The Space Settlement Initiative

--- In ssi_list@... "Arthur P. Smith"
>
> > Back to the "ideological" lawyers for a moment. For their
position
> > to be consistent they would have to support the Chinese selling
> > parcels of the Moon. For these lawyers, if their ideology is
strong
> > enough, that might not be a problem. But harkening back to the
Cold
> > War days, not too many politicians or citizens would like to
look up
> > and see a Soviet Moon or in this case, a Chinese Moon.
>
> I don't think any of the people I've talked to would see any
> reason why China wouldn't deserve to do what it likes with the
> Moon if it is able to develop its resources while the US sits
> on its hands. They'd be more than happy that at least somebody
> was up there making space resources a reality. Of course it's
> nicer if it's people we know and trust, but sometimes you have
> to take what life gives you...

So, the American astronauts of the future who want to go to the Moon
will need to apply to China for a visa! Perhaps the Chinese will
deny the Americans "overflight" or "landing" status. The Americans
could orbit the moon, just as they do Earth, but not land.
Imagine the Chinese firing on an approaching American spacecraft
just as they did with the spyplane that was hugging their coast last
year. Or imagine a "Lunar Missile Crisis" similar to the "Cuban
Missile Crisis." Wouldn't China have the right to deploy missiles on
its own territory?

Hmm. I don't really see the benefit of extending Earth's national
sovereignty to celestial bodies.

Same thing applies to American sovereignty that is implied in the
Space Settlement Iniative.

I don't think a modified sovereignty where a country doesn't have
control of its own borders and immigration is going to fly with the
Chinese in case your lawyer friends would propose that as a
compromise.

>
> Your other points are good; Vatican city is a rather odd case - it
> really only exists because Italy chooses to humor the pope (who
> has at least a base of support in that country). Perhaps the world
> would treat a lunar nation similarly - I have my doubts though...
>
> Arthur

I offer some food for thought.

Who decides whether a country exists?

Does a country need permission from other countries to exist?

If some corporations get together and some personnel agree, what's
to stop them from making a "Declaration of Existence." Perhaps it
would be better to offer contrition rather than ask for permission.
Present a fait accompli and let the world deal with it.

If a "lunar country" existed and its citizens and companies were
drawn from many of the Earth's nations, would this really be less
desirable than a Chinese controlled Moon, with policies designed for
Chinese advantage, or a Moon where things are decided by Kofi Annan,
where the US would have 1 of 189 votes, and any security decision
could be vetoed by 4 other countries, and where decisions are made
by countries on Earth that haven't contributed a single cent to
luanr development?

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00005.htm

TangoMan