Moagricultuin zero-g

andy-nimmo wrote:

> Hi Lucio,
>
> Just a note to say I was utterly apalled at the conditions on this
> nefarious agreement.
>
> I know ESA already has Kurou, but Alcntara would be much better for
> many launches, so I would very much suggest that Brazil approach ESA,
> who I'm sure would agree to a much better and much more pro-Brazil
> agreement.
>
> Roy Gibson, the guy who founded ESA, is a personal friend of mine and
> one of the Honorary members of ASTRA - the Association in Scotland To
> Research into Astronautics, on whose Council I serve (in addition to
> being president of the UK Space Settlers' Society). Even though he is
> now officially retired, he is still active in space affairs, if you have
> contacts with anyone in Brazil who would like a good word put in, just
> ask and I'll do all poss to get Roy to do so.
>
> By the way, have you come to any decision yet on putting the possibility
> of a merger between the two Space Settlers' Societies to your Yahoo group?
>
> Best wishes, Andy.
>
> "Dr. Omni" wrote:
>
> From:
> To:
> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2001 4:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [spacesettlers] More agriculture in zero-g
>
> [snikt]
> What is your perspective on the Alcantara issue?
>
> For those who are not familiar with the referred issue, I would suggest
> reading
> http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/09/10/brazil.us.space.ap/index.html
> as a
> startpoint.
>
> The most polemical points in the Alcntara issue are:
>
> 1) There will be *no* transfer of astronautic technology from
> Americans to
> Brazilians.
> 2) Brazilians would not be allowed to inspect American sealed
> containers
> entering the facilities; also there would be "Brazilian-free"
> restricted
> areas for Americans only.
> 3) Brazilians would no be allowed to use the money from the rental to
> further develop the embryonic Brazilian astronautics.
>
> I think that item (1) is perfectly reasonable. Everyone knows that
> the same
> technology that allows people to go to space can also be used to
> drop bombs
> over the heads of people somewhere, so Astronautics was always
> considered a
> strategic technology and therefore each country has to build it from
> scratch.

Actually the Germans developed it for America... but that's
history; still, there's a big difference between ICBMs and peaceful
space launchers- it's kinda like the difference between a jet
fighter and a 747; and they aren't keen on them having peaceful
ones either apparently.

Actually, you can buy books telling you how to do it; you don't
need to get the US to tell you; its all written down, they're not
illegal to export.

> As for items (2) and (3), well... I know that there are many
> Americans here in this list and I hope that you will not be offended
> by my
> "empathic" opinion, but... Items (2) and (3) are OUTRAGEOUS!

2) I'm not sure about; it amounts to an american military base on
Brazilian soil. Its probably outrageous, but that's upto them, it's
their country.

> Item (3) sounds kind of strange when proposed by a nation that is
> often see
> as the champion of Capitalism, free market and free enterprise.
> Suppose that
> America is a car driver that wants to rent a park area from another
> guy,
> Brazil. However, America will sign the contract only if Brazil
> promises to
> not use the money to buy a car for himself. In *any* rental
> situation like
> that, the landlord would dismiss the unreasonable guy and continue
> to rent
> his property to more reasonable people... And, indeed, I don't think
> that
> our Congress will authorize this rental.

3) is unenforceable anyway.

It may go something along the lines of:

'we've cut budget X for sweeping the streets by the amount Y, which
is how much you're paying us; and you're paying for that thanks!

Yes, we have increased the research budget by Y + delta which isn't
exactly the same as Y, how could you ever think that the two are
related (shocked expression)... its just we had this money left
over.

> That's it. Again, I hope that I did not hurt any patriotic feelings
> that you
> may have - that was not my intention at all - but I was asked to
> expose the
> situation from my (Brazilian) perspective...
>
> Ron Menich
>
> Lucio Coelho

--
- Ian Woollard (ian.woollard@...)

"Is a planetary surface the right place for an expanding
technological civilization?"
- Gerard O'Neill