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Journalist Creates True South, Antarctica’s First Flag [Interview]

by viralbandit June 22, 2021, 5:32 pm 2.1k Views

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Amy Helkenn holds Legitimate South on Ross Island, Antarctica with the historic Vince’s Cross and Discovery Hut in the qualifications. (Photo: Stephen Allinger)

Flags are powerful sorts of layout. They enable people today really feel connected to their identification and to their beliefs. They also assist to articulate what would make a location so distinctive. However Antarctica is certainly a unique position, it had no formal flag to represent it for all these several years. American Journalist Evan Townsend has labored to modify that with a venture named True South. Townsend and his team have designed an official flag for Antarctica that they hope will help raise consciousness for the continent and its unsure potential.

The structure for Genuine South is focused on an icy white peak representing the mountains and icebergs of Antarctica. It is mirrored on a compass arrow that collectively makes a diamond condition in blue and white. The two horizontal strips on the flag characterize the extensive times and evenings on the frigid continent. Completely, the style represents “the hope that Antarctica will carry on to be a spot of peace and discovery for generations to come.”

Antarctica is regulated by a treaty that lets it to be made use of by researchers and scientists from all over the entire world. The new flag helps to unite anyone in a mission of conservation. Townsend has viewed men and women consider on the flag and use it to specific their link to the continent.

We experienced the chance to speak with Townsend about his function on Genuine South and what motivated him to give Antarctica a voice by graphic style and design. Townsend tells us about the second he realized the energy of flags, the impact True South has had on individuals, and how significant this material is for the world. Scroll down to browse My Modern-day Met’s special interview.

Design for True South, Antarctica's First Flag

The style for Accurate South, Antarctica’s to start with flag

Was there a certain second that enthusiastic you to design and style the flag?

I was functioning in Antarctica throughout the winter of 2018 when I initial believed of the flag. I had brought a pleasure flag down with me, so a handful of of us doing the job at the station determined to get a photograph with it. The picture wound up heading viral and I begun acquiring messages from people around the environment telling me how a great deal it intended to them to see the flag there. It was this awesome experience of staying in just one of the most isolated spots on the earth and however experience linked to folks.

That received me pondering about how potent symbols can be for bringing visibility to a bring about and a group. A symbol like that could assist bring consciousness to the vulnerability of Antarctica, but there was not 1 that numerous of us in the Antarctic local community felt like we could truly link to. So that is when I sat down to make Accurate South.

True South flying over the Ross Ice Shel

True South traveling about the Ross Ice Shelf at McMurdo Station, December 2020

What is just one point you wish persons comprehended about Antarctica?

Antarctica is this actually distant, isolated spot, so it is simple to assume it does not have a lot relevance to the relaxation of the earth. But it’s dwelling to 90% of the world’s ice and sections of it are warming at costs many instances quicker than the world-wide ordinary. Even the smallest modifications in Antarctica could mean drastic modifications for the rest of the environment. The reverse is correct as effectively. Whether or not they are aware of it or not, all people performs a purpose in the stewardship of Antarctica.

True South and the American flag at the Geographic South Pole

Real South and the American flag at the Geographic South Pole during the once-a-year sunset. (Photograph: Lisa Minelli)

(ongoing) Antarctica is 1 of the areas most vulnerable to the international weather crisis, but it’s also a place with no everlasting populace. So a large challenge for Antarctic conservation is finding persons to care about a spot they’ve never ever been and will likely under no circumstances go to. By sparking discussions like this just one, I think the flag’s been able to expose new individuals to Antarctica or get individuals considering about Antarctica in new means.

But the flag is also about developing connections between individuals who now care about Antarctica. People today in the Antarctic local community stay all above the earth and discuss lots of distinctive languages, but now we have a way to display the values and experiences we share.

True South near Adélie Land (Picture: Wenceslas Marie Sainte)

How did the weather conditions in Antarctica modify the structure of the flag?

Visibility was a large consideration in the design and style. Antarctica has extremely long nights and times. (At the South Pole they previous six months just about every.) You also get these white-outs in which there’s so a lot driving snow you can only see a few feet in front of you. So I averted compact particulars and alternatively went with huge shade blocks with solid contrast that could be obviously visible in a range of conditions.

Antarctica is also the windiest continent. I opted for a a little bit extended flag than typical so it can continue to be exterior for a longer time devoid of the central emblem becoming frayed.

Members of Ecuador and Colombia's National Antarctic Programs with True South at Maldonado Base, Antarctica

Members of Ecuador and Colombia’s National Antarctic Systems with Real South at Maldonado Base, Antarctica

Who is this flag for?

It’s truly for anyone who cares about Antarctica. I really don’t consider you have to have been down there to be a portion of the discussion, or to be a element of the alternative. One of my hopes for this flag is that it will be a form of invitation for much more individuals to sign up for the Antarctic local community.

Members of Ecuador and Colombia's National Antarctic Programs with True South and their national flags at Maldonado Base, Antarctica

Users of Ecuador and Colombia’s Countrywide Antarctic Packages with Genuine South and their nationwide flags at Maldonado Base, Antarctica

Alex Dodds, Mandy Minimal, and Vicki Foster keep Legitimate South at Damoy Place, Antarctica

What is next for True South?

I do not know, which is in fact definitely interesting. The best flags get their ability from the men and women that fly them, and that was always the objective with Accurate South. There was some operate to get this challenge off the floor final yr, but due to the fact then individuals have been definitely embracing it and flying it in their very own way. It is been awesome to see the sites it pops up and listen to from individuals about what it means to them. So I’ll unquestionably proceed doing work with the flag, but I consider it is at a place now where by I can acquire a handful of measures back again and enable the local community it represents be the kinds who are driving it.