Brazilian Antarctica

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Brazilian Antarctica Antártica Brasileira
The Brazilian Zone of Interest
Flag
Coordinates: 28°W 53°W
- Antarctic Treaty
- Designated	1986
Population
– Summer	100
– Winter	48
Area - Summer - Winter	— —
Website	ProAntar

Brazilian Antarctica (Portuguese: Antártida Brasileira or Antártica Brasileira) is the name of the Antarctic territory south of 60°S, and from 28°W to 53°W, proposed as 'Zone of Interest' by geopolitical scholar Therezinha de Castro.^[1][2][3][4] While the substance of that designation has never been precisely defined, it does not formally contradict the Argentine and British claims geographically overlapping with that zone. The country formally expressed its reservations with respect to its territorial rights in Antarctica when it acceded to the Antarctic Treaty on 16 May 1975, making the first official mention of the Frontage Theory.^[5][6] The Frontage Theory (Teoria da Defrontação) was proposed by Brazilian geopolitical scholar Therezinha de Castro and published in her book Antártica: Teoria da Defrontação.

Outside the zone of interest, Brazil maintains a permanent staffed research facility, the Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Base (UN/LOCODE: AQ-CFZ), located in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, at 62°08′S 58°40′W / 62.133°S 58.667°W / -62.133; -58.667.

History

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during a visit to the territory.

In 1982 the Brazilian government launched their first Antarctic expedition, and a year later built their first base (named Comandante Ferraz, for a deceased naval officer active in Antarctica), which has been active year-round since then. Despite their status as newcomers, Brazilian geopolitical writers have had considerable influence on the nation’s Antarctic policies (especially during the period of military dictatorship under a series of unelected general/presidents from 1964 to 1985), although there is not a national Brazilian Antarctic consciousness similar to that of Argentina or Chile.

In February 1991, President Fernando Collor de Mello reaffirmed Brazil's interest in the region by visiting the Brazilian Antarctic base, where he spent three days. He was the first Brazilian president to set foot in the Antarctic.^[7]

In January 2008, 13 congressmen members of the Brazilian Antarctica Parliamentary Committee visited the Brazilian Antarctic base.^[8] Another visit by the members of Congress took place in January 2009.^[9]

On February 16, 2008, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and a delegation of twenty-three people, including the First Lady Marisa Letícia, visited country's base in Antarctica. The Brazilian Government defined the presidential trip as a "political gesture" in support of the work displayed by Brazilian scientists and military personnel.^[10][11]

In 2009 Brazil made its first national scientific expedition to the Antarctic ice sheet.^[12][13] The expedition integrated atmospheric, glaciological, geological and geophysical studies along the Patriot Hills area and also along the subglacial lake Ellsworth area.^[12] A second expedition is scheduled for early November 2011, when researchers will install a monitoring station (advanced outpost) 310 miles from the Geographic South Pole and 1,600 mi from the Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Base (EACF).^[14]

Administration

Map showing the location of Brazilian Antarctica.

View of the Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Base.

The administration of Brazil's Antarctic policy and interests are shared by various government organizations. Several Federal universities and institutes also participate in the Antarctic research program. As is the case with Argentina and Chile, the military (especially the Air Force and the Navy) play a major role in Brazil's Antarctic program.

Inter-Ministry Commission for Sea Resources (CIRM)

(Portuguese: Comissão Interministerial para os Recursos do Mar) National agency responsible for the elaboration and implementation of the Brazilian Antarctic Programme, Programa Antártico Brasileiro (PROANTAR), and for maintaining the all-year station Comandante Ferraz. The commission is under the direct command of the Brazilian Navy.^[15]

Brazilian National Committee on Antarctic Research (CONAPA)

(Portuguese: Comitê Nacional de Pesquisas Antárticas) National Member of SCAR. This committee is responsible for promoting the liaison between the Brazilian Antarctic Programme and international Antarctic research, co-ordinated by SCAR, and of following the activities and achievements of the research undertaken by other national Antarctic programmes. CONAPA is also an advisory body to other Brazilian organisms of the Brazilian Antarctic System, concerning scientific Antarctic politics. The committee is under the administration of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil.^[16]

National Commission on Antarctic Matters (CONANTAR)

(Portuguese: Comissão Nacional para Assuntos Antárticos) National advisory board to the President of Brazil in charge of the formulation and implementation of the National Policy for Antarctic Affairs (Política Nacional para Assuntos Antárticos - POLANTAR). The commission is directly linked to the Ministry of External Relations and the Presidency.^[17]

