National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) base IV
20 February 2009
Ladies and gentlemen
South Africa has been an active participant in Antarctica for fifty years,
and is a founder member of the Antarctic Treaty. She is continuing to make
substantial contributions to our understanding of this continent and its
surrounding seas, and has made considerable investments in infrastructure to
support this research.
The mission of the South African National Antarctic Programme is similar to
that of the other signatories to the Treaty, namely, to increase the
understanding of the natural environment and life in the Antarctic and Southern
Ocean through appropriate science and technology. We gladly undertake this task
so we can optimise the present and preserve future options for South Africa in
the region, and contribute towards the enhancement of national and
international predictive capability in the areas of relevance. This also
ensures that South Africa remains a party to informed decision making on
matters of national interest.
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. And its impact has 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 cooperation. Antarctica is one of the earliest and best examples
of the success potential of globalisation.
Military bases, fortifications, manoeuvres and weapons testing, including
nuclear testing, are banned. Information sharing, co-operation and personnel
exchange is very much encouraged. Preservation and conservation of living
resources is prioritised. The speeding up of human progress by the orchestrated
and harmonious contribution of many nations is the goal. And scientific
research is the cutting edge tool.
The people of our country, and I daresay the people of the world, are deeply
indebted to South African scientists for the important work that has been done
here over almost 50 years. And I am particularly pleased that many of our
scientists are now housed here, in relative comfort, at the SANAE IV base,
where living conditions represent such an improvement over what has gone
before.
Please do not let these comforts lull you into an Antarctic hibernation.
Maintain the good work you have been doing in the earth sciences, the life and
oceanographic sciences, and last, but not least, the physical sciences.
We are very proud of the extraordinary role you are playing in the share
experiment, and with the progress of the Amigo observations. We are impressed
with the results of the cosmic ray research; and with your skilful Management
of the Astrid Satellite Telemetry Station. We proudly note your progress in
upper atmosphere physics and your contribution to the Global Positioning System
(GPS) project.
And I want to assure you that your efforts do not go unnoticed or
unrecognised. The work that you have chosen, or been chosen to do is important
to the future of all mankind. I myself have little or no experience at working
in an isolated area or in a confined space, far from the world's major traffic
routes. I imagine that there is sometimes a feeling of loneliness and doubt,
despite being surrounded by comrades. And although I am sure that the internet
has done much to overcome this with its world-wide welcome, there must be times
when one misses the family and friends left behind.
Dealing with this working up the determination to stay positive and do the
job you are here to do is yet another reason why you have earned the respect of
so many of your countrymen and so many thinking men and women around the
world.
I also want to assure you that despite some evidence to the contrary, you are
not working in scientific isolation. Apart from your good selves, our country
has a growing team of inspiring scientists doing increasingly innovative work
in a wide spectrum of disciplines, from astronomy and space science to
nanotechnology and the bio-sciences, from renewable energy research to
paleo-anthropology, from dire disease research to satellite design, and in many
other fields. In many disciplines we are fortunate to have a group of
scientists who are inquisitive, dedicated and, like you, highly respected
internationally.
Your country salutes you all, and honours your determination and commitment
to continue here, in the struggle against the world's fiercest elements, to
solve some of the world most complex problems.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
20 February 2009
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za)
