The conventional explanation of why glaciers are melting is due to global warming, but now it may be due to theft of ice from glaciers!
Last Friday (27th January) police in Southern Chile arrested a man driving a refrigerated truck which contained 5 tonnes of ice from the Jorge Montt glacier in the Patagonia region of Chile. It was thought to be going to be used for designer ice cubes in bars. This was thought to be because in the capital, Santiago, tourists are served drinks chilled with glacial ice, directly from glaciers. The ice was estimated to be worth £3,900. Police have charged the driver of the refrigerated truck with theft and considering charging him for violation of national monuments.
At the moment, the Jorge Montt glacier in Chile is retreating by half a mile a year and as a result is one of the world’s fastest shrinking glaciers. It's in the Bernardo O’Higgins National Park which is the largest protected area in Chile. There are a wide range of explanations for climate change, but up until now theft wasn’t one of them!
Jane 13Z
No comments:
Post a Comment