Airbus A340 lands in Antarctica

[The Rat]

Charter company Hi Fly puts on a show, looks like a bit of a crosswind:

[zenrat]

Antarctica is (was?) the last untouched continent.  I personally don't like to see this.  I'd like to see tourism banned from there and even scientific endeavours to be strictly controlled.
The poor penguins have enough crap coming to them as their home melts without all this going on as well.

OK.  Soapbox away now.

[George the Cat]

Antarctica is (was?) the last untouched continent.  I personally don't like to see this.  I'd like to see tourism banned from there and even scientific endeavours to be strictly controlled.
The poor penguins have enough crap coming to them as their home melts without all this going on as well.

OK.  Soapbox away now.

I quite agree. Scientific research yes, but not tourism.

[Weaver]

Love the fact that there's a working DC-3 in the background...  

Antarctica is (was?) the last untouched continent.  I personally don't like to see this.  I'd like to see tourism banned from there and even scientific endeavours to be strictly controlled.
The poor penguins have enough crap coming to them as their home melts without all this going on as well.

OK.  Soapbox away now.

Amen, but all those good intentions will last about five minutes after the last of the oil runs out...

[The Rat]

I don't see tourism as a problem, so long as there are strictly enforced controls. First, obviously, would be a restriction on how many annual visitors. Second, in order for there to be a fair chance for everyone, perhaps a lottery system to get a trip. As it is now, the costs are prohibitive for most people, that alone keeps the numbers low. And often, when people can see such things for themselves, they become more informed about the need to preserve wild spaces. I'm only mildly in favour of capital punishment for littering. 

As far as resource management, there should be only one rule: NO RESOURCE EXTRACTION OF ANY KIND FOR ANY REASON! Okay, you can perhaps melt some ice to make a cuppa, but nothing else.

[rickshaw]

Having been to antarctica once, long, long, ago, I'd say let them go.  I went as a forklift driver for an antarctic expedition one year.  It was bloody cold and something tourists need to experience to understand why no one lives there full time.  The wild life is incredible and shouldn't be missed. I still bear the scars from an Emperor Penguin I tried to catch and band for the scientists.

[Captain Canada]

Great landing ! Who doesn't love watching a giant bird alight ?