Antarctica, home to the south pole(s),
Antarctica, home to the south pole(s),

penguins, and about 5000 people during the summers,
penguins, and about 5000 people during the summers,

but less than 1000 during the ever dark winter.
but less than 1000 during the ever dark winter.

No one lives on the continent permanently,
No one lives on the continent permanently,

so, who owns Antarctica?
so, who owns Antarctica?

Most stuff outside national borders, the sea floor, the moon,
Most stuff outside national borders, the sea floor, the moon,

really all of space, is the common heritage of mankind.
really all of space, is the common heritage of mankind.

It belongs to none of us and all of us, held in trust for future generations.
It belongs to none of us and all of us, held in trust for future generations.

Which is nice, if perhaps a bit presumptive
Which is nice, if perhaps a bit presumptive

to say that the entire universe is ours,
to say that the entire universe is ours,

and maybe someone will have something to say about that eventually,
and maybe someone will have something to say about that eventually,

story for another time, but still.
story for another time, but still.

Well done humanity.
Well done humanity.

Except, it's never that simple.
Except, it's never that simple.

Because the paperwork on Antarctica sort of says common heritage of mankind,
Because the paperwork on Antarctica sort of says common heritage of mankind,

but it doesn't go all in.
but it doesn't go all in.

Here's why. Explorers started landing
Here's why. Explorers started landing

in Antarctica in about the 1800's, planting flags
in Antarctica in about the 1800's, planting flags

and making claims. But these claims were a bit hollow
and making claims. But these claims were a bit hollow

because on the civilization tech tree, Antarctica
because on the civilization tech tree, Antarctica

wasn't colonizable. Nonetheless, like Monopoly,
wasn't colonizable. Nonetheless, like Monopoly,

the optimal colonial strategy is claim everything you land on.
the optimal colonial strategy is claim everything you land on.

In the early 1900's, the UK toyed with claiming all of
In the early 1900's, the UK toyed with claiming all of

Antarctica before scaling back her ambitions to just
Antarctica before scaling back her ambitions to just

the coastal parts she had explored to the south pole.
the coastal parts she had explored to the south pole.

France also claimed coastal explorations to the pole,
France also claimed coastal explorations to the pole,

followed by Norway followed by the Nazis.
followed by Norway followed by the Nazis.

Mid-century, Argentina and Chile claimed slices overlapping
Mid-century, Argentina and Chile claimed slices overlapping

with the UK, who they figured was rather too busy
with the UK, who they figured was rather too busy

at the time to care, but later she and her now
at the time to care, but later she and her now

independent colonies totally did. This left
independent colonies totally did. This left

Antarctica a mess of competing claims, at a bad time
Antarctica a mess of competing claims, at a bad time

to have large territorial disputes. Complicating things,
to have large territorial disputes. Complicating things,

the United States and the Soviet Union gave
the United States and the Soviet Union gave

themselves the right to make a claim on
themselves the right to make a claim on

Antarctica, not now, but maybe later.
Antarctica, not now, but maybe later.

Given this, quite remarkably in 1959 the US and USSR
Given this, quite remarkably in 1959 the US and USSR

and ten other countries, Argentina, Australia, Belgium,
and ten other countries, Argentina, Australia, Belgium,

Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway,
Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway,

South Africa, and the UK made a treaty to ease the tensions,
South Africa, and the UK made a treaty to ease the tensions,

saying that on Antarctica, there would be
saying that on Antarctica, there would be

no military, no mining, and no nuclear exploding.
no military, no mining, and no nuclear exploding.

The Antarctican paperwork is the first Cold War
The Antarctican paperwork is the first Cold War

disarmament treaty, and set aside the continent
disarmament treaty, and set aside the continent

for science and nature.
for science and nature.

By the way, because it's a nature preserve,
By the way, because it's a nature preserve,

there's a rule about garbage. Leave nothing behind.
there's a rule about garbage. Leave nothing behind.

