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Klaus Dodds on “Saving Antarctica! The UK, Polar Friendships, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection (1991)”

In a new report, Klaus Dodds of Royal Holloway University explores the diplomatic negotiations behind the signing of the Environmental Protocol for its 30th anniversary this year. This report provides an analysis and evaluation of the collapse of support for Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities (CRAMRA) and the subsequent adoption of…

Finlandia Foothills

As part of a regular series on the meaning of place-names in the Territory, this latest edition focuses on place-names in Antarctica which are often chosen around a theme for each area. An interesting example of this effect is in the Finlandia Foothills, Alexander Island. This area had not been visited prior to January 2018,…

30th Anniversary of Environmental Protocol: Emperor Penguins – 2021

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Environmental Protocol, the British Antarctic Territory and Pobjoy Mint will be issuing two coins which feature two of Antarctica’s most renowned residents. For our second issue, we are proud to present a £1 coin which features a group of Emperor Penguins with their chicks. Emperor penguins were listed as…

30th Anniversary of Environmental Protocol: Ross Seals – 2021

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Environmental Protocol, the British Antarctic Territory and Pobjoy Mint will be issuing two coins which feature two of Antarctica’s most renowned residents.  For our first issue, we are proud to present a £2 coin which displays a delightful Ross Seal with its pup. The Ross Seal was listed as a…

BLOG: UK Polar Network Antarctic Flags 2020 – 2021

Written by Jenny Arthur and Fiona Old, 2020-21 UKPN Antarctic Flags project coordinators. On December 1st 1959, 12 nations signed the Antarctic Treaty, a document declaring that Antarctica would be off limits to military activity and setting it aside as a place for peace and scientific discoveries. Since 2010, December 1st has been celebrated each…

Euro 2020 in Antarctica

As part of a regular series on the meaning of place-names in the Territory, this latest edition marks the end of a tense and exciting month of football at Euro 2020. There is a strong correlation between Antarctic place-names and the countries represented at the Euro 2020 football tournament. This is perhaps not so surprising,…

New Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory

This month we welcome Paul Candler as the new Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory. In this role, Paul will oversee the good governance of the Territory, assisted by the Deputy Commissioner and the Administrator. Ahead of his appointment, Paul commented on his enthusiasm to work on one of the most unique regions in the…

Midwinter’s Day 2021

  Midwinter’s Day is celebrated every year on the 21st June in the British Antarctic Territory. For those overwintering in Antarctica, it marks the middle of the long Antarctic winter, spent in near total darkness. HM Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory, Ben Merrick, has written to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) personnel currently stationed…

Sir James Clark Ross

As part of a regular series on the meaning of place-names in the Territory, this latest edition focuses on Sir James Clark Ross to mark the final season in Antarctica, after 30 years of service, of the Royal Research Ship (RRS) James Clark Ross. RRS James Clark Ross is named after Admiral Sir James Clark…

2021 Stamp Set: Her Majesty’s 95th Birthday

The Government of the British Antarctic Territory is pleased to release a set of six stamps and a souvenir sheet in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s 95th birthday. Her Majesty celebrates her 95th birthday on 21 April 2021. The British Antarctic Territory and ten other postal administrations have agreed to co-operate in a fitting…