MasterPlanning!: Land on the Moon
by Tony Chavira
In 1969, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon ... remember that? Then, of course, he planted an American flag on it.
Does that mean that the moon belongs to America? I say, “Hell, no!” but don’t you find it strange that we can even discuss land ownership in space? We’ve already crashed a satellite into it, as if we own it, to determine whether or not it has resources. And we’re not the only ones with ambitions. India, China, Russia and Japan all a) have lunar programs and b) have interacted with the moon. They might not have been so presumptuous as to put their flag on its surface, but what happens when someone suddenly finds a mountain of crystal clear, perfectly drinkable water, locked away as ice under the moon’s surface?
More importantly, don’t you find it a little strange that we’re taking resources from space and even considering bringing them to Earth? If we need fresh air, hydrogen, or water, don’t bother cleaning up what we already have here on scummy ol’ Earth. Just fly to the moon and get it there: your astral market for raw materials! Don’t worry though: by the time the moon runs out, I’m sure we’ll be able to reach Mars and whatever huge glaciers of untapped resources it has available as well. Regardless, we’re turning extraterrestrial resources into terrestrial ones. The Earth will actually have more stuff on it than it did when humans were created.
And in case you thought land ownership issues of the 21st century could be resolved with proper research and historical precedence, we can already see national powers vying for a piece of the post-colonial cosmological pie ... the result of empty promises made about common use and ownership of a little piece of property known as Antarctica. In 1959, the Antarctic Treaty was signed by 12 countries, with 46 others coming on board later. It set some ground rules: no military, no mining, and no interference in Antarctica’s ecology. Only science allowed. But did any of these provisions keep countries from staking claims? Of course not! The United Kingdom, France, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentina all claim chunks of the land mass, possibly just to say that it’s theirs and impose regulations of some sort on it. (People seem to love to do that.) At least New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentina can draw a straight line south to Antarctica ... the United Kingdom, France and Norway just seem to want colonial bragging rights.
We can all see the moon, though. At one point, our ancient ancestors might’ve even worshipped it. But history has shown us that it’s easier to take respect from something than pay respect to it, and once the moon’s up for grabs there’s going to be no stopping humanity from carving it up to our nationalistic hearts’ content. But who has the right to lay claim to land on the moon? In fact, who had the right to lay claim to any land at all?
Current property law is amazingly specific regarding the rights for use of a space on Earth. America, for example, could lay claim to the moon while the rights to mine it for water could actually belong to China. So where does the water go when we’re facing a record drought? What’s worse, what if the claim laid by Russia contains a giant pocket of fresh water and something terrible happens, which leaves another country begging for access? The same leverage schemes which lead to land-based disputes (and have, in many cases, brought nations to war) will play out indefinitely over extra-terrestrial resources. Good thing Antarctica is mostly glacial ice ... if there were enough of anything to exploit, I’m sure someone would be warring over it by now.
What will ultimately be both amazing and scary about lunar land is that eventually people will have to live up there (for mining purposes, research purposes, military purposes, whatever) and provisions for that will somehow have to be set in place. Will lunar immigrants be able to purchase land on the moon, or will they simply lease it from the nation that laid its claim? Will the lunar citizen feel that their land is being exploited by supposed superpowers, floating casually in the black distance of space? Will they feel imposed on if they are only allowed to rent their land? Will they have representation in Earth government, and, if they do, won’t their representatives on Earth be so disassociated from local lunar issues that their position will seem more ceremonial than representative? Won’t lunar citizens want to feel free from the imposing shackles of Earthling governments? Governments that really only have their selfish terrestrial interests in mind?
I’m not writing to advocate for equal rights and strong local government for citizens of the moon though (not yet, anyway). I’m writing from my short Internet pulpit to advocate that our country at least consider signing the Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies that the United Nations first developed in 1979. Of course, the treaty’s been signed by many nations who would rather we not gain immediate and unlimited control of the moon. But not the United States, nor any other so-called superpower with the ability to fund a space exploration program. Instead, we’re just as imperialistic and greedy as we ever were, and clearly don’t give a crap about the idea of collective interests. Regardless of the complexity of law, ownership disputes, or collective use, the only real property law when the land’s unclaimed is that “if we get there first, it’s ours.” The United States can probably argue for a huge stake of land around where Neil Armstrong planted his flag. If China lands on the other side of the moon and plants their flag first, it’s theirs. If Japan gets to Mars before us, guess who owns Mars? Although, I can also see Mars being a big source of pride for Russia ... it is red, after all.
Either the treaty is signed, or the moon, and potentially any other celestial body, will become the source of international (dare I say interplanetary?) conflict. Do we really want to present ourselves to the Universe this way? I think land management and property ownership issues are complicated enough on Earth, and we’ve been living here for millions of years. Let’s at least take that one small step in the right direction.
www.racaia.com | tony@fourstory.org
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