[PASSED] World Assembly Space Research Station Program

[Northern Itasca]

The World Assembly Space Research Station Program
Category: Education and Creativity (Education)

The WA General Assembly,

ACKNOWLEDGING that not all nations in the World Assembly have the capability to launch a space program on their own due to the fact that space programs require incredible amounts of funding and technology that not all nations are capable of developing.

BELIEVING that all nations in the World Assembly should have the opportunity of exploring and researching space, even less capable ones that are not able to do so by themselves.

HEREBY creates the World Assembly Space Research Station Committee, that will be tasked with the following:

1.) Collecting funds through private charity from WA nations, corporations, and individuals.

2.) Gathering scientists and researchers from WA nations to design, build, and launch the Word Assembly Space Research Station (WASRS).

3.) Ensuring that all member nations have equal access to the WASRS.

4.) Creating and enforcing customs policies for the WASRS.

DESIGNATES the World Assembly Space Research Station as a weapons free facility

REALIZING that there is a need for the WASRS to protect itself from attack by enemies of the World Assembly. Because of this non-weaponry counter-measures will be allowed on the station to defend it from anti-satellite weapons.

The World Assembly General Assembly hereby commissions the World Assembly Space Research Station Program.

[Embolalia]

Sounds like an interesting idea on a first glance.
As far as prior law, how would this interact with GA nos. 63, 87, & 92? There might be a duplication issue with 92, specifically §2. If not, would it be a part of WASP? Would there be a legal way of coordinating it with IMO and COSC?

[Rutianas]

Just one question. In orbit around which planet exactly? Keep in mind that there are varying levels of technology and many different planets in the WA. I'm not sure Swarming Cute Kittens would want to fund a space station around a planet other than their own, which isn't shared by any other nation in the WA.

-Paula Jenner, Rutianas and Swarming Cute Kittens Ambassador

[Severania]

Awesome idea!

[Quadrimmina]

We would support this fully. Whether as Education/Creativity->Education or International Security->Mild, it would be a great idea.

[Manticore Reborn]

As a nation which has several space stations in our system as well as other areas of the galaxy we see no reason for this proposal. Any friendly nation is welcome to sublet suitable areas of any of our space stations to conduct peaceful research.

[Manticore Reborn]

How would you stop nuclear weapons from being smuggled aboard?

If this question is asked of Manticore Reborn, since all space stations are our sovereign territory we reserve the right to enforce our customs laws. Being a closed environment, space stations are highly vulnerable to outside containments and thus extensive searches are conducted upon any ship's docking.

[Northern Itasca]

How would you stop nuclear weapons from being smuggled aboard?

The space station will be operated by the WA. Nuclear weapons will not be allowed,in fact no weapons will be allowed. The only thing that is remotely close to a weapon will be countermeasures that will be used to protect the station from anti-satellite weapons.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

We would support this fully. Whether as Education/Creativity->Education or International Security->Mild, it would be a great idea.

Education/Creativity->Education would be better in my opinion. Voulntary donations would also be a great idea but complexities can be avoided by not going into the financial side. All we need is a draft by the honoured ambassador from Northern Itasca and we'll have a look.

[Manticore Reborn]

But why is this needed as a WA Resolution?
If nations wish to do this, they can without WA involvement.

[National Worker Regime]

But why is this needed as a WA Resolution?
If nations wish to do this, they can without WA involvement.

It looks as though he's just proposing so all research would inherently benefit every World Assembly member, not just those who can readily afford an entire space program by themselves.

It sounds good on paper, but how would such things be regulated? Would there be strict protocols on certain research, and what information would be gathered and sent to every nation? Could these systems be abused, albeit sometimes unknowingly, and used to record data on other Nations? How would you go about putting defenses on such a station, and have them not to be considered weapons themselves. As well, how do you go about being able to do thorough investigations? Would this research be collected by the World Assembly then distributed with everything in form to every Nation, or would certain Nations be able to request certain information at hand, in some sort of "Vault"?

Expressing Concerns,
The National Workers' Regime Ministry of Science and Technology,
& The National Workers' Regime Ministry of Defense.

[Northern Itasca]

BUMP

[Mousebumples]

DESIGNATES the World Assembly Space Research Station as a weapons free and nuclear weapon free facility, unless the station is designed to use nuclear power as its main source of energy.

Will nuclear power be it's main source of energy? That is something you can, and should, stipulate within the proposal text itself.

REALIZING that there is a need for the WASRS to protect itself from attack by enemies of the World Assembly. Because of this counter-measures will be allowed on the station to defend it from anti-satellite weapons.

What counter-measures? Details are your friend in proposal writing.

