base in Drunning (or Queen) Maud Land, and the first South
African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) IV, departed early in December,
shortly after the treaty was signed, on the Norwegian ship, the Polarbjorn, to
take over the Norwegian base.
The ship reached the Antarctic coast near the base on 8 January 1960. My
country's scientists have been involved in important research in this region
ever since.
Queen Maud Land was named in 1930 after the then queen of Norway, Drunning
Maud. It remains a mystery why the land was not given a name over a century
earlier when it was first seen by two Russian ships, the Vostok and the Mirny,
in January 1820.
It was also visited by a succession of British ships between 1841 and 1904,
but they too failed to give the territory any identity. And so, it was left to
the courageous Norwegians, Riiser Larsen and Nils Larsen to give Drunning Maud
Land its name. Indeed, most of this region is named after the now departed
members of the Norwegian Royal family.
Since the signing of the original treaty, a further 32 nations have come on
board, and the 44 nations who now uphold this important treaty represent two
thirds of the world's population.
Of these, Germany, and German scientists have made a very strong and
significant contribution, principally through their various bases, here in the
region of the Neumayer-Station; and the other signatories and the people of the
world are much beholden to you for your important work.
It is difficult to overstate the influence for good which this treaty has
had; thanks largely to the fact that those who conceived it were visionaries of
a high order. Its impact has certainly extended far beyond the Antarctic.
Antarctica is, as you know, the only continent in which no nation holds
sway. The treaty commits Antarctica exclusively to peaceful purposes, high
amongst which is its contribution to scientific knowledge resulting from
international co-operation.
Antarctica is one of the earliest and best examples of the successful
potential globalisation holds for humankind. Military bases, fortifications,
manoeuvres and weapons testing, including nuclear testing, are banned. Instead,
information sharing, co-operation and human capital exchanges are encouraged,
with the preservation and conservation of living resources a priority.
The goal is to speed up human progress through the orchestrated and
harmonious contribution by many nations using scientific research as the
cutting edge tool.
People of the world are deeply indebted to you for the important work that
has been done over almost 30 years at the Neumayer-Station.
It is not for me to go into the detail of the work you are doing here, which
includes, the highly respected seismological observatory, the surface radiation
balance measurements dating from 1992, the measurement of accumulation rates,
airborne atmospheric observations, and many other critical contributions to
scientific research. You know the significance of this much better than I
do.
However, I do want to assure you that your efforts have not gone unnoticed
or unrecognised. The work you have chosen to do is important to the future of
humankind.
I have relatively limited experience at working in an isolated area or
confined space, far from the world's major traffic routes. But I can attest to
the fact that there is sometimes a feeling of loneliness and doubt, despite
being surrounded by comrades.
And although the internet has done much to overcome this with its world-wide
welcome, there are times when one misses direct contact with family and friends
left behind.
Your ability to overcome such challenges, to remain determined to stay
positive and do the job you're here to do, is yet another reason you have
earned the respect of so many of your countrymen, and women and men of standing
around the world.
With the construction of Neumayer Station III, the conditions necessary to
meet scientific and logistical demands associated with long-term research
operations in the Antarctic have been met.
Other countries interested in enhancing their research and development
agendas in the Antarctica are well-advised to follow the example set by Germany
through this modern station, which boasts the state-of-the-art technology.
The station will be able to support the continuation of long-term
measurements by the scientific observatories for meteorology, geophysics and
atmospheric chemistry, including the establishment of new research
projects.
We salute you all, and honour your determination and commitment to continue
working here where you have to contend against the world's fiercest elements in
a quest to find solutions to some of the world most complex problems.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
19 February 2009
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za)
