A permanência do Brasil no Continente Antártico: uma análise do impacto na nova estação Comandante Ferraz para o futuro das pesquisas no continente gelado e sobre a geopolítica brasileira

Abstract

In 2012 a terrible fire destroyed 70% of the Brazilian Research Station in Antarctica. This fact faced the country with a real dilemma: what would be the future of the Brazilian Antarctic Program? Than, three options emerged: the abandonment of the program and the withdrawal of the country from the Antarctic Treaty; the simple renovation of the old Station, which still had about 30% of the facilities working; or take it to a step further and build a completely new and modern Research Station. The third option was chosen. Thus, the main objective of the work is to carry out an analysis of the impacts generated by the construction of the new Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz from the perspective of four main approaches: scientific, environmental, geopolitical, as well as the impact of this new Station for the future of the brazilian presence in the frozen continent. In this context, a bibliographic research about the antarctic continent, was made, which focused to find out, the geopolitical relations developed on the continent, as well as the environmental and scientific aspects related to the sixth continent. The hypothesis presented by the author defends the idea that the inauguration of the new Antarctic Station was a infleciton point in brazilian history in the antarctic continent and marked a change in the Country's attitude towards the relationship with the southern continent. The work could also count with contribution of reports made by the author, who was an eyewitness to the tragic fire that hit the old station and caused the irreparable loss of two Brazilian Navy militarys who were part of the Base Group of the Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz.