>>UPDATE May 26, 2003: 8 members of this team just returned from a No Weapons in Space Conference in Spain hosted by Pugwash, an international consortium of scientists created during the Cold War to address the uses of the technology they create.  They presented their efforts and continued work on a joint paper they are writing on the issue with representatives of the United States Air Force.<<

 
The Space Gen team participated in the Sept 9-12th 2002 UN/ESA Enhancing the Participation of Youth in Space Conference this week in Austria.  At that event a number of youth delegates from around the world felt compelled to join together and speak out against the growing inertia in the US to put weapons in space.  Here is their declaration:

 

>> If you want to add your voice to the movement against weapons in space
you can sign your name to the declaration at<<
www.no-weapons-in-space.org

 

The Graz Declaration For Peace in Space

12 September 2002

“I do say that space can be explored and mastered without feeding the fires of war, without repeating the mistakes that man has made in extending his writ around this globe of ours…  Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation may never come again.”

US President John F. Kennedy
12  September 1962
Rice Stadium

 

The US government is now planning to put weapons in space.  This threatens the precious peace of space, and demands a response from the people of the world. 

Forty years ago today this peaceful vision was embraced by the world.  It was a hopeful vision, inspired by cooperation, courage and exploration. 

Putting weapons in space will provoke an arms race above our heads.  It is destabilizing, unnecessary, immoral, and will pollute the space environment.

Space beckons us to a new future, a future that is not dictated by our past.  To those who say this vision is unrealistic, we respond that it is a path to a better world. 

On this historic anniversary, we rededicate ourselves to this vision, and call upon our governments to take immediate action to keep space free from weapons.

 
At the final morning session, 40 years to the day after Kennedy made his historic moon speech from which that quote was taken, 42 delegates from 32 countries signed this declaration and took a stand that our future in space be one of peace. 

If you are interested in finding out more about this please email george@spacegen.org

Back to home

last modified: June 3, 2003                                       © The Space Generation Foundation
An affiliate organization to the Space Generation Advisory Council