NationStates Jolt Archive

Currently (Friday morning) sitting here: http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/77874/page=UN_proposal/start=60

Would be very glad for your support!


Against Weaponisation of Space
Category: Global Disarmament
Strength: Strong

The exploration of space potentially promises great benefits for all, both scientific and economic. However, the technology that enables space exploration may also allow the weaponisation of space in years to come. Not only would this jeopardise the personal safety of all the world's citizens, it could also lead to an arms race that would divert much-needed funds from domestic concerns, such as healthcare and education, as well as from peaceful space exploration.

Let it be known that the United Nations stands for the peaceful and co-operative exploration of space, as evidenced by Resolution 50, "UN Space Consortium". UN members shall not weaponise space or invest in other states or private corporations whose aim is to weaponise space.

Let is also be known that the UN will not stand for the weaponisation of space by rogue nations, outside the UN. The UN reserves the right to threaten and ultimately implement whatever sanctions are necessary, under its charter, to prevent the weaponisation of space by rogue nations.

The UN also hereby creates a Space Intelligence team, to monitor satellite photos, suspicious trade in materials that may be used in space vehicles, and any other relevant information, to necessitate compliance with this resolution and attempt to stop any attempts to produce a space weapon as early as possible in its development.

As stated in Resolution 50:
"Let the nations of the world move forward together to a new frontier."

Remove references to the UN Charter - we don't actually have one, and as such it could well be termed an illegal RL reference.

Also, there is the slight problem that several nations are already located in space, and have entirely space-based armed forces. What are they meant to do in this situation? Completely disarm, or just cover them up with lots of red tape?

it's well written, but it's clear you are a recent arrival to the insanity that is NS.

Don't lose heart though - like I said it's well written. Give yourself some time to learn the ropes and I'm sure you'll come back with a much stronger proposal :)

If you feel brave, try writing a UN Charter. ;)

I have 2 main arguments against this proposal.

Firstly, it is illegal. The UN has no authority over non-UN nations, and thus cannot stop them from developing space weaponry. And while on the topic of non-UN members- your proposal would leave the UN at the mercy of any non-UN member with such weapons. I for one will not step down my defences.

Secondly, I do not like to be told how to prioritise my budget. Gwenstefani balances the competing demands of health care, education and the military, and manages very well, despite orbital weaponry being incorporated into our military costs.

Mayakovskia']The exploration of space potentially promises great benefits for all, both scientific and economic. However, the technology that enables space exploration may also allow the weaponisation of space in years to come.

Definite newb. The problem you are facing is that it already has. DLE, for example, maintains a fleet of ships numbering close to 600 fully capable of travelling through space at FTL speeds. The previous incarnation maintained a fleet closer to 6000. And, yes, the ships are heavily armed. They have to be for our protection.

Not only would this jeopardise the personal safety of all the world's citizens, it could also lead to an arms race that would divert much-needed funds from domestic concerns, such as healthcare and education, as well as from peaceful space exploration.

Earth itself has, as we only recently found out, at least two entire civilizations that live in orbit around the planet, maintaining small to no territory on the planet. The key to dealing with such technology is to balance out the various aspects of it, managing to maintain a fleet to at least defend yourself with while at the same time helping out your nation internally.

Let it be known that the United Nations stands for the peaceful and co-operative exploration of space, as evidenced by Resolution 50, "UN Space Consortium". UN members shall not weaponise space or invest in other states or private corporations whose aim is to weaponise space.

Um, we already have. And so have many non-UN nations, who would enjoy being able to shoot at UN nations from orbit without the worry of the UN nations being able to shoot back.

Let is also be known that the UN will not stand for the weaponisation of space by rogue nations, outside the UN. The UN reserves the right to threaten and ultimately implement whatever sanctions are necessary, under its charter, to prevent the weaponisation of space by rogue nations.

Illegal. First, the UN has no charter. Second, this infringes on game rules in that a resolution may not affect non-member nations. Though, considering the TPP, that rule about nonmembers is not strictly enforced.

The UN also hereby creates a Space Intelligence team, to monitor satellite photos, suspicious trade in materials that may be used in space vehicles, and any other relevant information, to necessitate compliance with this resolution and attempt to stop any attempts to produce a space weapon as early as possible in its development.

We have 30 heat-shielded graviton missiles currently able to be fired from orbit that say you're a little too late on that. Besides, you can't monitor all UN nations. DLE's fleet isn't produced on Earth, and some UN nations don't call Earth home.

As stated in Resolution 50:
"Let the nations of the world move forward together to a new frontier."

Unless it is time, the frontier is conquered.