[Holy Roman Confederate]

The HRC doesnt view this as a great idea. Nations should be allowed to progress into a space program when their level of technology meets the requirements to build a program. This route would take nations that are not yet ready and open them to very advanced concepts that they may possibly not be ready for. Remember, at some levels technology can become a burden. Let them mature at their own rate, no need to force feed them.

[Quelesh]

This is a good idea, at least in theory, and I've approved the submitted proposal. One reservation I have, however, is the ambiguity in this clause:

DESIGNATES the World Assembly Space Research Station as a weapons free and nuclear weapon free facility, unless the station is designed to use nuclear power as its main source of energy.

As the ambassador from Mousebumples said, it would probably be a good idea to be more specific here. Not only do we not know if nuclear power will be the main source of energy for the station, but if it is, the wording of the clause would seem to allow any weapons or even nuclear bombs on board the station.

[The Altani Confederacy]

ACKNOWLEDGING that not all nations in the World Assembly have the capability to launch a space program on their own due to the fact that space programs require incredible amounts of funding and technology that not all nations are capable of developing.

Not our problem; the WA should not be a space charity. We'd rather not see the WA working to fund our potential competition in space, thanks.

BELIEVING that all nations in the World Assembly should have the opportunity of exploring and researching space, even less capable ones that are not able to do so by themselves.

Space exploration and settlement is no game, and if a nation can't get there by itself, that is in our estimation ample evidence for the theory that they really shouldn't be blundering around up there until they have the technology, skill and experience to support a longterm space program. Such novices endanger themselves and those of us with established space programs already, not to mention who might be on the ground underneath them if their "experiment" doesn't work out.

HEREBY creates the World Assembly Space Research Station Committee, that will be tasked with the following:

1.) Collecting funds through private charity from WA nations, corporations, and individuals.

2.) Gathering scientists and researchers from WA nations to design, build, and launch the Word Assembly Space Research Station (WASRS).

3.) Ensuring that all member nations have equal access to the WASRS.

4.) Creating and enforcing customs policies for the WASRS.

Other than the fact that it creates yet another committee, the major problem we have with this is the idea that the WA should have any kind of authority over customs policies in space at all. We know, it's just for this one proposed station, for now. But that's a foothold to more "ambitious" ideas we'd prefer never see come to fruition.

DESIGNATES the World Assembly Space Research Station as a weapons free and nuclear weapon free facility, unless the station is designed to use nuclear power as its main source of energy.

REALIZING that there is a need for the WASRS to protect itself from attack by enemies of the World Assembly. Because of this counter-measures will be allowed on the station to defend it from anti-satellite weapons.

The second paragraph contradicts the paragraph right above it, by allowing "countermeasures" (i.e. weapons) onboard a "weapon free" facility. We also wonder if this section would run afoul of the "no army" rule over the WA.

Sophie Fournier, Altani WA Ambassador

[Manticore Reborn]

The Star Kingdom of Manticore Reborn politely asks why in the name of all that is divine was this proposal submitted? Besides that fact that it is a completely useless and unneeded resolution, it is no where near ready for delegate review.

[Grays Harbor]

The Star Kingdom of Manticore Reborn politely asks why in the name of all that is divine was this proposal submitted? Besides that fact that it is a completely useless and unneeded resolution, it is no where near ready for delegate review.

We were about to ask the same thing. We do not need an AUC, nor do we require mandated science.

[Libertytopia]

We, the Free People of Libertytopia have three concerns regarding this proposal, all of which have been discussed previously, and suggest the following changes:

First: this paragraph
HEREBY creates the World Assembly Space Research Station Committee, that will be tasked with the following:

should be changed to either

HEREBY creates the World Assembly Space Research Station Committee as a subsidiary of COSC (resolution 63),...:

or

HEREBY creates the World Assembly Space Research Station Committee as a subsidiary of WASP (resolution 87),...:

or even

TASKS the WASP with:

The last option would avoid the creation of yet another committee.



Second: in order to avoid the ambiguities of this paragraph
DESIGNATES the World Assembly Space Research Station as a weapons free and nuclear weapon free facility, unless the station is designed to use nuclear power as its main source of energy.

it should be changed to

DESIGNATES the World Assembly Space Research Station as a weapons-free facility.

If the honored delegates and other members wish to add a paragraph declaring the station nuclear-power-free, we see no objections.



Third: this paragraph should be removed entirely
REALIZES that there is a need for the WASRS to protect itself from attack by enemies of the World Assembly. Because of this counter-measures will be allowed on the station to defend it from anti-satellite weapons.

because it is in contradiction with WAR#2 article 10
Article 10 § Whilst WA Member States may engage in wars, the World Assembly as a body maintains neutrality in matters of civil and international strife. As such, the WA will not engage in commanding, organising, ratifying, denouncing, or otherwise participating in armed conflicts, police actions, or military activities under the WA banner.


