Journey to the End of the Earth Summary

 JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH

By-Tishani Doshi

Introduction

Before human evolution, Antarctica was part of a huge tropical landmass called the Gondwana land which flourished 500 million years ago. Geological, geographical and biological changes occurred, and Antarctica separated and moved away, evolving into what it is today. A visit to Antarctica gave Ishani Doshi a deeper understanding of the earth's history, ecology and environment.

Theme

Tishani Doshi's visit to Antarctica, the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world, aboard the Russian research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy, gave her a deeper understanding and a better perspective to the damage caused by human impact on earth. Antarctica, though unpopulated, has been affected and there is a growing concern for its half a million-year-old carbon records trapped under its ice sheets. The 'Students on Ice' programe takes high school students to Antarctica to create awareness in them, the future policy makers, and helps students realize that the threat of global warming is very real.

Summary

Humans, who have existed a mere 12,000 years, have caused tremendous damage and wreaked havoc in the nature. Population explosion, strain on available resources, carbon emissions, fossil fuels and global warming have all resulted in climatic and ecological imbalances that have affected Antarctica too. The 'Students on Ice' program, an initiative of Canadian educator, Geoff Green, takes students the future policy makers to Antarctica, to create awareness in them. A stark proof of global warming and environmental threats, helps students attain a greater understanding of the earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. They understand the need of the moment when they are able to see the ice caps retreating and melting.