Sample Letters

Canadian Leaders | Other World Leaders | Your Local Leaders

Canadian Leaders  (top)

Hon. Jean Chretien   Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2 CANADA fax: 613-941-6900 pm@pm.gc.ca

Hon. Bill Graham   Foreign Minister House of Commons, Room 418 North Centre Blk Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 CANADA fax: 613-996-9607  Graham.B@parl.gc.ca

Please use the below content for your own letter, sign it and send it to Prime Minister Jean Chretien with a separate letter from you to Foreign Minister Bill Graham urging Canada to hold a Space Preservation Treaty-signing Conference to ban all space-based weapons. Mail it, fax it, and email it in your own words, from your heart. Thank you.

Date: __________

Re: Please approve and announce that Canada will host this Space Preservation Treaty Conference to ban ALL space-based weapons (and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects that are in orbit).

Dear Prime Minister Jean Chretien - and - Foreign Minister Bill Graham,

I request that you direct the Government of Canada to convene a Space Preservation Treaty-signing Conference to ban all space-based weapons (and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects that are in orbit). (You may want to add a sentence about yourself.)

With the ABM Treaty unilaterally terminated by the U.S. administration on June 13, 2002, the research, development, testing, manufacturing, production and deployment of space-based weapons and weapons systems is rapidly accelerating - with deployment of missile defense' committed by 2004, which is inexorably linked to space-based weapons. Other nations, including Russia and China, are being tempted to participate. But China, Russia, and most country leaders have repeatedly stated that they want to ban space-based weapons. Given the opportunity, they will sign the Space Preservation Treaty. Canada and the world need an effective, feasible, international, multi-lateral approach to stop this arms race in space before the momentum of funding, vested interests and technology is put into place that would make it impossible to stop. Deployment would take place under the guise of calling it "research" or "testing," so I urge you to take immediate action.

Motions calling for Canada to lead a world initiative to ban space-based weapons have already been introduced in the Canadian House of Commons and Senate. Public support is rapidly growing. Canada proposed a multi-lateral agreement to ban space-based weapons in 1982, over 20 years ago. Canada is uniquely qualified to hold a Space Preservation Treaty-signing Conference to ban space-based weapons. Canada successfully held a similar Treaty Conference in 1997, when 122 U.N. Member Nations signed the Ottawa Land Mines Treaty. The U.N. Conference on Disarmament is deadlocked, and, therefore, an international Space Preservation Treaty Conference is urgently needed if the imminent weaponization of space is to be successfully banned. Deputy Prime John Manley of Canada on July 26, 2001 stated, Canada would be very happy to launch an initiative to see an international convention preventing the weaponization of space.

The Space Preservation Treaty is companion to the Space Preservation Act that U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich will reintroduce in the House of Representatives in March. The Space Preservation Treaty Conference is vitally important to the process of facilitating the signing of this Treaty by world leaders and to support this important Space Preservation Act in the U.S. Congress. This milestone Treaty Conference will be the most meaningful, cost-effective legacy for the children of Canada and the world that the Government of Canada could undertake as it will preserve outer space as a space-based weapons-free zone - for the benefit of all human kind. When the first 20 countries sign and ratify this Treaty, a world cooperative outer space peacekeeping agency will be established to monitor outer space and enforce the ban. Please respond to my letter and please take this once-in-a-lifetime, positive, courageous step. Please approve and announce that Canada will host this Space Preservation Treaty Conference in 2003 to ban ALL space-based weapons (and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects that are in orbit).

Time is of the essence.

Thank you,

(your signature)

Print your name underneath

Your full address
Phone/Fax/Email (optional)

Date: ________

Dear Prime Minister (or President):

I am writing to urge you to sign the Space Preservation Treaty and deposit the Treaty with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan as Treaty Depositary. After June 13, 2002, upon the expiration of the ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) Treaty, there will be a legal void and no effective international barriers to the weaponization of space.

The Treaty states that each nation-state "shall implement a ban on space-based weapons, implement a ban on the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space, and immediately order the permanent termination of research and development, testing, manufacturing, production and deployment of all space-based weapons of such State Party."

The Treaty allows for activities including "space exploration, space research and development, testing, manufacture or deployment that is not related to space-based weapons or civil, commercial or defense activities (including communications, navigation, surveillance, reconnaissance, early warning or remote sensing) that is not related to space-based weapons or systems.” The Treaty creates a world space peacekeeping agency to monitor, verify and enforce the ban on space-based weapons.

The ban on space-based weapons is a vital step necessary to transform the programs and industries related to space-based weapons into world-cooperative space development programs and industries that will cap the arms race and free all leaders to provide the greatest benefits to their people.

My letter is part of a worldwide educational initiative in which we, world citizens, are urging you and all nation-state leaders to sign the Space Preservation Treaty. We look forward to seeing you participate in the World-Interactive Treaty Signing (“Possible Dream”) Event, which will be globally broadcast.

You may contact the Institute for Cooperation In Space for assistance at (805) 641-1999 or at www.peaceinspace.com.

Respectfully,

(your signature)

Print your name underneath

Your full address
Country
Email address

Your Local Leaders  (top)

In Berkeley, California, before a hushed crowd on the very special evening of September 14, Councilmember Dona Spring read the Berkeley Space Preservation Resolution for the first time, and presented Congressman Dennis Kucinich with a copy of Berkeley Resolution 61744. Already ICIS had been contacted by members of communities in Canada, France, England, and the U.S. who wanted to pass the Berkeley Resolution in their cities. Dennis Kucinich was very happy knowing that communities were already working around the world for peace in space. Read the full story by Leuren Moret, Berkeley Environmental Commissioner, of how the Berkely Resolution was passed.

The purpose of passing local resolutions is to inform and educate community members about issues. Here's how you can pass a resolution in your town from the Berkeley Resolution model:

1. Send the resolution to your Mayor and City Council.
   
2. Find some friends in your community, school, church, club or organization that you belong to and ask them to call or write your City Councilmembers to support the resolution.

To get an idea of how to write a letter of support, check out the letters of support written to the Berkeley City Council by:

* U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee
* Astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell
* Dr. Charles Mercieca, Founder, IAEWP
* Alan Hale, Discoverer of Hale-Bopp Comet
* Dr. Carol Rosin, President, ICIS