Unless the matters discussed in points 2 and 3 are addressed we see no way that this proposal could ever be ratified, since it would be contradictory to older WA resolutions.
But if this proposal is withdrawn and a modified one is submitted the Free People of Libertytopia will whole-heartedly support the creation of a Space Station!
Per aspera ad astra!

[Northern Itasca]

Fellow WA nations. This is my first General Assembly proposal and I submitted before review out of inexperience. I have had the proposal removed so that we can proceed with the necessary revision process. I apologize for the mistake.

[Kryozerkia]

Fellow WA nations. This is my first General Assembly proposal and I submitted before review out of inexperience. I am looking into having it withdrawn so that we can proceed with the necessary revision process. I apologize for the mistake.

It has been removed.

If you submit a WA proposal and need it removed, just submit a getting help request. It will be removed without any of the usual penalties that are associated with a Mod deletion of a proposal.

[Northern Itasca]

We, the Free People of Libertytopia have three concerns regarding this proposal, all of which have been discussed previously, and suggest the following changes:

First: this paragraph
HEREBY creates the World Assembly Space Research Station Committee, that will be tasked with the following:

should be changed to either

HEREBY creates the World Assembly Space Research Station Committee as a subsidiary of COSC (resolution 63),...:

or

HEREBY creates the World Assembly Space Research Station Committee as a subsidiary of WASP (resolution 87),...:

or even

TASKS the WASP with:

The last option would avoid the creation of yet another committee.



Second: in order to avoid the ambiguities of this paragraph
DESIGNATES the World Assembly Space Research Station as a weapons free and nuclear weapon free facility, unless the station is designed to use nuclear power as its main source of energy.

it should be changed to

DESIGNATES the World Assembly Space Research Station as a weapons-free facility.

If the honored delegates and other members wish to add a paragraph declaring the station nuclear-power-free, we see no objections.



Third: this paragraph should be removed entirely
REALIZES that there is a need for the WASRS to protect itself from attack by enemies of the World Assembly. Because of this counter-measures will be allowed on the station to defend it from anti-satellite weapons.

because it is in contradiction with WAR#2 article 10
Article 10 § Whilst WA Member States may engage in wars, the World Assembly as a body maintains neutrality in matters of civil and international strife. As such, the WA will not engage in commanding, organising, ratifying, denouncing, or otherwise participating in armed conflicts, police actions, or military activities under the WA banner.


Unless the matters discussed in points 2 and 3 are addressed we see no way that this proposal could ever be ratified, since it would be contradictory to older WA resolutions.
But if this proposal is withdrawn and a modified one is submitted the Free People of Libertytopia will whole-heartedly support the creation of a Space Station!
Per aspera ad astra!

Correct me if I am wrong but I was under the impression that references to previous resolutions were not allowed due to the house of cards rule.

[Quelesh]

Correct me if I am wrong but I was under the impression that references to previous resolutions were not allowed due to the house of cards rule.

You're absolutely correct about that. You can reference "existing international law" or some such, but you can't specify a particular resolution and make your proposal dependent upon it.

[Manticore Reborn]

Correct me if I am wrong but I was under the impression that references to previous resolutions were not allowed due to the house of cards rule.

You're absolutely correct about that. You can reference "existing international law" or some such, but you can't specify a particular resolution and make your proposal dependent upon it.

Correct, you cannot make references to previous resolutions, but you can expand the powers of a committee that was created in a previous resolution. If the previous resolution is then repealed, the powers granted in that resolution are gone, but the committee still exists.

[Libertytopia]

The Delegate from Libertytopia submits the following draft, in particular drawing the honored members attention to point 5 regarding the tasks of the WASP and the final two paragraphs concerning the weapons-free nature of the station:

begin draft
The World Assembly Space Research Station Program
Category: Education and Creativity (Education)

The WA General Assembly,

ACKNOWLEDGING that not all nations in the World Assembly have the capability to launch a space program on their own because space programs require incredible amounts of funding and technology that not all nations are capable of developing,

BELIEVING that all nations in the World Assembly should have the opportunity to research and explore space, even less capable ones that are not able to do so by themselves,

TASKS the WASP with:

1.) Gathering scientists and researchers from WA nations to design, build and launch the Word Assembly Space Research Station (WASRS)
2.) Collecting funds for the WASRS through charity from individuals, corporations and WA nations
3.) Ensuring that all member nations have fair access to the WASRS
4.) Creating and enforcing customs policies for the WASRS
5.) Creating an independent World Assembly Space Research Station Committee in the event that the WASP is terminated.

The World Assembly also

DESIGNATES the World Assembly Space Research Station as a weapons-free facility,

REALIZES that a need may arise for the WASRS to protect itself with such non-weaponized, defensive countermeasures that cannot be used for offensive purposes and are allowed by international law.
end draft