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UK celebrates Captain Scott’s Antarctic achievements and legacy to peace and science

Tuesday, February 21st 2012 - 20:56 UTC
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Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham held a special reception to recall the feat Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham held a special reception to recall the feat

Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham celebrated the Captain Scott expedition's achievements and legacy of peace and science at the Foreign Office on 20 February.

The Foreign Office Minister hosted a reception for the descendents of Captain Scott and the other members of the expedition, modern-day explorers, the international Antarctic community and world-class polar scientists from the UK.

A hundred years ago Captain Scott and his team were on their return journey from the South Pole, a journey that was famously to end in tragedy. Yet in his final message Scott described the expedition as a tale of ‘hardihood, endurance and courage’.

The story of the bravery and sacrifice on that fateful expedition has taken a central place in British history.

Talking about the expedition’s return journey, Minister Bellingham said that “...Captain Scott, Dr Wilson and the team retained their focus on recording their findings, carrying on scientific experiments and collecting samples. Some have called that folly. I call it bravery. And bravery that has had key role in making Antarctica the place of peace, scientific excellence and common endeavour that it is today. That is their legacy. And it is a legacy that deserves great pride.”

Bellingham also highlighted the UK’s continuing work in Antarctica.

“I am immensely proud of the enormous contribution that the United Kingdom is able to make in the fields of science, monitoring and environmental protection in Antarctica. From the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer in 1985, right up to the Lake Ellsworth drilling program this year. Working with international colleagues, I know that British scientists are making a huge contribution to increasing our knowledge of the continent, the planet and the future challenges we will face.”

In this important Centenary year, the Minister reiterated the commitment of the United Kingdom to continue to work actively within the Antarctic Treaty and with other Treaty parties to preserve the great white continent as a place of peace, science and discovery.

Minister Henry Bellingham heralds the work of the scientists responsible for continuing Captain Scott's scientific legacy with their cutting edge research on the environment and climate change.
 

Top Comments

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  • GreekYoghurt

    I'm waiting for an Argfag to pipe up about how they don't colonise, except for their claims to the whole of Antarctica.

    I can smell the faggotry coming.

    Feb 21st, 2012 - 09:09 pm 0
  • tobias

    What peace? His peaceful exploration is being used by the British as a pillar to “claiming” Antarctica. He is rolling on his grave surely!

    Feb 27th, 2012 - 04:14 pm 0
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