Letter: Saving polar heritage
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Tom Wilkie's open letter to HRH Princess Anne (15 April) stressed, quite rightly, the need for patronage of science, but failed to state that this is one of the aims of the Antarctic Heritage Trust. Moreover, Michael Jopling's Antarctic Bill, now passing through Parliament, seeks to protect better the Antarctic environment to enable research of global relevance to be conducted there (on climate and sea level change, atmospheric chemistry, impacts of enhanced ultra-violet radiation, etc). But it also requires Britain to 'clean up' abandoned bases, any debris and remains from former times.
While the British Antarctic Survey is committed, with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, to this costly activity, it is important to ensure that the past history of scientific exploration and human endeavour is not swept away indiscriminately. The Antarctic Heritage Trust is assisting directly on what should be retained and conserved for future generations.
Yours faithfully,
D. J. DREWRY
Director, British Antarctic Survey
Cambridge
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments