Antarctic Protection
On February 9 authorities began regulating sightseeing trips to Antarctica to protect the fragile ecology of the polar region and to help develop Antarctic tourism.
According to a guideline issued by the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), hunting wild animals, construction, entering conservation areas, collecting soil and rock samples, and bringing in hazardous materials are all banned.
Tourists are required to take all solid waste away with them when they leave Antarctica or have it burned at designated facilities.
Those who litter must clear up any damage and bear the cost of environmental restoration.
Violators will be blacklisted and restricted from entering Antarctica for one to three years, according to the new rules.
Visitors must have permission from the SOA before arriving at research stations and need to inform these stations 24 to 72 hours ahead of arrival. The station can cancel or adjust tourist visits according to its schedule, the guideline said.
Individuals and groups are required to gain approval from the SOA before collecting samples from Antarctica for the purpose of scientific research. South China Sea, officials announced on February 8.
The center, built and managed by China, monitors major earthquake subduction zones, the sites where tectonic plates converge, in the South China, Sulu and Sulawesi seas and provides 24-hour uninterrupted warning services, said Wang Hua, an official with the State Oceanic Administration (SOA).
The South China Sea region is prone to tsunamis. Littoral countries have until now relied on services provided by American and Japanese warning centers.
The warning center was proposed in 2009. In 2013, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization approved the SOA plan.
According to Wang, the center is the result of practical maritime cooperation between countries around the South China Sea.
Yuan Ye, Director of the National Tsunami Warning Center, said that China is now able to warn the public of a tsunami eight to 10 minutes after an earthquake.
More than 80 percent of the world’s tsunamis occur in the Pacific.
Simulations show that if a 8.5-magnitude earthquake hit the Manila Trench in the north, the ensuing tsunami would have severe consequences in the Philippines, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Brunei and south China’s coastal areas, said Yu Fujiang, Director of the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center.