Press Release
September
11, 2002
Berkeley
Enacts Space Preservation Resolution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact:
The Institute for Cooperation in Space (ICIS)
http://www.peaceinspace.com
USA 805-641-1999 / Canada 604-733-8134
Email: info@peaceinspace.com
FIRST CITY ON EARTH PASSES RESOLUTION TO DECLARE THE
SPACE ABOVE ALL CITIZENS IN BERKELEY, CA.
A
SPACE-BASED WEAPONS-FREE ZONE; calls on u.s. congress
to pass and u.s. president to sign KUCINICH space preservation
act and treaty banning all space-based weapons.
BERKELEY, CA. The Berkeley City Council makes Berkeley, California
the first city in the world to pass a Resolution calling for
a ban on all space-based weapons in support of the Space Preservation
Act, introduced by the Honorable Congressman Dennis Kucinich
(D-OH), and soon to be re-introduced in 2003, and the companion
Space Preservation Treaty. Berkeley is the first city
in the world to declare the space above the heads of all citizens
in their city to be a space-based weapons-free zone.
In an historic vote on September 10, 2002 the City Council
of Berkeley, California enacted Resolution #61744, declaring
the space 60 kilometers and above the City is a space-based
weapons free zone. On September 14th, Congressman Kucinich,
was officially presented the Resolution by Councilmember Dona
Spring, who initiated this milestone Resolution before 700
people in Wheeler Auditorium, who gave Kucinich and Spring
a standing ovation.
Berkeley City Council Resolution #61744 calls on "the
U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to enact and the
U.S. President to sign and enforce the Space Preservation
Act." It also declares that "it is the will
of the Council that the U.S. President, individually or at
an emergency Treaty Conference, sign the Space Preservation
Treaty, and that the U.S. Senate ratify it to permanently
ban all space-based weapons to preserve the cooperative, peaceful
uses of space for all residents of Berkeley and for all humankind."
Congressman Kucinich, whose popularity is growing rapidly
around the U.S. and the world, is Co-Chair of the U.S. House
of Representatives Aviation and Space Caucus, Co-Chair of
the Baltic Caucus, Chairman of the Progressive Caucus, and
is on the Board of the Parliamentarians for Global Action.
His Space Preservation Act and its companion Space Preservation
Treaty will establish a permanent ban on all space-based weapons,
on the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space
that are in orbit; and will permanently terminate the research
and development, testing, manufacturing, production and deployment
of all space-based weapons.
ICIS President Dr. Carol Rosin says, "The Berkeley Resolution
is a win-win. We can end the arms race, free funding
to expand space exploration, R&D, testing, manufacturing,
production and deployment of civil, commercial, and defense
activities not related to space-based weapons, transform the
war industry into a space industry, stimulate economies with
R&D of clean and safe technology, products and services
to solve urgent problems of humanity and our environment,
build security based on enhanced communication, information
sharing, and applications of technology to bring the
world to peace. We must ban space-based weapons in 2003."
In her presentation of the Berkeley Resolution to Congressman
Kucinich, distinguished Councilmember Dona Spring expressed
her heartfelt gratitude to Congressman Kucinich and said,
"This Resolution of the Council of the City of Berkeley
is hereby recommended to be adopted by all municipalities
in the United States of America and worldwide."
She added, "Imagine all the cities in the world declaring
the space above that city to be a space-based weapons-free
zone."
Kucinich, Chairman of the House Aviation and Space Caucus,
has stated, "We can take this technology for destruction,
for war, and, through this proposal, create a technology for
peace. We can create a world where war no longer becomes
inevitable. We first have to look to a practical measure,
such a measure to stop the weaponization of space. There are
so many opportunities for the evolution of our species.
There is the possibility of space travel, for commerce, for
exploration. That is part of the human spirit.
It always has been. And so we have the chance today,
launching this effort for peace, through saying, There shall
be no weapons in space.' But not only that, but to use
the legislation as a matrix for a treaty to preserve space
which we will ask leaders from all over the world to sign."
Vancouver, B.C.-based ICIS Director Alfred Webre, JD, MEd
states, "Berkeley Resolution #61744 has been passed at
a crucial historic moment. Because of the imminent weaponization
of space, we are urging Canada and other U.N. Member Nations
to convene an emergency Treaty-signing Conference to facilitate
the signing and ratification of the Space Preservation Treaty
by world leaders, similar to the Treaty-signing Conference
held in Canada in December, 1997, where 122 countries signed
the Convention Banning Land Mines, known as the Ottawa Convention.
The vehicles needed to accomplish this important goal already
are in place. Svend Robinson, a Member of Parliament
in Canada, introduced Motion M-527 June 20, 2002, calling
on Canada to lead an international effort to ban the introduction
of all weapons in space through a binding international agreement
against the weaponization of space.' Canadian Senator
Douglas Roche had introduced the same motion in the Senate
on June 13, 2002."
