WASHINGTON, D.C. - When President Vladimir Putin and President George W. Bush meet in America during November 13-15, 2001, they will have the unique opportunity to establish "a new framework for security and cooperation" on earth by banning space- based weapons.
An intense search for a new security and cooperation framework has been on going during the months of preparations preceding these meetings. In fact, a forthcoming draft World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons provides this new framework for national and world security, for a stimulated economy and job market, and for a way to cooperatively apply Space Age technology and information services to solve urgent humanitarian and environmental problems. A world space peace-keeping agency charged with monitoring a permanent ban on space-based weapons can be established. This will lead to the verifiable reduction of nuclear arsenals.
A permanent ban on space-based weapons is a breakthrough that establishes "the new framework for security and cooperation" that both Russia and America ultimately seek. The world treaty will place a cap on the arms race, and will simultaneously establish the foundation for building a world cooperative civil, military and commercial space research, testing, development, deployment and exploration industry that will replace the space-based weapons industry.
Moscow has reportedly reviewed and "digested well" an advance copy of the world treaty. One high ranking Russian source has affirmed to ICIS that, "President Putin absolutely does not want space-based weapons, will not break the ABM Treaty, does not want the U.S. to proceed with missile defense testing, and is ready to sign a treaty that will ban space-based weapons."
Either Russia or the United States - or both - could begin discussions about banning space-based weapons and sign a world treaty at any point prior, during or following the Putin-Bush meetings this month. Also, either Russia or the United States or both could reach out to a world coalition on nations to co-sign the world treaty and bring it into effect.
The World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons is identical in purpose to the little- publicized Space Preservation Act of 2001 introduced quietly into the U.S. Congress by Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Cleveland) on October 2, 2001, "to preserve the cooperative, peaceful uses of space for the benefit of all humankind by permanently prohibiting the basing of weapons in space by the United States, and to require the President to take action to adopt and implement a world treaty banning space-based weapons."
About the Space Preservation Act of 2001, Kucinich says, "We signed the ABM treaty nearly 30 years ago; which requires a reduction in strategic arms, nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. Weaponization of space clearly violates that treaty. My bill [calls] for an immediate and permanent termination of research, testing, manufacturing, production and deployment of all space-based weapons systems and components by any person, agency or contractor of the U.S. government." On July 26, 2001, the same date that Congressman Dennis Kucinich announced a bill to ban space-based weapons in the United States, the Foreign Minister of Canada, John Manley, announced in Hanoi that "Canada would be very happy.to launch an initiative to see an international convention preventing the weaponization of space." Congressman Kucinich responded to the Canadian initiative stating, "I am pleased with the recent news from our neighbor to the north that Canada is ready to join an international effort to prohibit weapons in space."
The Space Preservation Act of 2001 requires the U.S. President to "direct the United States representatives to the United Nations and other international organizations to immediately work toward negotiating, adopting, and implementing a world agreement banning space-based weapons." An enforceable and verifiable World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons must include most world nations in order to prevent the weaponization of space.
Plans are underway for a public announcement about the signing of world leaders on to the World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons.
ICIS (Institute for Cooperation in Space) has learned that there is worldwide support rapidly growing for a World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons among major space-faring nations and in developing countries. Dr. Carol Rosin, President of ICIS says, "This treaty will allow everyone to continue to provide improved ground forces to protect people on earth, while feasibly ending the arms race and stimulating a whole new industry at the same time. It is in the best interest of everyone, even adversaries, to share the Space Age information and technology applications. This presents a whole new paradigm, a new way of thinking and acting, a new space paradigm. This decision to sign this treaty will impact all future generations . ICIS will be monitoring the situation and briefing members of the world media in the days preceding the Putin-Bush meetings."
Documents posted on www.peaceinspace.com:
*World Treaty Banning Space-Based Weapons
*H.R. 2977 Space Preservation Act of 2001
*Frequently Asked Questions (Re: World Treaty and Space Preservation Act of 2001)
Summary of World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons:
1) Implement a permanent ban on space-based weapons and remove from space any
existing space-based weapons.
2) Order the permanent termination of all research, testing, development,
manufacturing, production, or deployment of all systems and components intended for
space-based weapons by any person, agency, or contractor of any nation or party
including any unacknowledged space-based weapons programs.
3) Verifiably disable and remove any deployed space-based weapons, acknowledged or
unacknowledged.
4) Prohibit the basing in space of any tactical or strategic weapon or object carrying
such weapons, including nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction, or the
installation of such space-based objects or weapons on celestial bodies, or the
positioning of such weapons in outer space in any other manner. The moon, the
planets, and other celestial bodies shall be used exclusively for non-weapons, peaceful
purposes. The establishment of weapons-related military bases, installations and
fortifications, the research, testing or development of any type of weapons and the
conduct of military maneuvers on celestial bodies or on space-based objects,
stations or platforms, shall be forbidden.
5) Declare that the use of military personnel for scientific research or for any other non-
spaced-based weapons civil, military or commercial purposes shall not be prohibited.
The use of any equipment or facility necessary for peaceful research, development,
applications or exploration or for habitation on the moon, the planets or other celestial
bodies, or on objects, stations or platforms in space shall also not be prohibited.
6) Establishment, funding, equipping and deployment of a neutral world outer space
peacekeeping organization, whose mission will be to monitor outer space and to verify
the permanent ban of space-based weapons.
7) Space exploration, research, development, testing, manufacturing or deployment that
is not related to space-based weapons or systems; including civil, commercial, or
military and defense activities (i.e. communications, navigation, surveillance,
reconnaissance, early warning, or remote sensing that are not related to space-based
weapons or systems will continue.
8) The establishment of weapons-related military bases, installations and fortifications,
the testing of any type of weapons and the conduct of military maneuvers on celestial
bodies or space-based objects shall be forbidden. Nations will not base in space any
object carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons, including weapons of
mass destruction, install such space-based objects or weapons on celestial bodies, or
station such weapons in outer space in any other manner. The moon, the planets, and
other celestial bodies shall be used by all States party to this Treaty exclusively for non-
weapons, peaceful purposes.
9) Nation-state leaders will agree to establish, fund, equip and deploy a United Nations
outer space peacekeeping agency, whose mission is to monitor outer space and
enforce the permanent ban of space-based weapons.
10) Transform the space-based weapons industry into a world cooperative civil, military,
and commercial space research, development, application and exploration industry.
Conclusion:
In this time of great insecurity, the World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons has the potential to bring all nations together, including adversaries, to form a new security system based on information exchanges and technology applications that are vitally important to all world citizens.
Further "research" and/or "testing" of missile defense must not occur. The fact is, an entire space-based weapon system could be built under the guise of saying that it is merely a "research" or "testing" program. The largest research and development (R&D) and testing program in history is now mandated to weaponize space. That mandate can be easily removed. With the signing of a World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons, the fundamental space R&D program can continue and expand.without the intention of weaponizing space and with the intention of building a world cooperative civil, military and commercial space program.
The signing of this treaty and the cooperative space ventures that will result will stimulate the economy with an abundance of opportunities including the creation of new jobs and training programs based on a new marketplace of products and services that will be applied directly to solving urgent problems of humans, animals and the environment.
The introduction of the World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons will win worldwide acceptance and will initiate a "second order change" in which a new space paradigm will be created. There is only one time in history a new space paradigm can be achieved. Only at one time in history can we end the arms race BEFORE an unstoppable momentum of funding and vested interests builds it and escalates it into space. This treaty will change the war game into a space game, without space-based weapon.
It is the responsibility of this generation of leaders to keep space weapons-free and to sign the World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons for our future generations.