Right-Hon. Paul Martin , Prime Minister of Canada
November 20, 2004
Dear Mr. Martin:
Canada is at a crossroads – and under heavy pressure from the United States – with respect to the U.S.’s “missile defence” program. This program should be seen clearly – and assertively and publicly acknowledged by Canada – for what it is, nothing less than a pre-emptive action by the United States to dictate how space is to be used and controlled to benefit and advance American interests.
As the Iraq war and its aftermath have borne out, pre-emptive action by one player in the arena of international affairs is not only immoral, it has wholly unpredictable and tragic consequences.
As noted recently by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, in a 1997 U.S. Space Command planning document entitled 'Vision for 2020', the military outlined its plan to control and dominate space. "Control of space," the blueprint noted, "is the ability to assure access to space, freedom of operations within the space medium, and an ability to deny others the use of space." The back cover of the document features a picture of the planet surrounded by space satellites and space-based laser weapons with the words "Space...the war fighters' edge."
2020 is not some indefinite point in the future. It is just over 15 years from now. Is this the vision that Canada wants?
Further, as the CCPA notes, in August 2, 2004 the U.S. Air Force quietly published a new doctrine called Counterspace Operations. In the Foreword to the document, General John Jumper, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, stated: "The development of offensive counterspace capabilities provides combatant commanders with new tools for counterspace operations. These operations may be utilized throughout the spectrum of conflict and may achieve a variety of effects from temporary denial to complete destruction of the adversary's space capability."
This document shows that the U.S. remains undeterred in its mission, despite the blindingly unethical foundation for its position.
Canada must show leadership in providing a deterrent. Canada must not only categorically refuse to be involved in any way in the weaponization of space, it should provide the same kind of vision it did in leading the initiative to ban landmines.
A 1,300-page report released November 18th, 2004 by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines notes that since the international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel landmines took effect five years ago, use of the weapon around the world has fallen dramatically, global funding for mine action programs has increased more than 80 percent, more than 1,100 square kilometres of land have been cleared, and the number of new mine victims each year has decreased markedly.
“The international norm established by the Mine Ban Treaty is rapidly taking firm hold around the world, especially in the heavily mine-contaminated countries where it matters the most,” said ICBL Ambassador Jody Williams, who shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize with the ICBL.
Note use of the term “international norm established.” As success of the movement worldwide to ban production, purchase, use, trade and stockpiling of antipersonnel devices is demonstrating, a new way of thinking based on peace has taken root, and is flourishing.
A new international norm with respect to space as a global commons to be protected and used for the benefit of all the earth’s peoples must similarly be established, and Canada must be unwavering in moving such a positive, inclusive agenda forward.
Canada must enlist the support of other countries to place weaponization of space squarely on the U.N. agenda. One way to do this is to request that the U.N. General Assembly have a Space Preservation Treaty permanently banning all space-based weapons and warfare in space ready for signature by all U.N. Member Nations by United Nations Day, 2005 (October 24, 2005).
If the United Nations General Assembly fails to approve a Space Preservation Treaty by October 24, 2005, then Canada should petition the General Assembly to convene a Space Preservation Treaty Conference to ban all space-based weapons and warfare in space, as with the 1997 Ottawa Land Mines Treaty Conference. Such a conference could be held in Victoria-Vancouver, B.C. in June 2006, as part of the World Peace Forum 2006.
In the meantime, and beginning now, as Canada distances itself from the American military agenda, our government must also move proactively on trade and economic initiatives directed toward lessening Canada’s dependence on the U.S. Canada’s companies, peoples and way of life must not be beholden to the United States in any way. We must always remain the true North, strong and free.
Sincerely,
Avery Ascher, Manitoba, Canada
cc. Hon. Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Manitoba Campaign to Ban Landmines
Institute for Cooperation in Space
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Click here to Sign Our U.N. Petition to ban Space-based weapons and warfare in space.
If we joined the European Union Canada would not have to endure the horrid jabs and difficulties we face with the Americans. PLEASE let's get a petition going - there is too much at stake to not do this.
Posted by: Marsaye Treen | December 02, 2004 at 09:11 AM