Greenpeace makes last bid to beat ice

Press, 1 February 1986, Page 1

Greenpeace makes last bid to beat ice

The Greenpeace Antarctic expedition is defying the threat of the coming winter in another attempt to land equipment at Ross Island. The expedition’s co-or-dinator, Mr Peter Wilkinson, speaking by satellitetelephone from the ship Greenpeace last evening, said; “We are on our way back to Ross Island now and should be there in about seven hours.” - .... Because of ice round tlte ’ had earlier abandoned hope of being able to set up an environmentalists’ base camp at Cape Evans. “We’ve had reports that the ice is freeing up and our prime objective now is to offload materials, equipment and food for the base camp,” said Mr Wilkinson. “There is no possibility of being able to leave any of our people there because there just won’t be time to construct the camp. '■lf we can get the

materials off the ship it will be a great achievement, given that a couple of days ago it looked like we had no chance of doing even that,” he said. “We have yet to verify the reports of the ice break-up, but if we can get the materials off the ship it will give us a great head start when we come back next summer. We will be able to get straight into building the camp,” Mr Wilkinson, said. * '• Greenpeace has been warned by the United States authorities at McMurdo Station that its search and rescue capabilities are depleted and will be non-existent from February 12 when they pull out before winter sets in. “It would be prudent for us to be out of the area by then,” said Mr Wilkinson. “We may even leave there before that, it depends on the conditions.” News of the ice break-

ing up round Ross Island had cheered the ship’s crew immensely, he said. “We have been at sea for six weeks and it has been a frustrating time. Now it seems our patience is paying dividends,” Mr Wilkinson said. The ship’s crew took to the ice for the first time on Thursday to •' hold . a symbolic ceremony in the Bay of Whales , on New Zealand’s - Ross Depend- J ency. . , The., group . proclaimed Antarcticaa "world park” and read a declaration signed by 149 environmentalist groups from throughout the world. “Thursday’s ceremony was fantastic,” said Mr Wilkinson. “It was the first time all 34 of us had been on the ice during our six-week voyage. “It’s a truly beautiful place and we raised the (Greenpeace) flag near a rookery of Adelle penguins. There are also royal penguins and leopard and crab-eater seals,” he said.

Greenpeace in Wellington has accused New Zealand and other Antarctic Treaty nations of “obstructive, practices.” .. - The. treaty nations had actively tried to sabotage the ? : expedition, said Greenpeace’s . Antarctic campaign • ' co-ordinator, Mr Roger Wilson. “The New Zealand Government, for instance, refused to issue us with J anyradio' licences,.except for emergency; communi-' cations ■'Base. '■■■' :■•< "They also refused to sponsor our application to Inmarsat (International Maritime Satellite Organisation) for a; licence to use satellite communications from the Antarctic,” he said. The New Zealand and Australian Government have been critical about safety of the expedition. “It is hypocrisy to accuse Greenpeace of being recklessly unprepared for such a venture on the one hand, while on the other refusing to provide licences for communications essential for the safety of thd 1 expedition,” Mr Wilson said.