Pretes, Michael

ARCTIC

English

Michael Pretes

Crossref

Antarctica: The Next Decade, Report of a study group chaired by Sir Anthony Parsons

University of Calgary Journal Hosting

242 I REVIEWS to  make  it  seem  almost as though  the  book  has  been  written by the people it depicts. Through the use of fiist-hand accounts, reminis- cences, and stories, she has made the voice of the native people themselves  central  to  the  book - in  many  ways,  this  is  a  story of the Indians  told  through  their  own  words.  Dorothy  Smith  of  Ross  River tells how  her  people  decided  to  have  a  common  trapline  rather  than go along  with  the  officials  who  wanted  individual  registered  lines: This  is the  last place  they  still  have  a  group  trapline. All the  other  places have  individual  traplines.  Ones  who  still  trap  here,  they  don’t  care. Youcan go anywhere  you  want,  and  nobody  will  say  anything.  That’s  why we want to keep it that way. The game warden wanted to make it individual, but we  had  a meeting and we just  told  him no! Because if it’s individual,  some  of the people would probably sell out, and then the Indian people  would  have  nothing. . . . Whoever  wants  to  trap  can go out and trap, can have  their traps any place. . . . This  is  a  remarkable  book  in  other  ways  as  well.  It  is  beautifully produced,  with  copious  illustrations,  including  some  stunning  colour photographs,  courtesy of the  Yuko  government.  The  typeface  is handsome,  the  margins  more  than  gen 2 rous,  the  binding  sturdy,  and  the physical  appearance  of  the book bespeaks  a  quality  unusual  in  a  book aimed partly at schoolchildren. It must be one of the most elegant textbooks  ever  published,  and  probably  one  of  the  most  expensive. There  is,  however,  a  serious  caveat to be issued  about  this  book  from the  point of view of an historian.  The  book  in  some  ways  does  not  seem to be a  history  at  all.  Not  only  is  its  organization  only  loosely  chrono- logical,  but  it  leaves  huge  gaps  in  the  historical  record;  in  particular,  the history of the  Yukon  Indians  after  the  arrival  of  outsiders  and  their relations  with  these  outsiders  is  dealt  with  only  very  briefly.  The  history of the  twentieth  century  is  covered  in  a  19-page  chapter  entitled  “It’s  a Long Way to Ottawa: Yukon Indians and the Government” - the entire  modem  history of a  people  occupying  less  than  six  percent of the text.  Hints  of  this  story  are  given -we are  told  something  about  the casual  day  labour  performed  by  Indians  during  the  gold rush, but there is no coherent  analysis of native  employment  patterns.  Nor  is  there  any analysis  of  the  effects of imported  diseases,  or of alcohol.  There  are only  two  paragraphs on the  building  of  the  Alaska  Highway,  an  impor- tant  episode  in  native  history.  One  of  the  most  traumatic  experiences of many  Yukon  natives  now  living - education  at  a  mission  school - is not  covered  at  all.  Surely  some  of  the  author’s  informants  told  her  of being  beaten  for  speaking  native  languages  in  school,  but  this  aspect  of Indian  history  is  for  some  reason  lacking. The  result is  that  many  of  the  darker  episodes  in  the  history of Yukon Indians  are  glossed  over or ignored.  Reviewers  are  often  accused  of criticizing  an  author  for  not  writing  the book that  the  reviewer  would wish  to  see,  but  a  history,  particularly  a  wide-ranging  one  that is  meant to serve as a school text, must cover its subject as completely as possible,  or  leave  itself  open  to  such  criticism. Part of theLand,  Part  of the Water, while  a  handsome book and  sensitive  to its subject, is  not wholly  satisfactory  as  a  history  of  the  Yukon  Indians. William R . Morrison Department of History Brandon  University Brandon,  Manitoba,  Canada R7A 6A9 ANTARCTICA: THE NEXT DECADE. Report of a study group chaired  by SIR ANTHONY PARSONS. Cambridge:  The  Press  Syndicate of the  University of Cambridge, 1987. 164 p.,  maps,  appendixes, notes,  refs.,  index.  Hardbound.  