It is Sunday and we are all working to try and make up for the time we lost due to the bad weather. I actually enjoyed the snow and wind but that might be because I grew up in Tennessee and snow falling was a special occasion. However, it can look pretty scary at times.

The weather today is really nice. The sun is in the sky, the wind is mild, and not a snowflake in sight.

We all met at 7:30am for our regular team meeting. The primary objective today was to try and get SCINI 2 in working condition. Bob, Francois, and Scott each worked on trying to get SCINI 2 able to conduct research.

Stacy and I had lots of work to be done on the computer. The morning was fairly quiet in the lab with everyone focused on completing their tasks.

In the afternoon we all took a break and went to the annual McMurdo Craft Show. I was amazed at how many different tables there were. I saw jewelry, including bracelets made from old cargo straps (mine will be delivered later this week), knitted hats and scarves, painted ornaments and one lady painted wooden match boxes (yes, I bought some), and lots of pictures (prints and photographs). It was nice to get some mementos of my time here that were made by the people I see in my daily life here in Antarctica.

The guys took SCINI 2 to the jetty for a technical dive. Stacy and John, an underwater photographer, went for a dive to take pictures of SCINI 2 in action. I stayed in the lab and worked on the computer.

I would much rather talk to you about something interesting than to regale you with my adventures on the computer. One thing that I thought you might be interested in was the Antarctic Treaty. It is really hard to imagine a continent that has no countries.

On December 1, 1959 twelve countries signed the Antarctic Treaty as a means to govern the behavior of the people in Antarctica. The preamble of the treaty gives you a general idea of what the treaty stands for.

“The Governments of Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, the French Republic, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the Union of South Africa, The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America,

Recognizing that it is in the interest of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord;

Acknowledging the substantial contributions to scientific knowledge resulting from international cooperation in scientific investigation in Antarctica;

Convinced that the establishment of a firm foundation for the continuation and development of such cooperation on the basis of freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica as applied during the International Geophysical Year accords with the interests of science and the progress of all mankind;

Convinced also that a treaty ensuring the use of Antarctica for peaceful purposes only and the continuance of international harmony in Antarctica will further the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations;”

This is amazing that countries would agree to protect the environment of Antarctica and work to maintain a peaceful place for scientists to study.

Of course, there have been countries that have made claims to land in Antarctica. This map outlines these claims.

Today, a total of forty four countries have signed or agreed to abide by the conditions set forth in the Antarctic Treaty. These countries represent about two-thirds of the world’s population. That is incredible and gives you hope for the rest of the world.

As you know, some students at the Second Opportunity School in Watsonville, California decided to make some flags for Stacy to bring to Antarctica. They created a flag for each of the forty four nations that participate in the Antarctic Treaty. Each flag offers a prayer for the people of that country. If we could follow these students’ examples to stop and think about the plight of others, then the world, like Antarctica, could be an amazing place. I want to share some photographs of these wonderful flags. Perhaps you could make your own flag that Stacy could bring to Antarctica next year. It all starts with one flag and one prayer.