Why we oppose U.S. military Policy in Space

The Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice, [12 September 1997]

It is immoral

One nation representing about 6% of the world's population claims that it alone is military master of space and by logical extension of the earth below. It alone has the power to fight war in space, from space and into space as General Ashly, ex-Commander of the US Space Command, declared in a recent interview. The world domination policy is carried out so that our citizens can continue to consume (and waste) a disproportionate amount (30-40%!) of the world's food, fiber, and energy resources. Internally there is a growing gap between the rich and the poor. Thus the U.S. appears on the world stage not as a benign Uncle Sam but rather as a grotesque actor, equal parts glutton and bully.

It is illegal

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 which the United States helped to draft and signed along with more than 90 other countries affirms the common interest of all humankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and further states that the exploration and use of outer space . . . shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic and scientific development, and shall be the province of all (hu)mankind. There are other legal documents such as the ABM Treaty (1972) and UN-sponsored guidelines on control of national airspace that the U.S. violates by its current policies.

It is undemocratic and violates the freedom of conscience

The shroud of secrecy ($30 billion secret budget) under which so much of this activity is carried out prevents individual citizens and their elected representatives from having a say in what is being done in their name. Spying on the unsuspecting citizens of foreign countries and in some cases on our own citizens opens the door to gross abuse of the right to privacy. On the individual level, thousands in our community sign secret oaths which isolate them from their families, friends, church members and citizens. Everyone agrees that excessive secrecy impedes personal friendships, free and open societies, and healthy church communities.

Rationally and politically it doesn't make sense long term

By defining 94% of the earth's inhabitants as our enemies or potential enemies, we trap ourselves in a national paranoia that demands that most of our research and the cream of our resources are constantly being poured into war preparations. We respond to national crisis with calls for more violence and repression instead of seeking creative alternatives. Every bomb left in a building or placed on an airplane accentuates the fear and adds to the cycle of violence and defensiveness. Every civilization that has acted in this manner has fallen from a combination of outside force and internal decay. For pragmatic reasons we should be making different choices.

Join a global effort to forge a sensible world environment plan to help conserve our fragile planet for future generations. As we downscale our military spending we will free up scientific and technological resources which can help in this effort.

Statements from:

Citizens for Peace in Space (CPIS)
PO Box 915
Colorado Springs
CO 80901
Tel (719) 389 0644