NationStates Jolt Archive

The Repeal for the UN Space Consortium has now be submitted (again) to the UN. Last time, we got a lot of approvals and, I think that, if we had advertised it more (i.e. telegramming delegates) then it would have gotten through.

Here is the link to endorse it:
http://www.nationstates.net/page=UN_proposal1/match=un%20space%20consortium


The United Nations,

ACKNOWLEDGING the possibility of the existence of countless objects in space capable of sustaining colonization efforts besides the Earth and the Moon,

SEEING no reason to single out the Moon for special consideration,

REJECTING the claims of UN Resolution #50, "UN Space Consortium", that the UN has the authority to state the applicability of national claims to the Moon,

DEEPLY DISTURBED by the precedent of "UN Space Consortium", and not believing the administration of non-sovereign territory is a concern of the UN,

RECOGNISING the worth of unified efforts in space exploration, but not convinced that "UN Space Consortium" provides a practical mechanism for such cooperation,

FURTHER CONCERNED by the inadequate definition for the construction, maintenance, operation and mandate of the Lunar Base, and as such doubting truly unified cooperation would be possible,

ALARMED at the implications of funding an organisation devoted to scientific research through stock and other outside sources which may interfere with true research,

DECRYING further attempts to limit territorial claims to the Moon or other non-sovereign entities as irresponsible, impractical, and unnecessary:

NOTES that another resolution to create a UN Space Agency should be created.

REPEALS "UN Space Consortium".

Approved

Rose,
Acting Senior UN Representative,
The Black New World.
Delegate to The Order of The Valiant States

Prior to giving a full statement of the Republic of Compadria's position vis-a-vis this proposed repeal, I wish to ask the honourable delegate a number of questions regarding details of intent and effect in the text of his proposal.

The United Nations,

ACKNOWLEDGING the possibility of the existence of countless objects in space capable of sustaining colonization efforts besides the Earth and the Moon,

Agreed, yet I wish to note that the United Nations comprises nations from many worlds and many moons too, therfore this section may require some revising to encompass these nations and their citizens.

SEEING no reason to single out the Moon for special consideration,

Agreed, in light of prior statement.

REJECTING the claims of UN Resolution #50, "UN Space Consortium", that the UN has the authority to state the applicability of national claims to the Moon,

Here I would argue that there exist ample grounds for space to be considered a "neutral" area, (rather like RL Antarctica) therefore to subject all applications for ownership of extra-terrestrial territory to U.N. oversight seems logical in my opinion.

DEEPLY DISTURBED by the precedent of "UN Space Consortium", and not believing the administration of non-sovereign territory is a concern of the UN,

To which I ask, purely for informational purposes, whose intent the honourable delegate believes it is?

RECOGNISING the worth of unified efforts in space exploration, but not convinced that "UN Space Consortium" provides a practical mechanism for such cooperation,

Would it be possible for the text of said resolution to be provided for us, so that we can come to our own conclusions in this regard?

FURTHER CONCERNED by the inadequate definition for the construction, maintenance, operation and mandate of the Lunar Base, and as such doubting truly unified cooperation would be possible,

Should this be the case, we are agreed.

ALARMED at the implications of funding an organisation devoted to scientific research through stock and other outside sources which may interfere with true research,

We too are in concordance with these concerns, which we view as being fundamental to the impartial (or so we believe should be the case) nature of all space exploration. The permittance of harmful corporate or even national interests to enter into such delicate equations is not one any sane nation should wish to continue.

DECRYING further attempts to limit territorial claims to the Moon or other non-sovereign entities as irresponsible, impractical, and unnecessary:

We disagree, citing the same vein of concerns as our response to the previous clause.

NOTES that another resolution to create a UN Space Agency should be created.

REPEALS "UN Space Consortium".

For which we express our concordance.

May the blessings of our otters be upon you.

Leonard Otterby
Ambassador for the Republic of Compadria to the U.N.

For the record:

UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION #50
UN Space Consortium
Category: Free Trade
Strength: Significant
Proposed by: Rixtex

Description: Whereas the nations of the world wish to unify their efforts at space exploration, and

Whereas, no nation can claim title to the Moon,

Let it be resolved, that an agency to be named the United Nations Space Consortium (hereafter referred to as “U.N.S.C.”) is hereby created. The purpose of the U.N.S.C. shall be to establish a permanent Lunar Base capable of furthering the exploration of space for knowledge and resources.

The U.N.S.C. shall be incorporated under the charter of the United Nations and entirely funded through the sale of stock to any desiring nation, regardless of their affiliation to the United Nations. Non-participating nations are free to pursue their own space objectives, but would not reap the rewards of the investors. No taxing authority shall be created by the passage of this resolution.

A Provisional Board of Directors (“Provisional Board”) shall be composed of a representative from each nation participating in the U.N.S.C. immediately following the passage of this resolution. The Provisional Board will then proceed to elect a permanent Board of Directors (“Board”). No sale of stock shall occur before the seating of the Board.

Full operational control, design, development, priorities, and administration will be assigned to the Board whose service will remain subject to the will of the stockholders, as provided for in the Articles of Incorporation.

Let the nations of the world move forward together to a new frontier.

Votes For: 13,191
Votes Against: 5,426

Implemented: Sun Feb 29 2004

I - obviously - support this.

While strongly supporting space exploration Karlania is concerned that financing such a venture through the use of stocks will make it difficult for poor nations to reap the benefits of space discovery.

Karlania also questions whether the UN has any sort of authority in space at all. Space must certainly be administored in some way, but would another body created soley to do so be a better option? Or perhaps nations should be allowed to explor space via their own programs with the UN stepping only to help settle disputes.

The RL example of Antartica has been mentioned and Karlania feels that treating space in a similer fashion is an idea that might also have merit.

Here I would argue that there exist ample grounds for space to be considered a "neutral" area, (rather like RL Antarctica) therefore to subject all applications for ownership of extra-terrestrial territory to U.N. oversight seems logical in my opinion.

That works in RL because just about every nation on RL Earth agrees to it: However it seems to me that, given that a NSUN Resolution is binding on less than a third of the NSiverse's nations, all that such a limitation would do -- in the absence [& impossibility] of the NSUN having its own armed forces to enforce it -- would be to give non-member nations yet another advantage over members...

That works in RL because just about every nation on RL Earth agrees to it: However it seems to me that, given that a NSUN Resolution is binding on less than a third of the NSiverse's nations, all that such a limitation would do -- in the absence [& impossibility] of the NSUN having its own armed forces to enforce it -- would be to give non-member nations yet another advantage over members...

True, but if there was a law permitting the exclusion of non-U.N. members from these sorts of claims, it might work. I realise this is extremely unlikely (or even impossible and illegal), but if we could somehow use the Gnomes to enforce the ban it might work.

Or not.

May the blessings of our otters be upon you.

Leonard Otterby
Ambassador for the Republic of Compadria to the U.N.