While territorial claims are and will likely be heated, what struck me is that the area is right near the Drake Passage, in the Weddell Sea (which is fundamental to the world’s ocean currents AFAIU).
I don’t know how oil drilling in the antarctic could affect the passage, but still, I’m not sure I would trust human oil hunger with a 10ft pole on that one.
Also interestingly, the discovery was made by Russia, which is a somewhat ominous clue about where the current “multi-polar” world and climate change are heading. Antarctica, being an actual continent that thrived with life up until only about 10-30 M yrs ago, is almost certainly full of resources.
Just what we don’t need.
ever get the feeling that devil’s blood really is the final “fuck you, mammals!” from the dinosaurs?
From the unicellular algae *
It’s much older than dinos.
guys i don’t know about you but i have a feeling Antarctica needs some democracy right the fuck now.
Fucking Communist penguins leaving their children to fend for themselves! Do they have polar kangaroos up there in American soil? Let’s defend it! The polar kangaroos are near extinction.
In other news, oil tycoons have already begun making as much propaganda as possible as to why the world needs Antarctic oil for your car and why it’s more environmentally friendly than any other source of fuel.
I’d say /s but I’m pretty sure they’re still putting out pro oil propaganda because their lives and riches depend on destroying the planet.
“climate change is actually good because it’ll melt all this ice that’s in the way of our oil!”
“The more oil we use, the more ice we clear! The more ice we clear, the more oil to use! It’s a never ending cycle of win!”
I’ll see you all in anchorage in 2076
Good, let’s all make sure it stays right where it is
Instructions unclear, we started world war 3 over Antarctican resources.
The reserves uncovered contain around 511 billion barrels worth of oil, equating to around 10 times the North Sea’s output over the last 50 years.
According to documents discussed in U.K. parliament last week, the discovery was made by Russian research ships in the Weddell Sea, which falls under the U.K.'s claim in Antarctic territory. That claim overlaps with those of Chile and Argentina.
So in the water, not the land.
Oh boy UK vs Argentina rematch! I need some popcorn.
