{submitted} Fair outer space act

[Keshiland]

Enactment clause- This only applies to WA nations

I- Interplanetary travel
a- No fleet larger than 100 persons may travel to one planet from their home planet at a time unless invited by the host planet.
b- It is forbidden to interfere the course of any civilization from another planet.
c- All visitors to another planet must let the host planet know at least 72 hours in advance.
d- All orders or requests made by the home planet to visitors must be obeyed while on their planet.

II- Uninhabited planets
a- No nation may claim uninhabited planets as part of its territory.
b- All uninhabited planets are the shared international territory of the WA.
c- If just 1 macroscopic life form is on the planet it is considered habited.

III- Moons and stars
a- All moons are the territory of the planet of which it revolves around.
b- All stars are the shared territory of the planets that revolve around it.
c- No nation outside of said planet can land on or use the moon in any way with out permission from all the nations on said planet.
d- No nation outside of said solar system can use the star's energy with out permission from all nations in the solar system.

IV- Meteoroids and asteroids
a- The use of meteoroids or asteroids for any scientific or energy purpose is fair game.
b- Using them for weapons is strictly forbidden.

V- Items in space
a- All items in space is the property of the nation who launched it.
b- stealing space items is strictly forbidden.
c- Clause V a and b does not apply to nations that no longer exist.

VI- Sovereignty in space
a- No one is required to follow national laws in space.
b- No one can be prosecuted for any national crime committed in space.
c- VI a and b does not apply to laws passed by the WA.

[Thyerata]

*Matthew picks up the scrawny kid who represents Keshiland, opens a window and throws him out. There is then a splash in the oxbow lake that is Lake Security Council*

We won't be hearing from him for a while, Matthew says contentedly.

[Bakhton]

I- Interplanetary travel
a- No fleet larger than 100 persons may travel to one planet from their home planet at a time unless invited by the host planet.

"Why? What if there are lots of refugees from another planet that need a safe home?"

b- It is forbidden to interfere the course of any civilization from another planet.

"This would make most World Assembly legislation illegal."

c- All visitors to another planet must let the host planet know at least 3 days in advance.

"Hey Mars we're comin' just letting you know."
Mars: ...

d- All orders or requests made by the home planet to visitors must be obeyed.

"What if planets do not have one government but many all with conflicting messages?"

II- Uninhabited planets
a- No nation may claim uninhabited plants as part of its territory.

"This poses a serious damper on any nation seeking a new planet due to their last one's destruction."

b- All uninhabited planets are the shared international territory of the WA

"This disincentivizes space travel and exploration. As well, what does the WA need with space rocks?"

III- Moons and stars
a- All moons are the territory of the planet of which it revolves around.

"What if the moon is inhabited?"

b- All stars are the shared territory of the planets that revolve around it.

"So they have to get each others permission before harvesting solar power? Yknow where light comes from right?"

c- No nation outside of said planet can land on or use the moon in any way with out permission from all the nations on said planet.

"What if they have to as an emergency measure?"

d- No nation outside of said solar system can use the star's energy with out permission from all nations in the solar system.

"What if their ships are solar powered and the only way for them to recharge is at the nearest star station?"

IV- Meteoroids and asteroids
a- The use of meteoroids or asteroids for any scientific or energy purpose is fair game.

"What if the asteroids or meteors are inhabited? Are we allowed to kill all life on an asteroid?"

b- Using them for weapons is strictly forbidden.

"I've tried this before, the WA doesn't like it."

V- Items in space
a- All items in space is the property of the nation who launched it.

"What if its personal property not in ownership by the nation?"

b- stealing space items is strictly forbidden

"Good luck enforcing that!"

VI- Sovernty in space

"You mean 'sovereignty'?"

a- No one is required to follow national laws in space.

"Good going you just made space anarchy. Do you have any other bright ideas, laser-brain?"

b- No one can be prosecuted for any national crime committed in space.

"Hold on I'm going to go murder Jeffrey legally in space."
Jeffrey doubles back from the coffee machine, "What?"

