Antarctica’s frozen landscape might not be first to mind when you think of important ecosystems. But in reality, this vast, ice-covered continent is teeming with life.
As many as twenty million penguins nest, dive and forage for food there. Whales migrate thousands of miles to fill up their bellies with krill in the freezing waters. [1] Even today, new Antarctic species are still being discovered. [2]
But beneath the ice, there’s something else… Oil. Hundreds of billions of barrels of it. [3] That’s why in the 80s, governments and companies were gearing up to drill, even though a single oil spill could devastate the area.
We had to act. Antarctica is one of few places on earth that’s unspoilt by humans. Keeping it that way helps scientists to understand our planet, and the impact we’re having on it.
We knew that governments could only lay claim to Antarctica if they built a base there. So to gain a place at the negotiating table, we set about doing the same.
In 1987, we set sail. We were told it was ridiculous. And at first, governments viewed Greenpeace’s Antarctic base with outright hostility. But after seven years of campaigning, Greenpeace went from being despised, to becoming a respected player in negotiations for the future of the continent.
Gradually, more and more nations signed up to the ban on drilling for fossil fuels. And in 1991, a 50-year minimum ban on Antarctic oil and mineral extraction was put in place.
As Greenpeace marks turning 50, this is a moment we can look back on what we’ve achieved together. In Antarctica, we stood our ground - and we proved that when we band together, we can win huge victories to protect our natural world. Will you chip in each month so we can keep going, and keep expanding Greenpeace’s work?