Price  not  indicated. The continent of Antarctica, which constitutes approximately 10 percent  of  the  earth’s  land  surface  and  about 10 percent  of  its  oceans, has long remained hidden in obscurity. Only in recent years has Antarctica  achieved  much  recognition  of  its  role  in  international  affairs. Exploration,  research,  and  in  the de facto sense  administration  of  the continent  remained  with  the  largely  developed  nations  that  had  a  long history of activity in the  region. In the early  1980%  a  group  of  develop- ing  nations led by  Malaysia  began  to  call  for  a  re-evaluation of the present  Antarctic  Treaty  system,  with  the  objective  of  involving non- treaty  members  in  the  affairs of Antarctica.  These  nations  presented  a challenge  to  the  present  regime,  one  that  is  not  likely  to  disappear  or  be easily resolved. Hence, the present volume comes at a particularly appropriate  time  and  is  important  reading  for  anyone  interested  in  the administration  and  development of the  last  remaining  no-man’s  land on the  planet. The  present  work  does  not  attempt  to  explore al   aspects of Antarctic affairs  within  a  single  volume.  Instead,  the  book  focuses on the  future of the  Antarctic  Treaty  regime  and on the  implications of the  disputes between  the  established  treaty  members  and  the  developing  nations  that have hitherto taken little interest in the continent. The companion volume  to  this  study, The Antarctic  Treaty  Regime, edited by  Gillian Triggs  (and  reviewed  in Arctic 41(2) June  1988),  provides  the  back- ground  to  the  treaty  and  the  details of its  many  components.  Together these  works  will  constitute  a  definitive  study  of  political  affairs  in  the Antarctic. The  book is  divided  into  three  main  parts.  The  first  begins  with  a summary of the  origins  and  purpose  of  the  1959  treaty  and  notes  the success  that  the  treaty  has  achieved  in  the  international  community. The  treaty  has  been  successful  in  protecting  the  Antarctic  environment, in  establishing  scientific  cooperation,  and  in  circumventing  political disputes  over  the  territory.  The  success of the  treaty  has  been  chal- lenged,  however, by a  bloc of smaller,  newer  nations  that  have  had no previous  experience  in  the  region.  These  nations  are  resentful of the dominance  exercised  by  the  treaty  members,  which  they  perceive  as  an exclusive  club  of  developed  nations  controlling  a  part  of  the  earth’s surface  that  should  be  used  to  benefit  all of mankind.  Their  actions  in the United Nations and other world fora stem from this perceived exclusion  from  decision  making  in  Antarctica.  Here it should be noted that  although 80 percent of the  world’s  population  lives  in  nations  that are members  of  the  treaty,  these  nations  constitute  only 20 percent of the  world’s  nations,  leaving 80 percent  of  the  nations  unrepresented on the  issue  of  Antarctica.  These  differences of opinion  concerning  the internationalization of the continent put considerable stress on the present treaty system  and the current regime. Moreover,  non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have  also  begun  to  play  a  larger  role  in  the  affairs of the  Antarctic.  Environmental  organizations,  especially,  have  exert- ed  pressure on the  developed  nations  to  limit  the  development of the continent  and  to  adopt  more  conservation-oriented  policies.  The  impact of the actions taken by both NGOs and the non-treaty developing nations  indicate  the  need  for  a  reassessment  of  the  present  system. Part  Two of the  book  deals  with  the  uses  of  Antarctica.  Scientific research is one use that could be subject to changes if the treaty is reassessed.  Present  research  in  the  areas of geology  and  geophysics, climatology  and  meteorology,  and  biological  sciences  could  be  subject to greater  restrictions  under a new  treaty  regime  with a significantly enlarged membership. Biological resources themselves, as well as mineral resources, could also be affected. The authors of this text, however, are not enthusiastic about the development of mineral re- sources  in  the  region.  The  difficulties of exploration,  access,  and  cost preclude significant development from taking place. Present world prices are simply  too  low  to  justify  immediate  exploration  and  develop- ment,  especially  when  other  energy  alternatives  are  more  cost  efficient. The  military  potential of Antarctica  is  also  discounted,  at  least  for  the present,  as  the  region is  currently  demilitarized,  internationally  admin- istered,  and is  not  strategically  important at this  time. The  third  part of the  book  focuses on options  for  the  future.  