[Essu Beti]

((OOC: dang, this makes me wish I had made my Space Empire nation because the dominant culture's entire shtick is interfering with other civilizations. They technologically uplift every sapient species on each planet they come across (Nationstates folks would be exempt because of logistics reasons but they'd still be pushy about it.) ))

"Wow, way to neuter every spacefaring nation in the WA," drawls Iksana. "A 100 person fleet is basically one spaceship for some of 'em, I reckon. And let me tell you, if a big giant space rock were bearing down on my planet, the kind that could wipe out all the life on it, I would be mighty pissed if someone were to not divert that rock on account of some legalistic garbage forbidding interference."

[Keshiland]

*Matthew picks up the scrawny kid who represents Keshiland, opens a window and throws him out. There is then a splash in the oxbow lake that is Lake Security Council*

We won't be hearing from him for a while, Matthew says contentedly.

"Angered, Sackeshi picks up the 500lb + tv and pins Matthew to the wall with it demanding that a fine the equivalent of 1b Keshicoins be paid for the assault. "If you don't the tv will be dropped on you" shouts Sackeshi

[Sierra Lyricalia]

"Opposed. The Lyrical government will stand with its own citizens as well as its brothers and sisters in the Belt, in Trojan settlements, on Luna, Phobos, Gannymeede, Kallisti, Enkelados, and all the other moons, on Hermes and Ares, and in all the stations and habitats and modular encampments across the heliosystem to ensure the sovereignty, self-determination, and freedom of movement of all people and polities. This ludicrous and frankly aggressively draconian lockdown on people and commerce will not stand."

OOC: Looks legal at first glance, but not a good or popular idea. See the "World Space Administration" fiasco for some reasons why.

[Keshiland]

((OOC: dang, this makes me wish I had made my Space Empire nation because the dominant culture's entire shtick is interfering with other civilizations. They technologically uplift every sapient species on each planet they come across (Nationstates folks would be exempt because of logistics reasons but they'd still be pushy about it.) ))

"Wow, way to neuter every spacefaring nation in the WA," drawls Iksana. "A 100 person fleet is basically one spaceship for some of 'em, I reckon. And let me tell you, if a big giant space rock were bearing down on my planet, the kind that could wipe out all the life on it, I would be mighty pissed if someone were to not divert that rock on account of some legalistic garbage forbidding interference."

"This helps you unless your wish is to get colonized by a space fairing nation" says Sackeshi

[Thyerata]

*Matthew picks up the scrawny kid who represents Keshiland, opens a window and throws him out. There is then a splash in the oxbow lake that is Lake Security Council*

We won't be hearing from him for a while, Matthew says contentedly.

"Angered, Sackeshi picks up the 500lb + tv and pins Matthew to the wall with it demanding that a fine the equivalent of 1b Keshicoins be paid for the assault. "If you don't the tv will be dropped on you" shouts Sackeshi

Matthew replies: I threw you in the water. Logically you should be very cold, wet and unable to do much, or (even better), drowned.

[Lexicor]

a- No nation may claim uninhabited plants as part of its territory.

What perchance is an uninhabited plant?

[Keshiland]

a- No nation may claim uninhabited plants as part of its territory.

What perchance is an uninhabited plant?

thank you for the correction fixed

[Tinfect Diplomatic Enclave]

Enactment clause- This only applies to WA nations

For once, the entire Imperial delegation is present, and in an equally rare measure, Seretis steps forward to begin the Imperial statement: "Of course it only affects Member-States, the World Assembly is only capable of such. In this particular instance however, you do little other than Cripple Member-States against Non-Members."

a- No fleet larger than 100 persons may travel to one planet from their home planet at a time unless invited by the host planet.

