南极洲:地球脆弱的警钟

Antarctica: The Alarming Fragile Land on Earth

到80年代初,南极洲还是一个与世远离并被忽视的大陆。然而在过去十年中,由于各国抢占开采矿产资源的可能位置,在这个大陆上进行科研工作的国家数目已经翻番。在南极洲活动的一些国家将于1990年11月在智利圣地亚哥举行一次特别会议来讨论有关全面保护南极洲环境的建议。

In recent decades, experts from many countries have done scientific research in Antarctica and established permanent observation stations there. With the increasing activities of scientific studies and the increasing number of visitors to Antarctica, large quantities of wastes left on the continent including waste residues, waste water, waste oil and even highly toxic materials such as PCBs have contaminated the Antartic environment. The intension of prospecting mineral resources in Antarctica by some countries poses a great threat to its environment. This article urges relevant international organizations and all nations to make joint efforts to protect the Antarctic environment from destruction.