So the RSS Shackleton has been contracted for ice-breaking surfaces, much to the dismay of those who feel that a research vessel probably could better spend her time doing what the UK public pays her to do, which is, well, research.
Of far greater concern to me as a northern Canadian living on the shore of the Labrador Sea, the gateway to this new playground for the filthy cruising industry, is the prospect of our indigenous northern communities becoming, effectively, human zoos for the simultaneous horror and entertainment of the obscenely rich and terminally stupid, ie, cruise ship passengers.
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http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36541583"There is a significant tension between the science and environmental mission of the Shackleton and its participation in an exercise in tourism that has an enormous per capita carbon footprint," Prof Michael Byers from the University of British Columbia told BBC News.
Prof Byers, who holds a chair in global politics and international law, was invited on the trip to give a series of lectures to passengers. He refused, as he believes this summer's trip will only encourage others.
"This voyage is a significant contribution, at least on a per capita basis, to climate change by people who are going to see an ecosystem before it is destroyed by climate change. I find that irony quite terrible," he said.
One of the features of this year's voyage will be visits to small and remote communities in the Arctic during visits to port. Prof Michael Byers says this one of the most unappealing aspects of the journey.
"They (local populations) have endemic tuberculosis, sky high rates of diabetes, with people who are living in poverty and desperation," he said.
"The people who are coming off the cruise ships are not in the 1%, but in the 0.1% of the world's financial elite. It is another example of just how extreme this particular voyage is."
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