I believe that only meters should be displayed on the sign, which should also be written in a few of the major languages of the Antarctic Treaty countries, and not in English only. The Antarctic Treaty emphasizes that Antarctica has no inherent national sovereignty, and that spirit should be reflected on such an important global marker.
Paul T. Quoting Bernard Rachtmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > I'm guessing its not very old. Sometime ago I saw some historical > photos that included an older board. This one looks fairly new, in > addition to being moved annually. > > heres a blurb on the signs repositioning: > http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/oldissues2002-2003/Sun010503/polemarker.html > It's strange that this newspaper uses mostly USC numbers. Its printed > for Antarctic research facilities and is most likely read only by the > few dwelling scientists. Surely they'd understand a little metric. > > I believe the research facility down there is funded primarily by the US > (its a US station) yet also includes international research studies. > Theres only a handful of high antarctic facilities and this one is > probably the largest and holds the south pole distinction. > > Whether US operated or not, metric should be prominent. The researchers > conduct their experiments and studies in metric and there are probably > lots of foreign scientists there studying as well. Besides, its the > Antarctica! this is supposed to be the only truely non-national > "international" place on earth. > > -bernie > > On Mon, 6 Nov 2006 20:34:24 -0000, "Martin Vlietstra" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > > How old is the board? If it is more than 30 years old, then it pre-dates > > Britain's metircation program which might explain the use of feet. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Bernard Rachtmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 3:26 AM > > Subject: [USMA:37455] An imperial South Pole? > > > > > > > While doing some research into the Amundsen-Scott research facility > > > (located 90 degrees south) I found something strange. At the precise > > > south pole there is a sign planted which gives the elevation and acts > > > sybolically as an "info" spot. > > > > > > http://astro.uchicago.edu/cara/vtour/pole/poles/sign.jpg > > > > > > Odd that something so international as a sign in Antarctica would be > > > feet only. Apparently since the ice moves they have to move the sign > > > every year. Theres even a silver "pole" they pound into the ice! > > > -- > > > Bernard Rachtmann > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > -- > > > http://www.fastmail.fm - IMAP accessible web-mail > > > > > > -- > Bernard Rachtmann > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- > http://www.fastmail.fm - Choose from over 50 domains or use your own > > Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Public Relations Director U.S. Metric Association, Inc. Phone (432)528-7724 www.metric.org 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apartment 122 Midland TX 79707-2872 USA mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.grandecom.net/~trusten