Greetings.

We of Roathin need not answer in detail. The fact is that 'weaponisation of space' is not the same as 'weaponisation of anthrax'. You cannot make space into a weapon, and there are enough inherently lethal objects already in space to constitute weaponisation in the sense which you seem to use it.

Please cease and desist from this well-intentioned but inherently useless charade. However, we would be interested if you requested the removal of all offensive weapons from the Clarke orbit, so that more entertainment satellites might be placed therein.

A large portion of the Clarke orbit is currently claimed as the private land of at least one nation. Attempting to force them to move themselves from that orbit will likely require warfare. And be warned, as we detected a rather large minefield there.

A large portion of the Clarke orbit is currently claimed as the private land of at least one nation. Attempting to force them to move themselves from that orbit will likely require warfare. And be warned, as we detected a rather large minefield there.
Greetings.

We of Roathin at this point sense an opportunity for enterprising authors to begin working on a proposal which might be titled, "The NSUN Law of Space" which might be profitably applied to a volume of space centred around a stellar body, and subvolumes centred around any other bodies which have orbits around that body. We also sense parallels with early documented use of the continent of Antarctica (which we believe is now the domain of at least one highly-respected member of this august assembly).

I already know others have made similar, but here we go...

Mayakovskia']Currently (Friday morning) sitting here: http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/77874/page=UN_proposal/start=60

Would be very glad for your support!


Against Weaponisation of Space
Category: Global Disarmament
Strength: Strong

The exploration of space potentially promises great benefits for all, both scientific and economic. However, the technology that enables space exploration may also allow the weaponisation of space in years to come. Not only would this jeopardise the personal safety of all the world's citizens, it could also lead to an arms race that would divert much-needed funds from domestic concerns, such as healthcare and education, as well as from peaceful space exploration.

I'm already in a space arms race, and have been for some time.... The Tekaniou, as well as Humans, Silicates and Constructs, which have also become equal citizens in this Republic are peacefull explorers... As for the "world" (which I assume you mean Terra/Earth); I have little direct interest in it. We of the Constitutional Republic do what we can for its safety.... But we are one small power in a much larger universe... However, also, being a multi-planetary Republic; our space-bound military is a domestic concern....

Mayakovskia']
Let it be known that the United Nations stands for the peaceful and co-operative exploration of space, as evidenced by Resolution 50, "UN Space Consortium". UN members shall not weaponise space or invest in other states or private corporations whose aim is to weaponise space.

We outselves don't weaponize space.... Though we do weaponize large star-ships to protect the territory around the Republic's member systems.

Mayakovskia']
Let is also be known that the UN will not stand for the weaponisation of space by rogue nations, outside the UN. The UN reserves the right to threaten and ultimately implement whatever sanctions are necessary, under its charter, to prevent the weaponisation of space by rogue nations.

1. The United Nations has no power over "Rogue Nations".
2. The United Nations has no "charter".
3. Even if it did, without weaponized fleets in space, we would have no way to enforce such a provision.

Mayakovskia']
The UN also hereby creates a Space Intelligence team, to monitor satellite photos, suspicious trade in materials that may be used in space vehicles, and any other relevant information, to necessitate compliance with this resolution and attempt to stop any attempts to produce a space weapon as early as possible in its development.

Earthly "satalites" will have little impact on the overall range of space armorments in use, by the countless members and rogues outside of the Terran system (or even in other parts of it).

Mayakovskia']
As stated in Resolution 50:
"Let the nations of the world move forward together to a new frontier."

Which, unfortuneatly for #50, was doomed before it got off the ground.... The Tekaniou were already making exploratory trips to the Andromeda Galaxy, when that Resolution was placed into effect....

OOC: DLE, You may be doing it on purpose (to roleplay a pompous egomaniac?), but your replies would be more legible without the several paragraphs of self-promotion.

IC:
The Representative's motives are admirable, but how does he propose that existing space colonies defend themselves? Even semi-autonomous settlements have some type of security personnel that could be used to pressure a smaller space nation. Even though space piracy in the Earth-Luna system isn't a present threat, we have to prepare for it as well.

A noble concept to be sure but one that we would have to vote against. As it was mentioned before we can not allow ourselves to be defensless against a non-UN nation who utilizes orbital weapons.

Henry Peabody
Minister to the UN

OOC: DLE, You may be doing it on purpose (to roleplay a pompous egomaniac?), but your replies would be more legible without the several paragraphs of self-promotion.OOC: That's exactly what she's doing.

All right, all right, we've shamed him enough, let's just let this proposal die and head over the the stranger's bar.