Feren, however, quickly takes over the front, "A Fleet, Ambasssador, consists of Ships, not persons. Unless one's ships are persons, which unless your Government has suddenly developed both advanced space travel and advanced artificial intelligence, is somewhat unlikely. In any case, this would absolutely cripple Imperial operations. Civilian Transports often carry larger groups than that, in passengers alone, Imperial Military Vessels easily exceed a simple Hundred-Person limit in necessary crew, to say nothing of Naval Infantry, or other such positions.

As the Imperium has multiple planets within its jurisdiction, the requirement of receiving personal permission from Civil Oversight representatives for such thing as simple as civilian transportation, military movement, or, basic government activity, is entirely absurd. The Imperium must also note the difficulty in the definition of Home Planet; which may be taken to mean one's planet of birth, or the planet on which one's species originated. New Harron is both to many, and only one to most."

b- It is forbidden to interfere the course of any civilization from another planet.

"Thus contact with foreign nations for advanced civilizations is absolutely prohibited, the Imperium would be unable to contact its allies, or those present here in the World Assembly, including yourself, which would perhaps be the "silver-lining", to appropriate a phrase, of this madness.

And, given that the Imperium maintains jurisdiction on several planets, this would effectively mandate the dissolution of the Imperial Government, and thus a direct attack against the Imperium. Should this legislation proceed, it would become the concern of the Imperial Military Oversight, rather than that of Diplomatic Oversight."

a- No nation may claim uninhabited plants as part of its territory.

"This is a simply absurd requirement; the Imperium's territorial claims over planets which no other State has any reasonable claim to are not the concern of the World Assembly."

b- All uninhabited planets are the shared international territory of the WA

"This is a direct threat against the Imperium, another reason that this will be transferred solely to Military Oversight if diplomatic intervention is unsuccessful."

b- All stars are the shared territory of the planets that revolve around it.

"Ambassador, a Star is a massive body of gasses undergoing nuclear fusion, I do not know what you intend to accomplish with this."

d- No nation outside of said solar system can use the star's energy with out permission from all nations in the solar system.

"I am not entirely certain exactly what you intend to do with this? You seem to be only prohibiting Solar Panels."

a- The use of meteoroids or asteroids for any scientific or energy purpose is fair game.

"That is absolutely inappropriate language for Legislation."

b- Using them for weapons is strictly forbidden.

Rahlen cuts in at this, "And not a good idea besides, not worth moving that much mass for an inevitably low velocity and no payload."

a- All items in space is the property of the nation who launched it.
b- stealing space items is strictly forbidden

Feren quickly returns to the forefront."This is also inappropriate language." And is quickly displaced by Rahlen again,

a- No one is required to follow national laws in space.

"The Imperium will enforce its laws within its jurisdiction, and our Citizens are not exempt from Imperial Law at any time, regardless of location or presence within the Imperial Territories."

b- No one can be prosecuted for any national crime committed in space.

"And why is Murder not Murder in orbit, Ambassador? Why does it suddenly become acceptable to publicly broadcast restricted information the moment one exists the atmosphere? Criminal acts do not magically become okay when done elsewhere, Ambassador, that simply isn't how reality works."

With that, Seretis steps forward to close out the statement. "I do not believe we need to state that the Imperium will not be supporting this draft, nor any further variation upon it. We will also categorically refuse to support any legislation originating from Keshiland, effective immediately."

[Essu Beti]

Iksana nods appreciatively at the Bakhton ambassador. "I'll keep going since he'll be back. I got it all recording for him and I'm gonna send it right to his office. Ahem. Ambassador Sackeshi, you're making half-assed attempt at helping that does more harm than good. Here, I'll go more in-depth for you, though since I doubt you'll listen it'll be mostly just to hear myself speak. I'll try not to repeat other folks too much."

c- All visitors to another planet must let the host planet know at least 3 days in advance.

"Whose days? I grew up in a slum with practically no education and even I know that not all planets spin at the same rate and that some have days that last forever."

_{"It's called being tidally-locked,"} Inan whispers in his ear. _{"One side always faces the sun and the other always faces away."}

"It's called being tidally-locked," Iksana says without missing a beat. "One side always night and one side always day. How would you count days for that?"

d- All orders or requests made by the home planet to visitors must be obeyed.

