Iceberg Challenge
The Iceberg Challenge is an annual event that occurs as a part of the Citizen's Day celebrations. The goal of the Iceberg Challenge is to foster a fun way to raise awareness about Westarctica and its goal of preserving the polar ice sheets. Citizens take part in the challenge by exposing themselves to uncomfortable levels of cold, then sharing a picture of themselves with their citizenship certificate and/or a Westarctican flag to social media.
History
During the 2016 GISHWHES citizenship surge, a large number of new citizens were sharing photos to their various social media accounts, to receive credit for completing the task of becoming a citizen of a micronation. One particular picture, shared by Brandy Hardiman, stood out to Grand Duke Travis. The photo she shared was of her in an ice bath, holding up her citizenship certificate. Impressed and moved by this unique display, Brandy was made a Dame Commander in the Order of the Snowflake. Additionally, the Grand Duke declared the display to be the first of what would eventually become known as the Iceberg Challenge, and was made an official part of the Citizen's Day festivities. It was not until 2018 that the Iceberg Challenge was actually performed as a part of the celebration.
Notable Iceberg Challenge participants
Dame Brandy Hardiman (pictured) the progenitor for the Iceberg Challenge, who was named a Dame Commander in the Order of the Snowflake for providing the inspiration to the Grand Duke.
Controversy
During the 2018 Citizen's Day celebration, concerns were raised regarding the use of water and power to freeze the ice for an ice bath, which was the only means used to fulfill the criteria, up to that point. Others defended the practice as being relatively minor consumption, especially if the person was using it in place of their normal bathing rituals and/or as an exception to a general lifestyle of conservation. It was also pointed out that it was never stated that ice and water needed to be used, and that citizens are really only limited by their creativity, in how they fulfill the criteria.
Westarctica's official response was that it is up to the conscience of each citizen as to if and how they choose to participate. However, the Grand Duke and other leaders acknowledged the concerns, and have stated that future iterations of the challenge will have more emphasis placed on means of chilling oneself that have a heightened focus on conservation.
Current status
Besides its place as part of the Citizen's Day celebrations, members of the Westarctica Civilian Corps who complete the challenge will receive the Iceberg Award ribbon.