Posted on 09/16/2002 2:49:26 PM PDT by Pokey78
CONSENT CALENDAR
Date: 9-10-02 PASSED
RESOLUTION NUMBER 61744
To: Honorable Mayor and
Members of the City Council
From: Councilmember Dona Spring
Subject: ENDORSING THE SPACE PRESERVATION ACT AND COMPANION SPACE PRESERVATION TREATY TO PERMANENTLY BAN THE WEAPONIZATION OF SPACE
RECOMMENDATION: That the Council pass the attached resolution supporting the Space Preservation Act and the companion Space Preservation Treaty, and request that the City Manager send letters to our federal representatives urging their support of the Space Preservation Act.
BACKGROUND: On January 23rd 2002, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) introduced the Space Preservation Act, companion to the Space Preservation Treaty, to the US House of Representatives. In the words of Congressman Kucinich, “We can take this technology for destruction, for war, and, through this proposal, create a technology for peace. We can create a world where war no longer becomes inevitable. We first have to look to a practical measure, such a measure to stop the weaponization of space. There are so many opportunities for the evolution of our species. There is the possibility of space travel, for commerce, for exploration. That is part of the human spirit. It always has been. And so we have the chance today, launching this effort for peace, through saying, ‘There shall be no weapons in space.’ But not only that, but to use the legislation as a matrix for a treaty to preserve space which we will ask leaders from all over the world to sign.”
Please see attached.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: NONE
CONTACT PERSON: Councilmember Dona Spring 510 981-7140
RESOLUTION NO. 61744
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE SPACE PRESERVATION ACT AND THE SPACE PRESERVATION TREATY TO PERMANENTLY BAN THE WEAPONIZATION OF SPACE
WHEREAS, the Space Preservation Act and the companion Space Preservation Treaty will establish a permanent ban on all space-based weapons, on the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit; and the permanent termination of research and development, testing, manufacturing, production and deployment of all space-based weapons; and
WHEREAS, the termination of the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty on June 13, 2002 will permit research, development, testing, manufacturing, production and deployment of space-based weapons, thereby instigating a dangerous, costly, and destabilizing arms race in space, endangering all residents of Berkeley, the United States of America and all of humankind, and invading outer space, humanity’s weapons-free common heritage, with space-based weapons; and
WHEREAS, The Space Preservation Act, companion to the Space Preservation Treaty, introduced by U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), requires the U.S. President to work toward “negotiating, adopting and implementing an international treaty banning space-based weapons and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit;” and
WHEREAS, the Space Preservation Treaty will establish an outer space peacekeeping agency to monitor outer space and enforce the permanent ban of space-based weapons; and
WHEREAS, The Space Preservation Act and the Space Preservation Treaty facilitate future public and private investment in clean and safe technology, products and services, and in sustainable, non-weapons, expanded civil, commercial and military, world cooperative space ventures, and the consequent stimulation of the national and world economy. The Act and the Treaty do not prohibit activities including space exploration, space research and development, testing, manufacturing or deployment that is not related to space-based weapons or systems, or civil, commercial, or defense activities (including communications, navigation, surveillance, reconnaissance, early warning, or remote sensing) that are not related to space-based weapons or systems;” and
WHEREAS, the Space Preservation Act and the Space Preservation Treaty preserve the peaceful, cooperative uses of space for all residents of Berkeley and for all humankind; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
4) THAT IT IS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BERKELEY THAT THE U.S. SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ENACT AND THE U.S. PRESIDENT SIGN AND ENFORCE THE SPACE PRESERVATION ACT; and
2) THAT IT IS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL THAT THE U.S. PRESIDENT, INDIVIDUALLY OR AT AN EMERGENCY TREATY CONFERENCE, SIGN THE SPACE PRESERVATION TREATY, AND THAT THE U.S. SENATE RATIFY IT TO PERMANENTLY BAN ALL SPACE-BASED WEAPONS TO PRESERVE THE COOPERATIVE, PEACEFUL USES OF SPACE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF BERKELEY AND FOR ALL HUMANKIND; and
3) The Council of the City of Berkeley hereby declares that the space 60 kilometers and above the City of Berkeley is a space-based weapons free zone; and
4) This Resolution of the Council of the City of Berkeley is hereby recommended to be adopted by all Municipalities in the United States of America and worldwide.
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Precisely my thought.
This is a obscenity in terms of waste of taxes, paper, ink, natural resources etc. All hail the high and mighty Berkley SUPREME COUNCIL! I'd love to see the specs for the new police vehicle they need to enforce it and to hear the screams for the increase in the city budget. Ah, H... whats the point, pointy headed liberalism is just another term for hard vacume between the ears!
They want someone else to enforce it. In fact, the resolution calls upon President Bush to do the deed.
Not that I think there's any realistic possibility of that happening.
D
As if we even know how far that is? (Please love us, Europeans, we know how infinitely superior the metric system is to the evilly-named Imperial system.)
My favorite Dave Barry line was about the French who drove their little cars on dangerous mountain roads at about 17 million kilograms/hour.
Ironically, to effectively enforce this law, they would need to build and deploy anti-satellite weapons--i.e., space weapons.
sigh, apparently no one has ever taught these star-eyed wanna-be hippies about the concept of Eminent Domain, (You know, how we GOT California.)
IOW if the U.S. Government deems that we need the space above Berkley (including the part that has orbiting-prohibitive atmosphere as correctly mentioned above (God, what morons!)) then we'll just take it.
Extreme Low Earth Orbit Bump!
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