A chunk of the 5,200kg of ice, believed stolen from the Jorge
Montt glacier, which was discovered by police in a refrigerated truck. Photo:
Fiscalia Regional de Aysen/EPA
Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 1 February 2012 18.25 EST
Climate change sceptics have acquired a new explanation for why
glaciers are retreating: it's
not global warming, it's theft.
The Chilean General Prosecutor's Office displays bags of ice
allegedly stolen from the Jorge Montt Glacier, more than 1,200 miles south of
Santiago, Chile.
Police in Chile have arrested a man on suspicion of stealing five tonnes of ice from the Jorge
Montt glacier in the
Patagonia region to sell as designer
ice cubes in bars and restaurants.
Local media reported that last Friday police intercepted a
refrigerated truck with an estimated
£3,900 worth of illicit ice
allegedly bound for whiskies,
rums and cocktails in the
capital Santiago.
Jorge Montt glacier site seen from space
Authorities
have accused the driver of theft and are considering adding violation of national monuments to the charge sheet.
Scientists
say Jorge Montt, part of the Bernardo O'Higgins national
park, is retreating by half a mile a year, making it one of the world's fastest shrinking glaciers.
Elevated view of Jorge Montt mooring, Bernardo O'Higgins State
Park, Chile
Environmentalists have cited it as evidence that man-made climate change is warming the planet. Sceptics have cited other explanations for retreating glaciers, but theft
– until now – was not one of them. It may be the only case in which both sides agree human activity was to blame.
Beautiful photograph of Jorge Montt glacier
NOTE: When Jane was in
4th grade, she created a rather sophisticated (for her age) audio-visual
research project about Chile, which first made me aware of the Jorge Montt glacier. Coincidentally, around the same time we also saw a terrific show on the Discovery Channel about Chile and the
country became high on the list of places we would like to visit.
Santiago looked incredibly beautiful and sophisticated and Chile's collision of
sea, sky, ocean, deserts, mountains, and vineyards, not to mention the world's largest
swimming pool (link), was astonishing to behold. Friends and relatives
who have spent time there have all returned with great reports and marvelous
stories.
This story, of course, is both a weird and pedestrian
at the same time. It's essentially petty theft of a lot of ice for small commercial gain.
I'm not sure whether, if offered a glacier ice drink, I would trust the
establishment making the claim to be telling the truth, but perhaps I'd be intrigued enough to
want my Pisco Sour made that way.
Anyway, I think I would be remiss in not
offering here a recipe for Chile's
signature cocktail. This one emanates from Ryan McGrale of No. 9 Park in Boston, a
superb restaurant worth logging significant
travel time to visit. I have occasionally thought that I would be happy living at its bar.
Pisco Sour
1 egg white
2 1/2 ounces Pisco Capel (see note)
1/2 ounce simple syrup
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
Angostura Bitters (see note, below)
In cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine egg white, Pisco,
simple syrup, and lemon juice.
Cover, shake vigorously for 15 seconds, and strain into
six-ounce cocktail glass. Top with a few drops of bitters.
Bartenders Note:
In this recipe, any
Chilean Pisco will do, but be aware that Chilean and Peruvian Piscos are not interchangeable. Chilean Pisco is sweeter and has a slightly
lower proof. So if you use the Peruvian stuff, adjust the amount of lemon juice
and simple syrup accordingly. Both kinds are available at many good liquor
stores.
Chilean Amargo bitters are virtually impossible to buy in the U.S., but easy-to-find Angostura Bitters make an acceptable substitute. Yet since, as Ryan McGrale says, they are "sharper and spicier, go a little lighter on the bitters if you're using Angostura."
Music Cue: Ice Fishing At Night -- John Paul Jones (wr. Jones-Blegvad), from The Thunder Thief
The world’s largest swimming pool, Algarrobo, Chile