Parliamentary Front in Support of the Brazilian Antarctic Programme

(Portuguese: Frente Parlamentar de Apoio ao Programa Antártico Brasileiro) Permanent joint congressional committee responsible for overseeing Brazil's Antarctic Programme and interests, including funding, and on-going operations. The committee has 175 members (54 Senators and 121 Deputies) and is chaired by a President.^[18]

References

Notes

1. ^ Canadian Polar Commission - Meridian (p. 5) Canadian Polar Commission. Retrieved on 2010-10-23.
2. ^ It's not just science that's an experiment in Antarctica Exploratorium. Retrieved on 2010-10-23.
3. ^ http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=13788 NATO of The South: Chile, South Africa, Australia, Antarctica Globalresearch.ca. Retrieved on 2010-10-23.
4. ^ World Statesmen.org: Antarctic Territorial Claims Worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved on 2010-10-23.
5. ^ La Antátida (p. 6) Asociación de Funcionarios y Empleados del Servicio Exterior Ecuatoriano. Retrieved on 2010-10-23. {{{2}}}.
6. ^ O Projeto Brasileiro para a Antartica (p. 119) Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional. Retrieved on 2010-10-23. (Portuguese).
7. ^ Brazil Warms to Job of Exploring the Frozen Continent Antarctica: President Collor pays a visit, pointing up the country's interest in the bottom of the world Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-07-15.
8. ^ Parlamentares que visitaram a Antártida já estão no Brasil. Chamber of Deputies of Brazil. Retrieved on 2009-07-15. (Portuguese)
9. ^ Deputados visitam Antártida para conhecer pesquisas na região Chamber of Deputies of Brazil. Retrieved on 2009-07-15. (Portuguese)
10. ^ President Lula da Silva visits Brazilian base in Antarctica MercoPress. Retrieved on 2009-07-15.
11. ^ Lula Visits a Piece of Brazil in Antarctica and Gets Emotional Brazzil Magazine. Retrieved on 2009-07-15.
12. ^ ^{a b} Brazil: 2009/2010 Annual Information (Brazilian National Multidisciplinary Expedition to the Antarctic Ice Sheet: investigating the cryospheric response to global changes) Antarctic Treaty System. Retrieved on 2010-10-23.
13. ^ Brasil instalará puesto avanzado en interior de la Antártida Fundación Nuestro Mar. Retrieved on 2010-10-23. {{{2}}}.
14. ^ Pesquisadores brasileiros preparam 2ª expedição à Antártica Governo Brasileiro. Retrieved on 2010-10-23. (Portuguese).
15. ^ Comissão Interministerial para os Recursos do Mar (CIRM)
16. ^ SCAR National Committees
17. ^ Scott Polar Research Institute: Directory of Brazilian Antarctic Organisations
18. ^ Brazilian Antarctica Parliamentary Committee

Bibliography

• Castro, Therezinha. "Antárctica: Assunto do Momento". Revista de Clube Militar (Brazil), 1958.
• Castro, Therezinha. Atlas-Texto de Geopolítica do Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Capemi Editora, 1982.
• Child, Jack. Antarctica and South American Geopolitics: Frozen Lebensraum. New York: Praeger, 1988, Chaper 6.
• Coelho, Aristides Pinto. "Novas tendências". Boletim Antártico, no. 4, Jan 1985.
• Dodds, Klaus. Geopolitics in Antarctica : views from the Southern Oceanic Rim. Chichester ; New York : Published in association with Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge by J. Wiley, 1997.
• Moneta, Carlos J., ed. La Antártida en el Sistema Internacional del Futuro. Buenos Aires: Grupo Editor Lationoamericano, 1988.
• Schmied, Julie. La Política Antárctica de los Países Latinoamericanos. Madrid: Instituto de Cuestiones Internacionales, 1988.
• WorldStatesmen - Antarctica
• Flags of the World - Antarctica
• Map showing Brazilian Antarctica
• Antarctica, But Sliced Differently
• W.L. de Freitas, A Antártica no contexto do Sistema Interamericano e a paz nas Américas, Colégio Interamericano de Defesa, Washington, D.C.

External links

• Brazilian Antarctica Parliamentary Committee Official website
• Official website of the Brazilian Antarctic Programme
• Brazilian Navy's Antarctic Programme website
• National Meteorolgy Center at the Com. Ferraz Antarctic Station - Live webcams and weather data from the Brazilian Antarctic Base.
• Website of the Brazilian Ministry of Environment's Antarctic Project

Coordinates: 75°00′S 40°30′W / 75°S 40.5°W / -75; -40.5