After examining  various  scenarios,  the  authors  make  a  strong  case  for  afford- ing the non-member developing nations greater participation in the administration of Antarctica.  Some  accommodation on the  part of each side  will  need  to  take  place,  and  the  present  treaty  can  serve  as  a  basis for the development of a new regime. The review of the treaty, scheduled  for  1991,  will no doubt  see  greater  involvement  from  more nations  which  have  recognized  the  importance  of  Antarctica. Antarctica is being transformed from an obscure continent with limited  scientific  interest  into  the  focus  of  many  of  the  world’s  nations. REVIEWS I 243 Evidence of this  includes  the  fact  that  since  this  book  was  published  in 1987,  five  more  nations  have  acceded  to  the  treaty  and  one  previous member was accorded consultative party status (Headland, 1988). Given the interest in this continent, there is a need for additional scholarship  that  addresses  the  political  and  developmental  aspects  of the Antarctic. This book, along with the companion volume men- tioned  above,  answers  this  need.  The  book  is  highly  recommended  for anyone with an interest in the development or preservation of the frozen  continent. REFERENCES HEADLAND, R.K. 1988. Signatory governments of the Antarctic Treaty. TRIGGS, G.,  ed. 1987. The  Antarctic  Treaty  Regime:  Law,  Environment  and Polar Record 24( 148):64. Resources.  Cambridge: Cambridge University  Press. 238 p. Michael  Pretes The  Arctic  Institute  of  North  America The University of Calgary Calgary,  Alberta,  Canada R N  IN4 DETECTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF ICE. By EDWARD 0. LEWIS, BRIAN w. CURRIE and SIMON HAYKIN. Letchworth,  Hertford- shire,  England:  Research  Studies  Press  Ltd.;  New  York:  John  Wiley & Sons Inc., 1987. 325 p., maps, figs., illus., index, bib. Hard- bound. US$77.95. This is a  very  informative book reporting  the  results of four  experi- ments  aimed  at  evaluating  ice  detection  and  potential  for  classification of a  number of surface-based  marine  radar  systems.  Offshore  drilling platforms  in  the  Beaufort  Sea  and  off  Canada’s  east  coast  make  exten- sive use of  marine  radar  as  a  tool  for  ice  detection  and  tracking  and  use airborne  radar  systems  for  ice  detection  and  classification;  during  such times as aircraft systems are not available (e.g., bad weather, cost considerations)  surface-based  marine  radar  is  the  only  tool  available  for use  in monitoring  of  the  ice  surrounding  the  drilling  platform.  The  book demonstrates that marine radar systems exist that, when properly configured,  can  be  used  for  both  ice  detection  and  ice  classification.  Ice classification  is  an  item of major  importance  that  would  greatly  enhance the  utility  of  marine  radars;  this  would  expand  the  “[yeslno] [X’ at  Y krns]” response  to  the  query “Is there  ice?”  to  include  that  most  vital piece of information - the  type  of  ice!  The  threat  posed  to  a  drilling platform  by  a  floe  of  one-metre-thick fist-year ice  is  miniscule  when compared  with  that  from  a  multi-year  ice floe or  an  iceberg.  A  marine radar  that  could  allow  for  differentiation of these  targets  would  be  of great  value  to  both  drilling  and  navigation  operations  in  the  ice-congested waters. The  book is  unique  in  that  it  offers  technical  information  to  people who  may  require  it (e.g., design  engineers  or  people  responsible  for system  selection)  as  well  as  to  operators  who  end  up  actually  using  the apparatus.  The  book  should  be  required  reading  in  offshore  installa- tions  operating  in  ice-covered  waters.  The  language  and  presentation are  such  that  most  people  can  easily  grasp  the  fundamentals  and  the details as they impact their particular operation (e.g., drillship, or caisson  or  navigating  vessel). The  chapters  preceding  the  discussion  of  the  icelradar  experiments present  two  very  valuable  sections:  one  on  the  nature  and  structure  of sea  ice  and  glacier  ice  (Chapter 3), and  the  other  on  the  theory  of  radar (Chapter 4). The  section  on  ice  structure  in  Chapter  3  very  efficiently concludes  with  an  extended  discussion  of  the  variations  in  dielectric loss  rates  between  different  ice  types ( .g.,  an  iceberg  and  a  multi-year ice floe) that result in their having different radar signatures. The depolarization  of  radar  signals  is  identified  as  a  key  aspect of ice-type differentiation.  