NationStates Jolt Archive

OK, I've not had the chance to submit this to my region (who's opinion my nation completely trusts), but since I've been getting multiple private telegrams concerning this, it is clear to me that there is in fact international interest in revising SCOS OJ's resolution.

With that in mind, here is the DRAFT proposal, worded as my nation would like to see it eventually proposed. This is a draft, and I'm personally of the opinion that if there is a general consensus amongst nations that this is a worthy proposal, I'd like to ask that SCOS OJ (the author of the SDI proposal) consider sponsoring this. My nation can and will if SCOS OJ isn't interested in this proposal, but ...

I would like to have a week long discussion on this and other DRAFTS before any action is taken.


The General Assembly,

AWARE that existing international, national, and non-governmental research in the space sciences are continuously identifying Near Earth Objects (NEOs) including many asteroids and comets which have the potential to one day collide with the Earth,

OBSERVING that some of these space sciences programs are not specifically charged with identification and characterization of the hazards posed by NEOs,

RECOGNIZING that the risk of a NEO impact is shared by all nations on Earth, and thus is of international concern,

TAKING NOTE of the "Report of the Task Force on potentially hazardous Near Earth Objects",

NOTHING WITH APPROVAL the Planetary Defense Conference, held February 23-26, 2004,

CONCERNED that the funding of current space sciences projects and conferences is fairly limited,

BEARING IN MIND that adequate warning time is a requirement for any space or terrestrial based response, ranging from mass evacuation to impact avoidance,

NOTING WITH CONCERN that few formal management plans for dealing with potential impacts exist,

APPROVING of the use of hazard assessment scales, such as the Torino Impact Scale, as a means of weighing the risk of impact with the consequences of an impact,

1. ENCOURAGES all nations, United Nations members and non-members, to share any information on the trajectories of any Near Earth Objects (NEOs);

2. EXPRESSES ITS HOPE that nations will continue to identify and characterize the hazard associated with potential NEO impacts;

3. SOLEMNLY AFFIRMS the continuation of pre-existing international, national, and non-governmental research in the space sciences (which are considered to be included in military budgets for the purposes of NationStates); and

4. RECOMMENDS that international, national, and non-governmental space science research groups continue to research and develop possible contingency plans should an impact be likely.


And yes, I've read the findings of both the report and conference I've referenced above. For anybody with an interest in space sciences or risk management, they are highly recommended readings. [OOC: I wasn't sure how to avoid making referenes to UK and US reports, but the fact is these issues are real and would impact NationStates just as much as our planet. I didn't care for how people dimissed the idea as science fiction, when the British House of Lords has debated the very subject as has the US's NASA.]

10kMichael

The People's Republic of Groot Gouda has read through the proposal, and the mentioned reports, and considers this proposal to be well balanced, well thought out, and wholeheartedly agrees with this.

Perhaps, because of the resistance to the previous resolution, the author has been too carefull. We wouldn't mind more force behind this resolution, and would welcome more encouragement of an international NEO research bureau which would investigate risks, hazards, and possible strategies - both defensive (abandon earth, evacuation of very large areas) as offensive (deflection and destruction of NEOs), so we are prepared when we are confrontated with an approaching NEO and will know what to do.

The resolution currently, while recognizing the danger, encourages not a lot more than continuation of current research and sharing information. We feel that more could be done, and should be done, in research terms, to ensure optimal collaboration.

With optimism we look forward to the rest of the debate,

Kind regards,

UN ambassador of the PRoGG.

Yes, we agree this is a pretty huge step-down. This is more of a 'keep doing what you're doing' thing. Personally, we'd support beefing it up a bit; just because the UN doesn't support a military facility doesn't mean they're opposed to a centralised one.

Yes, we agree this is a pretty huge step-down. This is more of a 'keep doing what you're doing' thing. Personally, we'd support beefing it up a bit; just because the UN doesn't support a military facility doesn't mean they're opposed to a centralised one.

Well, the game text will actually be more of a "keep doing MORE of what your doing thing".

The meat of this proposal is actually in the preamble.

The only things I think we could add to accomidate the "but this doesn't do anything" crowd would be to actually character some responsibilities of the characterization and indentification of potential NEO threats to the moon base. I wouldn't even ask they the moon base do the actual hazard / risk assessment, but simply be tasked with providing the facilities for a lunar telescope.

The task force report will indirectly support this action.

In any event, I'll be out of town for the weekend and thus unable to offer my comments until then. But I *would* love to talk to the UN moon base people and see how they feel about us adding a clause to "do something" by having their base track NEOs.

10kMichael

*thumbs up* NEOs need to be addressed for the safety of this planet.

The risk of NEO's is unlikely, but we will do what we can. Though there is a lot of other things that can be hazzard to the planet. More so then NEO's.

You know that you can always count on my support, Mik.

