Inhabitation of Outer Space - improvident and squandered opportunity

On Thursday, May 18, the second session of the General Assembly took place at the Faculty of Social Sciences, on the agenda item Nr. 2 – Colonisation of Outer Space. The present 32 countries - member states to the United Nations have gathered to discuss the topic - on the environment so fragile and whose nature is seen as an extraordinary – to answer the questions regarding legal aspects and proceeding to formulate answers on the use of tourism in space, the role of private sector and providing legislation to equal acces and opportunities to all countries – the developed and developing in all matters that pertinent this topic.

Disclaimer: This picture does not show the actual voting procedure.

There was a proposal for a Draft Resolution 1.0 (hereinafter reffered to as Proposal) and two Draft Resolutions 2.0 and 3.0 all in all forwarded to us before this official session.

As it goes for the Proposal, it was sponsored by The Arab Republic of Egypt, The Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Senegal and it had a number of 12 countries signatories, all of which we could define as developing. Within this Proposal the countries had reffered to the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space, Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies and the Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interest of All States. Being aware of all the previous challenges countries have already had with the signing and ratification of all of the above mentioned documents, why putting them in the Proposal? Countries supporting this Proposal might have ratified this documents, but they should take into account the possible alternative of all other countries in the General Assembly not doing the same.

In Article 2 of the Proposal countries have requested for ''...equal access and possibilities to inhabit the outer space, regardless of their degree of economic, scientific, social and technological development, particular account should be taken of the needs of developing countries.'' Being aware of the scope of equality in the international community the status of developing countries can be questioned on Earth, let alone considering the inhabitation of Outer Space. Countries that have the means and national programmes that possess the technology, science and economic resources should help developing countries however these countries demand. The same goes for Article 3 of the Proposal where ''special attention'' should again be devoted to the developing countries however they deem it appropriate. The Article 4 of the same proposal requests for ''...free exchange of scientific discoveries, technology, knowledge and personnel among all States...''. We would like to point out a time in history here, let us look at Europe in 1930, where just a year after the Wall Street stock market crashed – poverty and job loss captured not only North, but also South America and Europe. It was a time of emergence of nationalist parties and authoritarian regimes. Many scientists, engineers, doctors and other extremely talented people have moved to the United States of America where they have largely contributed to the development of science, technology and helped get country back on the feet. It was through knowledge sharing that today one of, if not, the leading country in the Space exploration gained this status. So why turn back to the developing countries whose people are eager to learn, gain knowledge and experience to help their countries establish national space exploration systems and become more equal and developed?

Source: https://goo.gl/gxj2yD

The Arab Republic of Egypt wanted to introduce the above mentioned and discussed Draft, but countries showed no support. The motion to introduce this Draft was put forward many more times during the session, but was never granted. Right after that Germany got the chance to introduce the Draft Resolution 2.0, whose Sponsors were no other than the Federal Republic of Germany, Federative Republic of Brazil, Republic of Turkey and Kingdom of Sweden. It seemed this Draft has nothing new to offer, as it just repeats and reaffirms the already established legal norms and principles on the exploration of Outer Space, but as it was assured by Germany it offers a new dimension of cooperation with South American States – Brazil and Chile in particular. This Draft reffers to UN GA ''...Resolution 1884 (XVIII) regarding the disarmament of celestial bodies sent to Outer Space...'', stresses the dialogue between the spacefaring nations, calls for the ratification of the international treaties regarding Outer Space, calls for the exploration within the standards of the UNOOSA, congratulates all space agencies and programmes on their work done thus far and encourages them to promote and cooperate among themselves on the issues pertaining them, stipulates the prevention of militarization and among other calls for the importance of 2030 Agenda for sustainable development that should be applied to space exploration. As the People's Republic of China asked ''What is the added value of this Resolution?'' we asked ourselves the same question.

The debate continuted on the importance of the space exploration, the developing countries wanted 'a piece of the pie' for themselves, Sweden and Canada as the mediators have called for the shift of the debate on topics that need to be addressed more seriously, while USA and Russia felt like they were being exploited, Russian Federation stating ''you can't be a part of it, just because you exist and breathe air.'' USA was clearly baffled when it come to discussing the Draft Resolution Nr. 2 and the evergrowing nervousness in the room became obvious, when the developing countries wanted to be a part of it, but couldn't clearly express what exactly is it that they want. With the Amendment 4, the whole point of the Draft 2.0 clearly lost its meaning, with the introduction of the equal access and possibilities to all countries – introduced by the same countries that were sponsors of the Draf Resolution 1.0.

Source: https://goo.gl/jVU2pc

After the national situation in Turkey caused problems in the room, Sweden couldn't be more disgruntled with situation, while Cuba wanted to discuss the capitalist intent of countries exploring the Outer Space, which none of the other countries supported.

The Draft Resolution 3.0 was introduced by none other than its sponsor USA, two others being the People's Republic of China and Russian Federation. What a turn in history, who would, indeed imagine the three big powers of the old world joining together and taking future steps in trying to establish a common legislative ground for the inhabitation of Outer Space, it is indeed like we have learned nothing from the history itself. The Resolution 3.0 has a mention of the developed and developing countries, congratules and further endorses all national and regional space programmes, calls for respect of the environment within the Agenda 2030 and addressing the existing pollution. In Article 5 promotes the touristic activities in space for societal awareness and then further in Article 6 promotes the activities and presence of private sector and with Ammendment 2 adds the exploration and all activities these companies do must be with accordance of all legislative background that was until this day created within the UN. It calls in the Article 7 for establishment of an annual conference taking place every year during the World Space Week in Vienna and in the Article 8 emphasises the good practices of countries like China that endorses international cooperation with UNOOSA and the establishment of its new space station Tiangong-3, presented as this being the only option for the international community to be included in the space affairs. This Resolution 3.0 however has no mention of militarization of Outer Space and the prevention of this process, no mention of preventing the exploitation of celestial bodies, but it wishes to offer the developing countries a chance to collaborate with all those who already have the established national space programmes.

It seemed like the inequality has stepped forth in this session as the developing countries have created a pole, the opposition lead by the three sponsors of the Draft Resolution 3.0. The financial and political help the superpowers have offered to the developing countries created a chaos, as no country wanted to be in the subordinate position. The Representative of Morrocco stated ''...you should approach us, as you are the one who needs our vote!'' The answer of China being ''...we offer you our financial and political support, and you are the one that needs it therefor you should be the one approaching us.''

Source: https://goo.gl/rsCKQN

United Kingdom used the admonition of withdrawing the financial help they offer as a part of Commonwealth that reflected in a deep shift of balance particularly in Kenya. The developing coutries definetely had the chance of creating a setting that would benefit their needs and address the particular problems they are facing, but in the foreground they showed a lack of unity and support for each other. They wanted a share and all the free help and facilities they could get, but when it came to a contribution of their part they seemed to forget what was that all about. Still, we have seen some countries behaving as their national policies and strategy don't matter at all as they were working as the leaders of alliances have dictated. It was a missed opportunity for all countries to address the issues pertaining the role of the private sector when it comes to the exploration of space and to further discuss the tourist activities that may contribute to societal awareness.

No Resolution was adopted at the end. The colonisation of Outer Space and all activities that pertain to it seem to be, as the Space itself still too far for countries to reach any particular and more narrow legislative frame that would enhance the already existing one.

#GASIM2017 #SpaceisthePlace #SpaceColonisation #SpaceInhabitation #Resolution