Though  both  of  these  chapters  contain  some  complex physical  and  mathematical  concepts,  they  are  written  with  sufficient clarity  (and  apparent  concern  for  readers  from  the  “soft”  sciences)  that the  fundamentals are easily  grasped.  We  found  it  rather  refreshing  to read  a  scientific  book  that  begins  at  the  beginning,  rather  than  some- where  in  the  middle. The  authors of Detection  and Classifcation of Ice concentrate  on radar  performance  in  ice-covered  waters,  although  there  was  one  experi- ment  in  open  waters  with  X-band  radar.  The  sea  state  and  weather  were relatively  stable  during  the  open  water  experiment,  and  it  would  be interesting to see the results of similar experiments carried out in adverse  conditions  with  moving  targets  (the  targets  in  the  ice-covered water experiments were stationary). Although the authors achieved their objectives by demonstrating an ability to detect multi-year ice floes, icebergs  and  “bergy  bits”  (in  ideal  conditions),  the  problem of detecting growlers has not been resolved. The authors do suggest, however,  that  the  use of a  coherent  system  may  aid  in  the  detection ofsmaller  targets  in  open  water  conditions. The  authors of the  book  recommend  the  use  of  an  S-band  radar  for detection of large  targets  and  a  dual-polarized  (HH  and  HV)  X-band radar  for  detection of multi-year  floes  and  glacier  ice  targets.  They  also provide  configuration  data  that  would  enhance  the  detection  capabili- ties of existing  X-band  radar  systems. This  book  is  a  valuable  resource  for  people  who  may be defining  or developing  system  requirements  for  operations  in  ice-infested  waters. It  offers  practical  and  useful  suggestions  on  alternatives  and  trade-offs for  various  options.  The  book  is  also  of  use  to  people  who  operate  the equipment or are in responsible positions (e.g., a vessel master) to appreciate the limitations and usefulness of X-band vs. S-band, X-polarization, and antenna height configurations. The book would also be of  interest  to  students  in  electrical  engineering  or  remote  sensing. Bharat  Dixif PFL  Arctic  and  Offshore  Technology  Ltd. Calgary,  Alberta,  Canada Alvin  Simms Memorial  University St. John’s, Newfoundland,  Canada Stephen  Wonfor Department of Geography The University of Calgary Calgary,  Alberta,  Canada l 2N  IN4  C-CORE NORTHWEST  TERRITORIES  POSTAL  CANCELLATIONS  1907- 1986. By KEVIN O’REILLY. Toronto: The Unitrade Press, 1987. viii+  230  p.,  maps,  facsimiles,  etc.  No  price  indicated. The first  impression  a  philatelist  will  likely  derive  from  this  book  is probably  highly  misleading.  The  collector  of  postage  stamps,  air  com- panies’ mail stickers, or first-day flight covers with their colourful cachets  will  search  in  vain  for  these  desirata.  Rather,  this  book  restricts itself  to  reproducing  the postal markings  with  which  postmasters  franked regular  and  registered  mail  and  parcels  originating  in  the  Territories. The  main  sources  for  these  were  the  Post  Office  Department’s  proof books  at  the  National  Postal  Museum  and  the  department’s  records  in the  Public  Archives,  both  in  Ottawa,  supplemented  by  many  covers from  mail  posted  in  the  N.W.T.  The  postmarks  identified,  depicted  and described prove surprisingly varied. They represent the outputs of some  92  official  Canadian  post  offices  and  9  United  States  Army post offices whose A.P.O. numbers on cancellations indicate they were used during the course of U.S. Cold War and Second World War military  operations  in the N.W.T. The  author  has  carefully  researched the history  of  each  office - when  it  was  opened,  closed,  reopened,  when  and  where  it  was  relocat- 

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Antarctica: The Next Decade, Report of a study group chaired by Sir Anthony Parsons

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