[rdouglass]

Originally posted by Paul1980au:
Well when antartica treaty runs out one would think that they will re sign it. To much to lose on an environmental basis there.

As long as they don't find a big oil Cache there or something like it.... I agree, environmentally it's very significant - it's a huge "early warning system" for environmental conditions.

In addition, it's not very attractive in terms of military strategy either (not yet anyways). Notice how there's no such agreement concerning the Arctic; partially 'cause there's no dry land but probably more so due to the superpowers being in the Northern Hemisphere (they want to fly surveilence, etc.)

Now the moon may not have much to offer monetarily but may be huge militarily in the not-so-distant future. I suspect that will be a big factor also IMO.