Choosers of the Slain

26

"Coming up on the end of the break. Buenos Aires link is up and hot. Stand by to cut to the Embassy. Three… two… one… and go!"

The master screens in the control room of the media center flickered and filled with multiple images. One was the urbane and well-known features of the moderator of the news feature program. The second was an intense-looking, middle-aged Latino with graying hair and a pencil-line mustache, sitting centered in one of the studio's interview sets. The third was Dr. Caroline Towers. She was seated in a straight-backed chair in the U.S. Embassy's reception lobby, a light microphone clipped to the lapel of her suit.

"Good evening, Doctor." The moderator's smooth voice overlaid the imaging. "I believe you were able to hear the comments made by the Argentine Minister of Trade here in our New York studios about his nation's program for Antarctic development. Do you have any response to them?"

"Yes I do, Mr. Douglas," she replied. "With all due respect to Mr. Anaya, Argentina's plans for Antarctic development are a prescription for almost certain ecological disaster."

The Argentine shook his head impatiently. "That is the same hackneyed phrase we have heard from environmental extremists for decades. I can assure you that Argentina intends to make the protection of the Antarctic environment one of its primary concerns. In recent years, given the proper safeguards, industrial development has taken place in numerous ecologically sensitive areas without causing undue harm. Antarctica is no different."

"No, sir! This is not the case. It's true that over the past decade global industry has made vast strides in developing ecologically protective procedures and technologies. However, much of this development is simply not applicable to the Antarctic environment. There, you are dealing literally with another world, one as alien to terrestrial norms as something orbiting in another star system.

"The Antarctic ecology is unique. It's vast in extent, sophisticated in its dynamics, and yet basically simple in structure. This simplicity renders it perilously fragile."

"How is that so, Doctor? Could you elaborate?" the moderator inquired.

"There isn't a great degree of multiple redundancy available within the biosphere."

"Multiple redundancy?"

"Yes," Dr. Towers explained patiently. "Allow me to state an example. Around the turn of the last century, the wolf was all but wiped out within the confines of the continental United States. The elimination of such a key predator from within an ecosystem could have caused a serious dysfunction. However, the hardier, more survivable coyote moved in and took over most of the wolf's niche. The system was able to adapt and self-repair.

"This critical kind of diversity is lacking in the Antarctic. In many instances, you have only one specific species filling one specific slot in the food chain. Do something to impact that one species and the entire system could crash.

"That's why the Antarctic is such an all-or-nothing proposition. The southern continent and its surrounding waters must be kept intact and pristine. As I said before, anything less is a prescription for ecological disaster."

"Come now, Doctor. Even if other nations choose to exercise their sovereignty in the Antarctic and elect to develop its resources, how much of the continent will be involved? Five percent, ten?"

"Mr. Anaya, how big does a cancer have to be to kill its host?"

"Those are strong words, Doctor." The moderator smoothly intervened before Anaya could initiate a heated reply. "Back here at home, however, we are hearing some other strong words. People are expressing concern as Argentina and the United States appear to be edging closer to open warfare over the Antarctic question. While not yet confirmed by the Pentagon, there are reports that at least one military engagement has been fought in the South Atlantic. In all probability, there will be more.

"The question is, is it really worth it? Are polar bears and penguins worth the potential loss of human life?"

Dr. Towers smiled quietly and removed her glasses.

"There are no polar bears in the Antarctic, Mr. Douglas. I am a scientist, and the study of ethics and social morality isn't really my field. My stock-in-trade is the accumulation of factual information.

"I can tell you this. The Antarctic seas pour millions of tons of protein into the global biosphere yearly. Disrupt that flow, and you will disrupt oceanic ecosystems all over the globe. Antarctica is also the premier weather generator of the planet. Disrupt its climate, and you disrupt the climate of every other continent as well.

"I can tell you one other thing. The cold polar environment greatly slows the natural processes the Earth uses to repair ecological damage. Whatever mistakes we make in the Antarctic today, the human race will have to live with for the next thousand years."