Europe, Britain, the Sky and The South Pole Reached

Written by Alex Barrett Saturday, 10 December 2011 10:05

It will take quite a while for the outcome of this latest European Community summit to really become clear and we should not expect any true clarity till early spring next year when the terms of any new protocols will, it is hoped, be drawn up. In a brief correspondence with Gavin Hewitt (BBC Europe editor) last week, he concluded by agreeing "you are quite right that if there is a substantial treaty change then the changes would have to be put to the voters in Ireland and the Netherlands.

"We don't yet know how significant the changes will be and whether they will end up as a protocol or a full treaty change. The leaders of France and Germany hope that the text will be agreed by March and then, of course, the question is how long this will all take to implement. "

Absolutely it is wise to be cautious about how quickly these changes will take and we should reflect that." Amen to that Gavin, and let us hope for some more considered and less drama bound media commentary in the interim.

Once the Euro skeptics have finished their mutual back patting celebrations eyes shall be back on the domestic situation with employment numbers, pay rate and inflation all under the spotlight later on this week on, inflation figures on Tuesday are expected to be subdued though still somewhere around 5% (above for RPI, below for CPI).

Pundits are more cautious regarding the "claimant count" and, what with the current public mood on the "bonus culture", any extensive divergence between average pay with and without bonuses is likely to be greeted with much wailing and howling though, let's remember, these are figures for November and the traditional big year-end bonuses will not be revealed in them.

There will be a full lunar eclipse today (Saturday 10th December) at moonrise in the UK though you'll be lucky to catch it here. However, if you have any wishes to make, keep your eyes to the skies as the week progresses. The Gemenids meteor shower will be peaking around the 13th and there are some simple instructions on where to look here though I think that picture is from an earlier date as the moon will be waning, but as the man says, these multi-coloured shooting stars can appear almost anywhere in the sky.

On Friday, December 14th, 1911 somewhere close to three in the afternoon, there was a simultaneous cry of "Halt!" The sledges slid to a stop and Roald Amundsen and his team, Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, and Oscar Wisting, became the first people ever to reach the South Pole.

Or at least close as made no difference, their night-time measurements found their flag to be at 89° 56' South. Though four minutes may seem nothing, the crazy Norwegians decided to ride around in a twelve mile circle so that they could be absolutely 100% certain that they had really been there. It took them another three days to locate its precise position and finally place their flag, though it might have taken them two if they had not pigged out on seal meat and cigars on the Friday!

The thing was, Amundsen wanted to be absolutely certain that his flag was bang on the correct position because he knew it would be checked, and not years later but, as far as he knew, in a matter of days, as he was well aware of the technologically better equipped British team that, he believed, were hot on his heels. The Norwegians waited another day but then decided to set off for home and five weeks later the whole team and all their dogs arrived back at their ship.

It was a very different fate to that of Scott and his team who were crippled by their failure to win the race and the failings in their planning, having relied upon innovation over tried and trusted means in this incredible venture.

There is more to Amundsen that is of interest to the entrepreneur. For example, he was heavily in debt and needed a symbolic victory to redeem his fortunes. In order to do so he had been planning to reach the North Pole but was beaten, while he was still planning his own trip, by the American, Robert Peary, so switched his attention to the South Pole. He was aware of Robert Scott's British backed plans and decided to keep his change of plan secret both from the world and his own investors! So secret did he keep his plan that the crew were surprised when his boat started heading south. The British never forgave him for this.

Another side note is how Amundsen turned his adventurous side to advantage during the first world war. He made a fortune in so-called "neutral" shipping, a euphemistic term meaning supplying both sides. He disappeared in 1928, when his plane crashed while searching for survivors from an airship disaster.

Comments  

 

#1 Anne P. 2011-12-10 11:03

I always felt Scott should have let his wife plan the expedition as she seemed to have her feet more firmly on the ground. But I recently heard that in fact the British expedition were exceptionally unlucky with the weather which was far worse than normal. Equally would you not want to plan for that?

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#2 Ellis P Otter 2011-12-11 16:53

The Norwegian team had the same "exceptional weather" to contend with so I wonder just how biased the English history textbooks may?

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#3 Anne P. 2011-12-12 12:03

Give me Amundsen and his dogs every time, I just think I'm a little more prepared to concede that Scott was a bit unlucky.

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