SCOS OJ

Greetings:
We, the future peoples of the Jovian worlds support the principles of this resolution and will promote it to the greatest of our abilities within our region. We feel that this is important enough to the continuity of humankind that others should do so as well (promote the issue within their respective regions and expand the debate).

g.e.
Spokesperson for the future peoples of the Jovian worlds

Is there still an interest in this NEO proposal?

One of the comments concerning a lack of "meat" might be addressed by making a recommendation for putting up a few telescopes. The problem being that NS geography changes frequently.

I also would love to tie this (and telescopes) in with the moon base.

Who do I need to contact for that?

10kMichael

Is there still an interest in this NEO proposal?

One of the comments concerning a lack of "meat" might be addressed by making a recommendation for putting up a few telescopes. The problem being that NS geography changes frequently.


Yes. I believe the construction and linking of space observation resources (telescopes and other free equipment capable of being used to detect NEOs) should be a paramount concern in this resolution. Not only that, but perhaps..'encourage the funding of long-term disaster management programs to safeguard all civilization in any extiction event.'


I also would love to tie this (and telescopes) in with the moon base.

Who do I need to contact for that?

10kMichael

If you mean tie in such that the NEO project utilizes observation resources (telescopes) put in place on the moon base, this is a great idea. If it may be used to draw on unecessarily military related funding, the Jovian Worlds stand against this. The phrasing should be very careful in this area.

If you mean tie in such that the NEO project utilizes observation resources (telescopes) put in place on the moon base, this is a great idea. If it may be used to draw on unecessarily military related funding, the Jovian Worlds stand against this. The phrasing should be very careful in this area.

That is exactly what I had in mind.

As for funding ... I don't know how [gamemechanics] to fund scientific projects. I've assumed that military budgets are sadly the cloest thing we have (as far as options go).

10kMichael

His Holiness the Governor-General approves of this resolution but is saddened The Dominion of North East Cathanistan is not sufficiently advanced scientifically and industrially to participate.

[signed]
The Bishop Fred al-Rubei of The Directorate of Foreign Relations of The Dominion of North East Cathanistan

Apologies, I'm not sure why we haven't responded to this proposal sooner. We are in support, though agree with Groot Gouda, Rehochipe et al that you can afford to be more assertive.

Best wishes

Sax Russell
Speaker for Science

Is there still an interest in this NEO proposal?

Yes, and if you are able to work in the suggestions made here (the telescopes seem a good idea), be will certainly approve this proposal. If we don't, telegram us a reminder.

Regards,

PRoGG UN Ambassador

I still find this a complete waste of money. I have no other words and no way to elaborate. I cant see how tohers disagree. PLEASE give a good reason why we should do this.

I still find this a complete waste of money. I have no other words and no way to elaborate. I cant see how tohers disagree. PLEASE give a good reason why we should do this.

Does your government find researching for cures / treatments for cancer, HIV/AIDS, influenza, STDs, etc. to be a waste? What about flood /drought forecasting systems? Or even electrical demand forecasts via anticipated demand vs. temperature forecasts?

The bottom line is many of our nations are founded on the basis that some things individual citizens simply do not have the time or resources to protect themselves from ... oh like an invading army. Governments have social contracts with their citizens to protect them.

One of those threats includes NEOs.

The above proposal really just says, "Nations should work together to track these things and develop plans to deal with possible impacts."

The difference here is unlike many terrestial based hazards, the risks of celestial impacts are shared amongst all nations and nearly equally. Rocks don't care about international boards any more than flu virsuses do ... the problem being, a pair of gloves and a mask might offer some protection from a virsus, but I promise you, they'll do little good when a rock is heading down. However, forewarning of impact can at the very least: lead to evacuation and coordination of emergency supplies (these are hazard mitigation measures). I've not even talked about risk reduction -- which instead of reducing human losses, attack the problem head on.

In response to NE Cathanistan's point about not having enough of a scientific basis to participate, there are some nations where simply offering up a dedicated space on one of your mountains and right of passage of the space scientists and astronomers from other nations can be helpful. We really need observatories as much as we need scientists.

My nation, naturally already has a Northern hemisphere observatory tasked to tracking NEOs. What would help my nation's efforts would be more Southern and Northern hemisphere observatories doing the same *and* a similar setup on the UN moon base.

10kMichael

Consider this southern hemisphere mountainous island nation an early volunteer for telescope duties.

Why stop at ground-baised Telescopes? Several nations like mine have orbital scopes for scientific research. I will be happy to donate a percentage of them and place them on "watchdog" status.

oh, and for those nations without the tech level to get eyes up there, no worries, Here in the UN we are (supposedly) one big happy (and slightly disfunctional) family. We at Ichi Ni can offer training and education. For those who don't want that, we can help watch your area and I know that there are other nations willing to do the same for other low tech nations. (one suggestion is to encourage hobby stargazing. with the populace watching, someone might see something unusual.)

I know that there are "nations" that claim to be out of this world (some in more ways than one) are they joining us in this endevor?