NPR: Climate Connections: Robert Falcon Scott

Last Sunday, NPR (National Pubic Radio) ran a report in the continuing series entitled Climate Connections in conjunction with the National Geographic Society. These reports look at how we are shaping climate and how it is shaping us.

In one of a number of stories on my favorite continent Antarctica, they feature a story on Robert Falcon Scott, the early 20th century, British explorer. Scott led two expeditions to the continent. The first was purely a research endeavor in 1901. The second had the goal of sending a team to be the first humans at the South Pole and included more scientific research.

Scott has been a hero of mine since I was a teen. You will learn more about my feelings about him in a future installment of Pillars of My Principles. Scott is definitely one of the pillars of my principles. Until then, you can read my letter to NPR. Give a listen to the report. Learn more about what has been called “the last place on Earth.” Antarctica, my beautiful continent, is changing, and it is not for the better. We need to learn as much as we can about Antarctica, for this place is a barometer of the whole planet’s condition.

My letter to NPR:

"Thank you for your story on Robert Falcon Scott, the Antarctic explorer. Scott has been a hero of mine for many years.

I was even given the honor of attending the one-hundredth anniversary re-launching ceremony of Scott’s first ship, the “Discovery” in 2001. The ship lies permanently berthed where she was built in Dundee, Scotland. It is a must see for any followers of the Scott’s expeditions or polar exploration.

Scott’s story has been much maligned in the last twenty-five years and I thought you gave a good overview of his work in the time you had on the air.  Yes, Scott was working for the advancing the glory of the British Empire, but he was also, unlike some of his contemporary explorers, all for advancing human knowledge of the last unknown continent. And for that, he should be commended."