Berkeley
Resolution # 61744
CONSENT CALENDAR
Date: 9-10-02 PASSED
RESOLUTION NUMBER 61744
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City
Council
From: Councilmember Dona Spring
Subject:
ENDORSING THE SPACE PRESERVATION ACT AND COMPANION SPACE PRESERVATION
TREATY TO PERMANENTLY BAN THE WEAPONIZATION OF SPACE RECOMMENDATION:
That the Council pass the attached resolution supporting the
Space Preservation Act and the companion Space Preservation
Treaty, and request that the City Manager send letters to
our federal representatives urging their support of the Space
Preservation Act.
BACKGROUND: On January 23rd 2002, Congressman Dennis Kucinich
(D-Ohio) introduced the Space Preservation Act, companion
to the Space Preservation Treaty, to the US House of Representatives.
In the words of Congressman Kucinich, "We can take this
technology for destruction, for war, and, through this proposal,
create a technology for peace. We can create a world where
war no longer becomes inevitable. We first have to look to
a practical measure, such a measure to stop the weaponization
of space. There are so many opportunities for the evolution
of our species. There is the possibility of space travel,
for commerce, for exploration. That is part of the human spirit.
It always has been. And so we have the chance today, launching
this effort for peace, through saying, There shall be no weapons
in space.' But not only that, but to use the legislation as
a matrix for a treaty to preserve space which we will ask
leaders from all over the world to sign.
Please see attached.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: NONE
CONTACT PERSON: Councilmember Dona Spring 510 981-7140
RESOLUTION NO. 61744
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE SPACE PRESERVATION ACT AND THE
SPACE PRESERVATION TREATY TO PERMANENTLY BAN THE WEAPONIZATION
OF SPACE
WHEREAS, the Space Preservation Act and the companion Space
Preservation Treaty will establish a permanent ban on all
space-based weapons, on the use of weapons to destroy or damage
objects in space that are in orbit; and the permanent termination
of research and development, testing, manufacturing, production
and deployment of all space-based weapons; and
WHEREAS, the termination of the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM)
Treaty on June 13, 2002 will permit research, development,
testing, manufacturing, production and deployment of space-based
weapons, thereby instigating a dangerous, costly, and destabilizing
arms race in space, endangering all residents of Berkeley,
the United States of America and all of humankind, and invading
outer space, humanity's weapons-free common heritage, with
space-based weapons; and
WHEREAS, The Space Preservation Act, companion to the Space
Preservation Treaty, introduced by U.S. Congressman Dennis
Kucinich (D-Ohio), requires the U.S. President to work toward
"negotiating, adopting and implementing an international
treaty banning space-based weapons and the use of weapons
to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit;"
and
WHEREAS, the Space Preservation Treaty will establish an outer
space peacekeeping agency to monitor outer space and enforce
the permanent ban of space-based weapons; and
WHEREAS, The Space Preservation Act and the Space Preservation
Treaty facilitate future public and private investment in
clean and safe technology, products and services, and in sustainable,
non-weapons, expanded civil, commercial and military, world
cooperative space ventures, and the consequent stimulation
of the national and world economy. The Act and the Treaty
do not prohibit activities including space exploration, space
research and development, testing, manufacturing or deployment
that is not related to space-based weapons or systems, or
civil, commercial, or defense activities (including communications,
navigation, surveillance, reconnaissance, early warning, or
remote sensing) that are not related to space-based weapons
or systems;" and
WHEREAS, the Space Preservation Act and the Space Preservation
Treaty preserve the peaceful, cooperative uses of space for
all residents of Berkeley and for all humankind; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
1) THAT IT IS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BERKELEY
THAT THE U.S. SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ENACT AND
THE U.S. PRESIDENT SIGN AND ENFORCE THE SPACE PRESERVATION
ACT; and
2) THAT IT IS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL THAT THE U.S. PRESIDENT,
INDIVIDUALLY OR AT AN EMERGENCY TREATY CONFERENCE, SIGN THE
SPACE PRESERVATION TREATY, AND THAT THE U.S. SENATE RATIFY
IT TO PERMANENTLY BAN ALL SPACE-BASED WEAPONS TO PRESERVE
THE COOPERATIVE, PEACEFUL USES OF SPACE FOR ALL RESIDENTS
OF BERKELEY AND FOR ALL HUMANKIND; and
3) The Council of the City of Berkeley hereby declares that
the space 60 kilometers and above the City of Berkeley is
a space-based weapons-free zone; and
4) This Resolution of the Council of the City of Berkeley
is hereby recommended to be adopted by all Municipalities
in the United States of America and worldwide.
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