Nothing. Travel to Antarctica in the summer and you'll
Nothing. Travel to Antarctica in the summer and you'll

fly back with your poo in the winter.
fly back with your poo in the winter.

So this looks pretty great. What's the problem
So this looks pretty great. What's the problem

with the line about common heritage?
with the line about common heritage?

Well, no one actually gave up their claims on Antarctica
Well, no one actually gave up their claims on Antarctica

because the only way to get everyone to sign was to
because the only way to get everyone to sign was to

include this clause, which sidesteps the issue,
include this clause, which sidesteps the issue,

basically saying countries will act as though Antarctica
basically saying countries will act as though Antarctica

is the common heritage of mankind and as though
is the common heritage of mankind and as though

they have no claims, but they aren't legally for realsies
they have no claims, but they aren't legally for realsies

giving up anything, which is why maps of Antarctica
giving up anything, which is why maps of Antarctica

often include the current state of claim wedges.
often include the current state of claim wedges.

This blank spot, by the way, is nobody's, leaving it
This blank spot, by the way, is nobody's, leaving it

the largest territory unclaimed on Earth by any nation.
the largest territory unclaimed on Earth by any nation.

So far, anyway.
So far, anyway.

Now unlike the colonial days, countries have the tech
Now unlike the colonial days, countries have the tech

to build permanently staffed bases on Antarctica, and
to build permanently staffed bases on Antarctica, and

it just so happens that countries build their bases
it just so happens that countries build their bases

in their own claims, leaving no clear answer to this question.
in their own claims, leaving no clear answer to this question.

According to the treaty, Antarctica belongs to everyone,
According to the treaty, Antarctica belongs to everyone,

but the treaty itself has an intentional hole.
but the treaty itself has an intentional hole.

So Antarctica exists in this quantum state where
So Antarctica exists in this quantum state where

the claims are real and unreal. Some countries build
the claims are real and unreal. Some countries build

within their "borders" and some countries without claims,
within their "borders" and some countries without claims,

like China, build their bases on the continent wherever
like China, build their bases on the continent wherever

because it belongs to everyone, right guys?
because it belongs to everyone, right guys?

These claims don't really matter, until they do in the
These claims don't really matter, until they do in the

2040's when the mining ban comes up for review.
2040's when the mining ban comes up for review.

Oh, and there's possibly a lot of oil in Antarctica, not to
Oh, and there's possibly a lot of oil in Antarctica, not to

mention 70% of the Earth's fresh water, which could be
mention 70% of the Earth's fresh water, which could be

the more valuable resource in the future. The US and
the more valuable resource in the future. The US and

the Soviet... er, Russia might just yet dust off those one
the Soviet... er, Russia might just yet dust off those one

free claim because I say so tickets. But for now,
free claim because I say so tickets. But for now,

Antarctica is as the treaty intended. A continental
Antarctica is as the treaty intended. A continental

nature preserve and scientific research haven.
nature preserve and scientific research haven.

Squarespace is the easiest way to create a beautiful
Squarespace is the easiest way to create a beautiful

website, blog, or online store for you and your ideas.
website, blog, or online store for you and your ideas.

I'm very happy to have them as a sponsor because I
I'm very happy to have them as a sponsor because I

personally use Squarespace to run cgpgrey.com and
personally use Squarespace to run cgpgrey.com and

also hellointernet.com, the podcast I do with Brady.
also hellointernet.com, the podcast I do with Brady.

If you are looking to have your own website for just
If you are looking to have your own website for just

about anything, I personally recommend Squarespace.
about anything, I personally recommend Squarespace.

And if you click on the link or use the offer code "Grey",
And if you click on the link or use the offer code "Grey",

you get 10% off at checkout. So if you have ever
you get 10% off at checkout. So if you have ever

considered starting your own website, click on the link,
considered starting your own website, click on the link,

go to Squarespace, give them a try. It helps
go to Squarespace, give them a try. It helps

Squarespace, and it helps this channel.
Squarespace, and it helps this channel.

Squarespace. Build it beautiful.
Squarespace. Build it beautiful.