Latest News: Pakistan News, Breaking News, World News

WELLINGTON, From Sunday, workers at the main United States base in Antarctica will no longer be able to walk into a bar and order a beer, after the federal agency that oversees the research program decided to stop serving alcohol.

McMurdo Station will continue to offer a limited supply of alcohol for purchase to its researchers and support personnel, as confirmed by the National Science Foundation. However, this change in policy may have a notable impact, as the bars have traditionally played a vital role in fostering social connections within the close-knit community of this isolated environment.

As apprehensions rise about the prevalence of sexual misconduct at McMurdo, recent adjustments are being made. A recent examination conducted by The Associated Press revealed a troubling trend: numerous women shared their experiences of harassment or assault, only to have their complaints downplayed by their employers. This often resulted in increased risk or danger for themselves and others.

In some of the cases outlined by the AP, alcohol played a role. But the NSF told the AP the changes involving alcohol were related to morale and welfare at the base, and were not aimed at preventing sexual harassment or assault.

Under the new rules taking effect Sunday, workers will be able to order only alcohol-free drinks at McMurdo’s two main bars, Southern Exposure and Gallagher’s. They will still be able to bring their own alcohol to drink at the bars. A third venue which also served alcohol, the Coffee House, will become entirely alcohol-free but will now stay open for workers to visit any time of the day or night.

The current alcohol ration allows Antarctic workers to buy up to the equivalent of 18 beers each week, or three bottles of wine, or a 750 milliliter (25 ounce) bottle of spirits.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a series of important steps to address the issue of sexual harassment and assault at its research base during the upcoming spring and summer seasons in the southern hemisphere. This base typically has a workforce where approximately 70% are men. The measures being implemented encompass improved training programs, the introduction of a new survey to gather data and track patterns, as well as visits by experts to the region. These initiatives aim to create a safer and more respectful environment for everyone working at the base.

Karen Marrongelle, the NSF’s chief operating officer, said it was committed to ensuring a safe environment wherever science or education was conducted.

“We will not rest until we are confident that every member of the Antarctic community feels safe and supported,” she said in a statement.

The NSF published a report in 2022 in which 59% of women said they’d experienced harassment or assault while on the ice, and 72% of women said such behavior was a problem in Antarctica. Last year, the NSF created an office to deal with such complaints, provided a confidential victim’s advocate, and established a 24-hour helpline.

The investigation conducted by the Associated Press uncovered a troubling series of incidents at McMurdo. In one instance, a woman who bravely reported a colleague for inappropriate touching was distressingly placed to work alongside the same individual once more. In another distressing case, a woman who had the courage to disclose that she had been sexually assaulted was shockingly terminated from her job just two months later. Additionally, another woman expressed that her superiors at the base had distressingly minimized her serious allegations, categorizing a grave incident of rape as mere harassment. These accounts paint a distressing picture of the challenges faced by individuals at McMurdo when it comes to reporting and addressing such serious issues.

After the AP published its investigation, the NSF sent a message to U.S. Antarctic Program workers.

“We know that it can be difficult to hear these accounts. It is for us,” the NSF wrote in the email, which was obtained by the AP. “These are not experiences we want anyone to have within the USAP (or anywhere else in the world).”

The email detailed the upcoming anti-harassment initiatives that the NSF intended to put into action, while also providing information about available support resources.

Jennifer Sorensen, who spoke to the AP, recounted her experience of sexual assault at McMurdo in 2015. She noted that the NSF had previously attempted to attribute the elevated levels of sexual misconduct at the base to alcohol, though these efforts proved ineffective.

“They know full well that all the rationing or denial of alcohol sales being forced on us isn’t going to do a damn thing,” she said.