"Supposing the home planet says "give me all of your money and your spaceship and here, stick this mind-control chip in your ear because you are now a slave in our extensive salt mines?" Should that be obeyed too?"

II- Uninhabited planets
a- No nation may claim uninhabited plants as part of its territory.

"How exactly do you think space societies form? By making their own planets out of hopes and dreams and fairy dust? No, they claim what is unclaimed and put it to use.'"

b- All uninhabited planets are the shared international territory of the WA

"You've just triggered a massive land grab the likes of which the world has never been seen. Congrats."

III- Moons and stars
a- All moons are the territory of the planet of which it revolves around.

"I have to agree with the Bahkton ambassador on this one. Supposing the moon is already inhabited? Why would you take a series of sovereign nations and make them a territory of someone else?"

b- All stars are the shared territory of the planets that revolve around it.

"Why? Why do they need to be territory at all? It's not like you can colonize a sun."

c- No nation outside of said planet can land on or use the moon in any way with out permission from all the nations on said planet.

"So, never, in other words. People argue, you realize. And 'the' moon? What if there are multiple moons?"

d- No nation outside of said solar system can use the star's energy with out permission from all nations in the solar system.

"Bahkton's covered this one. But again, I think the word 'never' applies here for the same reason as the previous, but even more so."

IV- Meteoroids and asteroids
a- The use of meteoroids or asteroids for any scientific or energy purpose is fair game.

"What if there's a culture that puts significant value on a particular asteroid, but another one wants to vaporize it and analyze its contents?"

b- Using them for weapons is strictly forbidden.

"But comets are fair game, apparently."

V- Items in space
a- All items in space is the property of the nation who launched it.

"Even nations that no longer exist?"

b- stealing space items is strictly forbidden

"This directly contradicts your next clause. How can something be forbidden if no one is required to accept that it is forbidden?

VI- Sovereignty in space
a- No one is required to follow national laws in space.
b- No one can be prosecuted for any national crime committed in space.

"So it's perfectly acceptable to steal, murder, commit acts of violence and terror, and other atrocious things because they are being done in space? This is garbage talk."

[The Two Jerseys]

*Ambassador Ewing returns to the WA from his extended vacation*

*Ambassador Ewing walks to his desk, picks up the proposal, and reads it*

*Ambassador Ewing puts the proposal down, sighs, and leaves the room*

*Ambassador Ewing gets in his car and drives back to the airport...*

[The Puddle Jumping Wads of Wrapper]

ARI: Oh, hell no. If this proposal were already in place, our friends the Tollans would be extinct twice over, as they'd be unable to evacuate one world and re-establish themselves on another. Twice. And through no fault of their own. And clause III-d would needlessly prevent ships equipped with deuterium collectors from recharging in solar systems inhabited by primitive peoples, since they would be unable to interact with them under clause I-b. And the last clause, that's utter nonsense, our own deep space outposts are bound to Wrapperian law. Completely and utterly opposed.

[Keshiland]

"Whose days? I grew up in a slum with practically no education and even I know that not all planets spin at the same rate and that some have days that last forever."

"It's called being tidally-locked," Inan whispers in his ear. "One side always faces the sun and the other always faces away."

"It's called being tidally-locked," Iksana says without missing a beat. "One side always night and one side always day. How would you count days for that?"


good point I will change that to 72 hours

"Supposing the home planet says "give me all of your money and your spaceship and here, stick this mind-control chip in your ear because you are now a slave in our extensive salt mines?" Should that be obeyed too?"
It was their planet 1st and if its not illegal under the WA all is fair.


"How exactly do you think space societies form? By making their own planets out of hopes and dreams and fairy dust? No, they claim what is unclaimed and put it to use."

space is for exploration, not conquest!

"You've just triggered a massive land grab the likes of which the world has never been seen. Congrats."

Thank you much

"I have to agree with the Bahkton ambassador on this one. Supposing the moon is already inhabited? Why would you take a series of sovereign nations and make them a territory of someone else?"

