May countries have found that there is a supply of oil in antarctica, as many of then go there to claim oil for there are unknown quantities of it there.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071018095749.htm

http://earthjustice.org/our_work/campaigns/visions-of-the-arctic?gclid=CNHiqpb9ia4CFWQ0Qgodth3j4A