On last June 26, July 2, and 3, Hams from ARI-Milan (IQ2MI) and Adri-Antartica did broadcast a message of peace and international scientific cooperation from the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan, embracing the values of the Antarctic Treaty.
The aim of the event, was to pay tribute to the Italians who supported Italy’s accession to the Antarctic Treaty, especially the Ham radio operator Renato Cèpparo (I1VZP), who operated as I1SR/MM and /P from the “Giacomo Bove Base” on the Antarctic Peninsula in 1975-76.
The idea, originated in FVG Region, home to the Cervignano del Friuli’s National Antarctic Memorial, where Italian Antarctic research originally began, on November 13, 1975, when the M/V C. Colombo set sail from Trieste, carrying the prefabricated stuff used to build the first Italian Research Station: the Giacomo Bove Base, on King George Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica.
The II2ATCM (WAP-355) was made possible thanks to the crucial hospitality of the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum and the invaluable support of WAP, ARI-MI, and AGB&M (Giacomo Bove & Maranzana), who sponsored the initiative, under the auspices of the Italian Geographic Society and the Italian Alpine Club. The project coordinator, Prof. Ph.D Julius Fabbri, teacher and radio amateur (IV3CCT), did plan the radio initiative which take place in conjunction with the activities of the 47th ATCM, Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings and CEP 27, Committee for Environmental Protection, in agreement with the Museum and with the invaluable logistical support of ARI-Milan
The goal, Fabbri said, was to spread a message of peace on the fiftieth anniversary of the Giacomo Bove Base, the first Italian research outpost on the White Continent. II2ATCM operation served as a fitting reminder of the dismantling of the G. Bove Base by the Argentine Navy, which occurred between October 2 and 4, 1976, eight months after the research station’s inauguration, while the Base was closed and uninhabited for its normal winter break.
Prof. Fabbri (seen on the pics) remarks that, the proposed new historic site for the ruins of Base G- Bove (WAP ITA-Ø2) could be number HSMs 97, following the recent addition of Shackleton’s Endurance. Last but not least, the entire “Bove” initiative also aims to publicize the project to build a small church at the Italian Mario Zucchelli Base as W.A.P., is been asking the institutions for over twenty years.
QSL for II2ATCM will be managed by IQ2MI
TNX Prof. PH.D Julius Fabbri IV3CCT, e-mail j.fabbri@virgilio.it