Sucks for them, go find their planet of origin.

"Why? Why do they need to be territory at all? It's not like you can colonize a sun."

Because that is their energy source not yours.

"So, never, in other words. People argue, you realize. And 'the' moon? What if there are multiple moons?"

Then they get control over multiple moons

"Bahkton's covered this one. But again, I think the word 'never' applies here for the same reason as the previous, but even more so."

those who fail at diplomacy are not of my concern

"What if there's a culture that puts significant value on a particular asteroid, but another one wants to vaporize it and analyze its contents?

Said day for them. You know they can still use diplomacy.

"But comets are fair game, apparently."

Comments are either rock or ice so no not really.

"Even nations that no longer exist?"

No I will change that.

"This directly contradicts your next clause. How can something be forbidden if no one is required to accept that it is forbidden?

No it says NATIONAL law not INTERNATIONAL law

"So it's perfectly acceptable to steal, murder, commit acts of violence and terror, and other atrocious things because they are being done in space? This is garbage talk."

Yes because I am not going to go down a complicated path of national space laws.

[Hansdeltania]

So how do we define three days? What if one planet makes a rotation once every 24 hours but another does in 24 24-hour days?

[Keshiland]

So how do we define three days? What if one planet makes a rotation once every 24 hours but another does in 24 24-hour days?

changed it to 72 hours

[Xuskeuclite]

CALLED IT ITS FUCKIN KESHILAND

[Allied Sapients]

((OOC: finally made my space empire nation. Expect to see these guys around whenever something futuretech gets proposed.))

An extremely tall, nearly skeletal being taps a four-fingered hand against the wall exactly three times, leaving a waxy residue behind. "We are not part of your Assembly, but we still take interest in the happenings of non-allied sapients," says Lirn Jenht Olsh, brushing a hand down the wiry mane of her chest. "Why do you seek to hinder yourself? This is an unusual behavior for humanity, from what we have seen."

[Essu Beti]

[snip]

"You claim your proposal is beneficial, yet when it would very clearly be a detriment to people all you can say is "sucks to be them?" It's obvious you only wrote this to fuel your ego, not to actually improve the world. Ridiculous."

[Projection Island]

"I would like for this to be some sort of joke. I really, really would."

Enactment clause- This only applies to WA nations

"Obviously, but considering the scope of what you're attempting to do, this basically makes the entire point of this proposal to stop any sort of space exploration by Assembly nations."

I- Interplanetary travel
a- No fleet larger than 100 persons may travel to one planet from their home planet at a time unless invited by the host planet.

"This would seem to thoroughly destroy any major colonization attempts, considering the fact that planets aren't known to send invitations."

b- It is forbidden to interfere the course of any civilization from another planet.

"Quite possibly the only reasonable mandate in this entire proposal. Except for that bit where it makes diplomacy between interplanetary powers completely non-existent."

c- All visitors to another planet must let the host planet know at least 72 hours in advance.

"Again, planets are not particularly talkative, as a general rule. Also, is that seventy-two before landing? I would generally consider the alien invasion to have started by that point."

d- All orders or requests made by the home planet to visitors must be obeyed.

"'Return to your home planet and destroy it.' Enough said. Not that, again, a giant floating rock would actually be capable of giving such an order."

II- Uninhabited planets
a- No nation may claim uninhabited planets as part of its territory.

"I had a whole slew of sarcastic commentary related to that typo, but I failed to make it to the debate chamber in time to deliver it." She frowns slightly.

b- All uninhabited planets are the shared international territory of the WA

"This is both a vast overreach and completely pointless. Congrats on combining the two. Somehow, I doubt that those nations outside the Assembly would quite appreciate having territories they may or may not have claimed pulled from them by legislation that 'does not apply to' them. Incidentally, there is no way this can even vaguely be said to not apply to non-Assembly nations, even with the disclaimer at the top."

