Media
release - 7 April 2009 - Ministers and officials
from around the world have gathered in Washington,
USA, at a special event hosted by US Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton, to mark the 50th
anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty.
Representing the Australian
Government at the event, Environment Minister
Peter Garrett said Australia was also very
pleased to announce that it will host the
2012 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
(ATCM). This will be the 35th meeting of
the ATCM – the third time that the Treaty
Parties will assemble in Australia.
"It is fantastic
to be in Washington representing Australia
for this very special event particularly
as we were one of the twelve original signatories
to the historic agreement, signed here fifty
years ago.
"I am also very
pleased to announce that we will host the
2012 meeting. Australia first hosted this
meeting in 1961 and we've been active in
Antarctica for over 100 years," Mr
Garrett said.
Minister Garrett reiterated
Australia's commitment to the Antarctic
Treaty as the assembled Ministers adopted
a declaration reflecting on the success
of the Treaty in reserving Antarctica as
a continent for peace and science, where
nations cooperate in investigating key scientific
questions.
"Since the signing
of the Treaty 50 years ago, 35 other countries
have signed the Antarctic Treaty – a testament
to its importance" Mr Garrett said.
Foreign Minister Stephen
Smith said since its inception the Treaty
has been bolstered by associated agreements,
including a Convention for the conservation
of marine living resources, and a Protocol
which provides for the comprehensive environmental
protection of Antarctica, and a ban on mining.
"Australia is proud
of the leading role it took in ensuring
that Antarctica's environmental values are
properly protected, and we continue to regard
Antarctic environmental protection as one
of our highest priorities," Mr Smith
said.
The Washington event
also marked the end of the International
Polar Year (IPY), an ambitious, international
collaborative endeavour which began in March
2007.
Thousands of scientists
from more than 60 nations were involved
in wide range of physical, biological and
social research topics in the Arctic and
Antarctic.
Australia led eight
major projects, including a comprehensive
census of Antarctic marine life, and participated
in more than 60 others.
The IPY made significant
advances in our scientific understanding
of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
During the next fortnight,
representatives of the Parties to the Antarctic
Treaty will continue their meeting in Baltimore,
USA, to consider issues including environmental
protection, Antarctic science, the management
of tourism, the safety of shipping, and
practical cooperation.
School kids to speak
to PM about climate change
Media release - 6 April
2009 - Australian school children will be
able to explain what climate change means
to them, in a new competition for primary
and secondary students.
Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, today
launched a new Think Climate Think Change
competition for students in grades 3 to
9.
Students will be encouraged
to use their creative talents to answer
the question - what does climate change
mean to me? They will be able to express
their answers in a range of forms, including
short stories, poems, songs or artwork.
Senator Wong visited
Cammeray Public School in North Sydney to
launch the competition, after receiving
letters from Cammeray students about climate
change earlier this year.
"School children
from all over Australia have written to
me asking about climate change and sharing
their ideas," Senator Wong said.
"Young Australians
are very well informed when it comes to
the issue of climate change."They understand
that we need to take action now."
Competition winners
will be flown to Canberra in August with
a parent or guardian to share their ideas
with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Deputy Prime
Minister Julia Gillard and Senator Wong
as part of a special awards ceremony.
The Think Climate Think
Change competition will open on Tuesday
28 April 2009 and close on Wednesday 24
June 2009.
All Members of Parliament
will be invited to encourage local participation
and attend the awards ceremony at Parliament
House in August to meet the winners.
Prizes for each of the
three age categories will include:
1st Place
Trip for two (winner
and parent/guardian) to Canberra including
return airfares, 2 nights accommodation,
the awards ceremony, a personalised tour
of Parliament House, and 2 tickets to Questacon
- the national science and technology centre
Nintendo Wii Console, sports kit and Wii
Fit pack
$1000 Dymocks voucher for the winner's school
2nd Place
16GB Apple iPod touch
3rd Place
8GB Apple iPod Nano
Highly commended (3 per category)
$50 Dymocks book voucher
Each winner will also have his or her work
published on the Department of Climate Change
website. Judging criteria will be based
on creativity, originality and attention
to the theme.
Schools will receive
a special resource kit that will include
information about the competition and fast
facts on climate change at the start of
Term 2.
More details about the
competition, including terms and conditions
and the official entry form, will be available
on the Department of Climate Change website
at www.climatechange.gov.au from 28 April.