"Also, the second someone lands on an uninhabited planet, it becomes inhabited. Which very much means that a nation may claim a planet at-will simply by setting foot there."

III- Moons and stars
a- All moons are the territory of the planet of which it revolves around.

"By which nation of that planet? Also, even if the moon was inhabited first?"

b- All stars are the shared territory of the planets that revolve around it.

"'Territory' implies you can actually live there. The correct word would be property."

c- No nation outside of said planet can land on or use the moon in any way with out permission from all the nations on said planet.

"...Wait, you fixed that problem I was discussing earlier, just for the purpose of this one set of clauses. Also, as a previous ambassador pointed out, there is such a thing as an 'emergency', which you fail to account for in any way. Which, considering given planet is very, very likely to have multiple nations incapable of giving said permission, could be a slight issue."

d- No nation outside of said solar system can use the star's energy with out permission from all nations in the solar system.

"Congrats, you've basically outlawed solar power in any inhabited star system."

IV- Meteoroids and asteroids
a- The use of meteoroids or asteroids for any scientific or energy purpose is fair game.
b- Using them for weapons is strictly forbidden.

"'I want to see what happens when this hits an inhabited planet' is a scientific purpose and it can easily be argued that they are not being used for weapons. They are either being used as weapons or, more simply, simply being used for science."

[b]V- Items in space
a- All items in space is the property of the nation who launched it.

"Define: 'items'. Everything in space is an 'item'. And, strictly speaking, most of them were launched eons ago by something that wasn't a nation."

b- stealing space items is strictly forbidden

"At least this patches the loophole regarding inhabited planets."

c- Clause V does not apply to nations that no longer exist

"Wait, so that bit of clause five that says that clause five doesn't apply to non-existent nations doesn't apply to them?"

VI- Sovereignty in space
a- No one is required to follow national laws in space.
b- No one can be prosecuted for any national crime committed in space.

"Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the primary way that Assembly resolutions affect national inhabitants through their impact on national laws? In which case, would this not basically be stating that this entire proposal is pointless because the no Assembly nation can stop anyone from ignoring it entirely?"

---

"This aside," says the advanced robot from the artificial island, "this proposal is so heavily science fiction that it seems widely inapplicable. And also gives me a headache. Perhaps you may wish to instead legislate in such a way that it could be applied to both terrestrial and space-faring nations?"

"And yes, I see the ambassadors over there preparing to tell me to drop the 'fiction' portion. I'm just pretending not to."

[Keshiland]

"This is both a vast overreach and completely pointless. Congrats on combining the two. Somehow, I doubt that those nations outside the Assembly would quite appreciate having territories they may or may not have claimed pulled from them by legislation that 'does not apply to' them. Incidentally, there is no way this can even vaguely be said to not apply to non-Assembly nations, even with the disclaimer at the top."

"Also, the second someone lands on an uninhabited planet, it becomes inhabited. Which very much means that a nation may claim a planet at-will simply by setting foot there."

If there is no one on that planet then how can they claim it LOL. All they would need is 1 life form to be on the planet for it to be theirs.

[Bakhton]

"This is both a vast overreach and completely pointless. Congrats on combining the two. Somehow, I doubt that those nations outside the Assembly would quite appreciate having territories they may or may not have claimed pulled from them by legislation that 'does not apply to' them. Incidentally, there is no way this can even vaguely be said to not apply to non-Assembly nations, even with the disclaimer at the top."

"Also, the second someone lands on an uninhabited planet, it becomes inhabited. Which very much means that a nation may claim a planet at-will simply by setting foot there."

If there is no one on that planet then how can they claim it LOL. All they would need is 1 life form to be on the planet for it to be theirs.

"That's said nowhere in the text."

[Keshiland]

If there is no one on that planet then how can they claim it LOL. All they would need is 1 life form to be on the planet for it to be theirs.

"That's said nowhere in the text."

It says UNINHABITED!

[Bakhton]

"That's said nowhere in the text."

It says UNINHABITED!

"Uninhabited usually means without people."